When does proliferate check for counters?
Asked by Mokan 4 years ago
Imagine I have a Barkhide Troll with a +1/+1 counter on it and an Evolution Sage . I play a land and the proliferate triggers, but while it's on the stack, an opponent plays a removal spell on the troll, so in response I pay 1 mana and remove the counter from it to give it hexproof. In this case does the proliferate give the troll a counter, since he had one while he was targeted with proliferate?
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August 16, 2019 1:30 p.m.
I'm sorry; I've just been busy for a while and it slipped out of my mind. Thank you for the answer and your patience!
Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1
First, Proliferate does not target - you do not choose which permanents/players will be proliferated until the proliferate ability resolves.
Once proliferate resolves, that is when you choose the permanents/players to be proliferated. At that point, it is too late for your opponent to respond, as you are mid-resolution of the ability. Since you have already removed all the counters from your Barkhide Troll , it will not have any counters for which to receive additional counters (you can still name it as one of the chosen permanents, it just would not have any effect).
August 12, 2019 3:53 p.m.