How do -1/-1 counters interact with Walking Ballista and Hapatra?

Asked by TheRealPigeons 6 years ago

I know that -1/-1 counters and +1/+1 counters cancel each other out on a one for one basis, but if my Walking Ballista gets a -1/-1 counter put on it, can I remove the +1/+1 counter from it in response and fling it at a creature or player? Also, if Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons is on the battlefield when this happens, do I still get the snake token even though the counter was canceled off the Walking Ballista?

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1

It depends on what you mean by "in response."

If, say, Walking Ballista is targeted by the ETB ability from Cartouche of Ambition, you can respond to the ability by activating Walking Ballista's last ability.

If, however, your Walking Ballista would be dealt wither or infect damage in combat, you would have to choose between weakening (or killing) Walking Ballista pre-damage in order to get the most out of the counters or allowing Walking Ballista to take the damage and losing the counters before you get priority again.

With Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons, you get the token if you're the player who placed the counter. The counter has to be placed in order for state-based actions to remove it.

May 5, 2017 9:37 p.m.