Does Elemental Bond take counters into account?
Asked by GoblinsBeatElves 3 years ago
Does Elemental Bond count creatures that enter with +1/+1 counters ( Lifeblood Hydra , Hungering Hydra , those types of cards]] ) as having the power from gained from those +1/+1 counters, or as having 0 power (the power on the card)?
Rhadamanthus says... #2
Yes. Creatures that enter the battlefield with counters have those counters from the moment they enter. There's no period of time (not even a very short one) when they're on the battlefield but haven't yet started getting the bonus from the counters. Elemental Bond will trigger in your examples as long as the value of X is high enough.
March 31, 2021 2 p.m.
For a counterexample, check the Fractal tokens Quandrix makes in the new set. They generally read "Create a 0/0 Fractal token. Put (some number) +1/+1 counters on it."
Since the Fractals enter as 0/0 creatures and then get counters to boost their P/T, they won't trigger Elemental Bond .
March 31, 2021 5:26 p.m.
GoblinsBeatElves says... #4
Thanks for the clarification, all. That definitely helps
FSims81 says... Accepted answer #1
From Gatherer:
The creature must have power 3 or greater as it enters the battlefield, or Elemental Bond’s ability won’t trigger. Static abilities that raise (or lower) a creature’s power are taken into account. However, you can’t have a creature with power 2 or less enter the battlefield and try to raise its power with a spell, an activated ability, or a triggered ability.
As both Hydra examples would enter the battlefield with a number of counters equal to , as long as equals 3 or more at casting they would trigger Elemental Bond
March 31, 2021 1:33 p.m.