Which Commander Doesn’t Lose Counters?
The unequivocal answer is Skullbriar, the Walking Grave. This unique Golgari (black/green) commander retains all counters, not just +1/+1 counters, as it moves between zones (graveyard, exile, command zone, battlefield). This singular ability makes Skullbriar a fascinating and potent choice for a Commander deck, opening up avenues for unusual counter-based strategies that simply aren’t possible with other commanders. It’s important to remember that while Skullbriar keeps counters when moving between these zones, counters are indeed lost if Skullbriar is moved to a player’s hand or library.
Understanding Skullbriar’s Unique Ability
Skullbriar’s key strength stems from defying the normal rules of Magic: The Gathering. Usually, when a permanent leaves the battlefield, any counters it had are removed. This is fundamental to the game’s clean-up process. Skullbriar, however, explicitly overrides this rule. This means you can use various counter-manipulation strategies to build up its power, knowing that those counters will remain even if it’s destroyed or exiled. This allows for a resilient and ever-growing threat that opponents must constantly address.
The counters aren’t “placed” on Skullbriar when it moves to a new zone; they’re simply retained. This is a subtle but important distinction. When you re-cast Skullbriar from the command zone, it’s not a new creature; it’s the same Skullbriar returning with all the counters it previously possessed. It is crucial to keep track of which counters are on Skullbriar at all times.
Building a Skullbriar Commander Deck
Building a successful Skullbriar deck revolves around maximizing its counter-retention ability. This involves using cards that:
- Place counters on Skullbriar: This is the most obvious strategy. Cards that grant +1/+1 counters, poison counters, or other beneficial counters are essential.
- Protect Skullbriar: While it retains counters, it’s still a creature and vulnerable to removal. Protection spells, hexproof, and indestructible are important for keeping it alive and on the battlefield.
- Exploit counters: Some cards have abilities that trigger based on the number or type of counters on a creature. These can provide additional value and synergize well with Skullbriar’s primary ability.
- Recursion: Bringing Skullbriar back from the graveyard for cheap with a card such as Animate Dead or Reanimate is a powerful and common play pattern for the deck.
Synergistic Cards for Skullbriar
Here are a few examples of cards that work well with Skullbriar:
- Hardened Scales: This enchantment increases the number of +1/+1 counters placed on Skullbriar.
- Doubling Season: Doubles the number of all counters placed on Skullbriar.
- Grafted Exoskeleton: Gives Skullbriar infect, turning it into a deadly poison threat.
- The Ozolith: Allows you to store counters from other creatures, and then transfer them to Skullbriar.
FAQs About Commanders and Counters
1. Does a commander lose counters when it dies?
Normally, yes. However, Skullbriar is the exception. It retains its counters even when it goes to the graveyard or command zone. Other commanders lose all counters when they leave the battlefield.
2. Do experience counters stay with you even if your commander dies?
Yes. Experience counters are placed on players, not on permanents. They persist even if your commander is destroyed, exiled, or returned to the command zone.
3. Does The Ozolith remove counters from Skullbriar?
No. The Ozolith’s ability doesn’t move counters. It copies the number and type of counters from the creature leaving the battlefield and puts those counters onto The Ozolith. Skullbriar retains its counters as well.
4. Does Skullbriar keep counters in exile?
Yes. One of the primary strengths of Skullbriar is that it retains counters even in exile, except for being in a player’s hand or library.
5. Can you counterspell a commander?
Yes, unless the commander has shroud or hexproof on the battlefield, or the spell is uncounterable. If you do counter the commander, its owner can choose to send it to the graveyard or the command zone.
6. How many toxic counters are needed to eliminate a player in Commander?
In a standard Commander game, an opponent needs to accumulate ten poison counters to lose the game.
7. Does exiling a creature remove counters?
Generally, yes. When a creature is exiled, it loses all counters it had. Skullbriar is the notable exception.
8. Do shield counters prevent exile?
No. Shield counters only prevent damage and destruction effects. They do not stop a creature from being exiled, returned to hand, or sacrificed.
9. Does exiling a spell counter it?
Exile and Counter are separate game actions. However, if a spell is exiled, it does not resolve, so it’s effectively countered, though not technically countered for game mechanic purposes. A spell that says “cannot be countered” can still be exiled.
10. Is Skullbriar a good commander?
Skullbriar can be very strong, capable of overwhelming opponents quickly if left unchecked. However, it’s also vulnerable to removal and strategies that prevent counter placement. Certain commanders can provide solid resistance to Skullbriar’s game plan.
11. Can you counter spells with shroud?
No. Shroud prevents spells or abilities from targeting the permanent. However, shroud only applies when the permanent is on the battlefield. The spell itself can still be countered, but shroud on the permanent ensures it can’t be directly targeted once it resolves.
12. Can an opponent steal your commander?
Yes. Opponents can gain control of your commander through spells and abilities that grant control of creatures.
13. Does a copied commander deal commander damage?
No. Commander damage is tracked based on the physical card. A copy is a separate game object and does not count towards commander damage.
14. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?
No, deathtouch does not cancel deathtouch, and the damage from either source will kill the creature. Deathtouch states that any amount of damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch is enough to destroy a creature.
15. Do shield counters stop Deathtouch?
Yes. Shield counters prevent damage, including the lethal damage from deathtouch.
Conclusion
Skullbriar’s unique ability to retain counters makes it a compelling and strategic choice for a Commander. By understanding its strengths and weaknesses, and by building a deck that maximizes its counter-based potential, you can create a powerful and resilient force on the battlefield. While Games Learning Society doesn’t specifically focus on Magic: The Gathering, the strategic thinking and game theory involved in building and playing a Skullbriar deck align with the principles of GamesLearningSociety.org.