Winding Constrictor

Creature — Snake

If one or more counters would be placed on an artifact or creature you control, that many counters plus one are placed that permanent instead.

If you would get one or more counters you get that many of those counters plus one instead.

Combos

• Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest + Winding Constrictor

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Freeform	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (41)

SyntheticEvil13 on Gruul Hardened Scales

3 months ago

Yeah, the Ozolith wording is easy to misread. The important part is that The Ozolith does not replace modular. If a modular creature dies, I can still put the modular counters onto another artifact creature, and The Ozolith also gets counters equal to what the creature had when it left. So it effectively lets the deck double dip on counters. With Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp, the modular trigger gets even better because Zabaz adds an extra +1/+1 counter when a modular triggered ability puts counters on one of my creatures. That extra counter does not come from The Ozolith, but it does make the modular side of the exchange stronger. I agree that the Snakeskin Veil / Winding Constrictor / Conclave Mentor line sounds fun, but that feels more like an Abzan counters version of the deck. This build is more focused on artifact/modular lines with Arcbound Ravager, Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp, Walking Ballista, Inkmoth Nexus, Urza's Saga, and The Ozolith. So for this shell, I still like Tamiyo's Safekeeping because it protects any permanent, not just creatures.

This is from Scryfall.

"The Ozolith's first ability doesn't move counters off the creature that's left the battlefield. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter the creature had onto The Ozoloith. Notably, if you somehow control a second The Ozolith, each one will receive the same number and kinds of counters that were on the creature that left the battlefield. Similarly, if the creature has an ability that triggers when it leaves the battlefield that refers to the number of counters it had, that ability will use the number of counters that were on the permanent, even if The Ozolith's first ability resolves first."

DragonMaster420 on Gruul Hardened Scales

3 months ago

i've been playing around with a pioneer version of hardened scales, but instead of modular, i made it abzan using Winding Constrictor and Conclave Mentor, with instants that both protect the creatures and add a counter. makes for a fun combat trick when you can use Snakeskin Veil and add 3 counters.

if you use zabaz to destroy your own creature, wouldn't you want to put those counters on another creature, rather than putting them on The Ozolith?

SyntheticEvil13 on Gruul Hardened Scales

3 months ago

Thank you DragonMaster420! It was late when I entered the info. I thought that I had gone back over everything, but I somehow missed that, lol.

I agree that Snakeskin Veil and Revitalizing Repast are interesting options, especially because +1/+1 counters matter so much in Hardened Scales. That said, I would not automatically call them better than Tamiyo's Safekeeping.

The big advantage of Tamiyo's Safekeeping is that it protects any permanent, not just a creature. That means it can protect cards like Hardened Scales, The Ozolith, Urza's Saga, Inkmoth Nexus, Agatha's Soul Cauldron, or a key creature. That flexibility matters a lot. Snakeskin Veil adding a +1/+1 counter is nice, but being creature only is a real limitation.

The idea of dropping red and moving into black is not crazy in theory, but I think that becomes a different deck. Black gives access to cards like Winding Constrictor, Abrupt Decay, and Assassin's Trophy, which are definitely strong. But red is not only here for Whipflare. Red also gives access to Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp's sacrifice ability, which is very relevant for modular lines, The Ozolith, and moving counters around at the right time.

DragonMaster420 on Gruul Hardened Scales

3 months ago

the sideboard has 16 cards in it. i think Snakeskin Veil and Revitalizing Repast would be better than Tamiyo's Safekeeping. if Whipflare is going to be your only red card, you might as well drop the red. black would give you access to Winding Constrictor, Abrupt Decay, and Assassin's Trophy

Sliverguy420 on Golgari Scavengers

1 year ago

Fate Transfer may have a "surprise element" in niche scenarios, but its only helpful if you have it, and 2 mana, when your opponent removes the creature, and even then it only works once. theres a reason The Ozolith is expensive. even Bioshift would be better since its only 1 mana and you can choose how many counters you move. Winding Constrictor is an upgrade to Cursed Wombat since its not limited to once per turn.

modern is a pretty brutal format right now. if you can't win on turn 4, you need heavy amounts of removal to stop the decks that can.

TheDeckMaker2300 on An Abundance of Ways to Win

1 year ago

Your welcome hey even got some honorable mentions

Cayth, Famed Mechanist - another trifecta for catergories artifact creatures and +1/+1 counters

Kami of Whispered Hopes or/and Accomplished Alchemist — they are mana dorks for the counters and lifegain catergory kami has way more advantage since it has a hardening scales effect

And without explanation ten other honorable mentions 1. Fathom Mage 2. Pollywog Prodigy 3. Jan Jansen, Chaos Crafter 4. Chasm Skulker 5. Mycoloth 6. The Goose Mother (brief: second hydroid Krasiss) 7. Shadrix Silverquill 8. Winding Constrictor 9. Archangel of Thune

Gonna cheat on thr last one with three but they all do the same thing for Hellkite/production

1. Ygra, Eater of All/Mycosynth Lattice/Encroaching Mycosynth

jakeelephant006 on Atraxa is a big fat bully [seeking help]

3 years ago

Looks like a fun deck! Atraxa is certainly a powerful commander that can go in many directions but I like your choice of going w/ +1/+1 counters mainly. I think more cards like Winding Constrictor and Kami of Whispered Hopes would really make the deck hum. Corpsejack Menace and Conclave Mentor are good adds. I think some more effects to spread around counters more such as Good-Fortune Unicorn and Mikaeus, the Lunarch would help as well.

I think the deck could use some more cards that help w/ consistency and interaction as well. Abzan Charm and Inspiring Call both draw cards in addition to having other flexibility and +1/+1 counter synergy. Fertilid and Incubation Druid both ramp and care about +1/+1 counters. Lastly, Damning Verdict would be a good board wipe addition to clear out opponents' threats while leaving your board mostly intact.

Adding cards is easier than cutting cards. Here's my thoughts on cards that could go to make room for new ones. Venser, the Sojourner doesn't seem to do too much other than being ult-ed. Semester's End is good for saving your board but it resets any amount of counters you've built up back to 1. I don't think there's quite enough planeswalkers or non-creature spells to warrant running Ichormoon Gauntlet. Arcus Acolyte seems a bit slow. Empyrial Archangel doesn't seem to do a lot of work and can be difficult to get counters on because of the shroud.

I would also think about adding a few more basics to help ensure consistency. Good luck with the deck!

Macaronigrill5150 on First one

3 years ago

Heroic Intervention, Go for the Throat, Read the Bones, Feed the Swarm, Lightning Greaves, Hunter's Insight, Vorel of the Hull Clade, Winding Constrictor, Growth Spiral, The Ozolith(expensive but really good) Arcane Signet, and Hardened Scales. This is what I got for now.