Do +1/+1 and -1/-1 Counters Cancel Out in Magic: The Gathering?
Yes, +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters do indeed cancel each other out in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). This interaction is a fundamental aspect of the game’s mechanics and understanding it is crucial for any player, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out. When a permanent has both types of counters, they are removed in pairs. For every +1/+1 counter that is matched with a -1/-1 counter, both are removed from the permanent until only one type of counter remains, or until all counters are removed. Let’s dive into the specifics and answer some common questions about this vital rule.
Understanding Counter Interactions
The cancellation process is straightforward, but its implications can have a big impact on the board state.
The Cancellation Process
When a permanent has both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters, the game immediately checks for these counters. If both types are present, the game removes them in matched pairs. This removal happens as a state-based action, which is something that the game automatically checks and executes before players get priority (the opportunity to play spells and abilities). If a creature has three +1/+1 counters and two -1/-1 counters, two pairs cancel out, leaving it with one +1/+1 counter. The process is always to remove the counters in the smaller of the two totals. So if you had 4 +1/+1 and 2 -1/-1, you would have 2 +1/+1 counters remaining.
Order of Operations
It’s crucial to understand that -1/-1 counters are applied first, and their impact is calculated before the counter removal. This is significant in scenarios where placing -1/-1 counters may result in a creature’s death due to having 0 toughness. If adding a -1/-1 counter causes a creature to die, that creature will go to the graveyard even if it also has +1/+1 counters that would eventually cancel out with the added counter.
For example, if a 2/2 creature has a +1/+1 counter and you put a -1/-1 counter on it, the -1/-1 counter will reduce the creature’s stats to 2/2. Now there is a +1/+1 and -1/-1 to remove, and the creature ends up as a 2/2 with no counters. If you added 2 -1/-1 counters, the creature goes to 1/1 and dies before the counters get a chance to remove.
This is especially important when dealing with abilities like persist or undying, which trigger when a creature dies. A creature with Persist returns to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter and a creature with Undying returns with a +1/+1 counter. If there are both types of counters, they would cancel and not trigger persist or undying.
What are Counters?
In MTG, counters are physical markers that are placed on permanents or players. These markers represent a game effect, most notably, the change in a creature’s power and toughness. It is important to remember that counters are different from effects. An effect that grants +1/+1 to a creature only lasts as long as the effect is active. For example, if a creature has +1/+1 from an enchantment and the enchantment is destroyed, that +1/+1 is lost. However, a counter remains on the permanent until removed by another effect or state-based actions as described above.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters that help clarify this mechanic further:
1. Are +1/+1 counters the same as +1/+1 effects?
No, +1/+1 counters are different from +1/+1 effects. Counters are physical markers that stay on a permanent until removed, while effects are temporary bonuses that disappear when the effect’s source is gone.
2. Can lands have +1/+1 counters?
Yes, lands can have +1/+1 counters, as can any permanent. The presence of these counters on a land does not turn it into a creature. The counter will stay on even if the land stops being a creature.
3. Do +1/+1 counters increase power and toughness?
Yes, a +1/+1 counter increases both a creature’s power and toughness by one. Similarly, a -1/-1 counter reduces both by one.
4. Do counters affect power and toughness?
Not all counters affect power and toughness. +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters do directly modify the power and toughness, but other counters, like charge counters or loyalty counters, do not affect this.
5. Do negative and positive counters cancel out immediately?
Yes, as soon as both positive and negative counters are on the same permanent, the cancellation happens as a state-based action, meaning they cancel immediately after the effects are done.
6. Do counters disappear when a card moves to a different zone?
Yes, counters are not retained when a card moves from one zone to another. If a creature with counters is moved from the battlefield to the graveyard, the counters are removed. They simply cease to exist on that card.
7. Does Double Strike give counters?
No, double strike does not give counters. Double strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice in a combat step.
8. How many toxic counters are needed to lose?
A player loses the game when they have ten or more poison counters. This has nothing to do with +/- counters.
9. Can you proliferate negative counters?
Proliferate allows you to add one counter of a kind that’s already present on a player or permanent. You can only proliferate -1/-1 counters if there are already existing -1/-1 counters present. Proliferate does not create new kinds of counters.
10. Do +1/+1 counters stay on transformers?
Yes, +1/+1 counters will stay on a transforming double-faced card (like Transformers) after they flip. Because a transforming permanent does not leave the battlefield.
11. Do counters go away when an object moves?
Yes, as mentioned earlier, counters are not retained if an object moves to another zone. Once an object moves zones, all counters on that object are removed and cease to exist.
12. What is an Indestructible counter?
There is no such thing as an “indestructible counter.” Indestructible is an ability that a creature or object can have that stops it from being destroyed.
13. Does counterspell stop spells being cast?
No, Counterspell doesn’t stop a spell from being cast. It cancels the spell’s effects after it’s been cast. This means the spell goes from the stack to the graveyard. But the spell has still been cast.
14. Can you put counters on enchantments?
Yes, you can put counters on enchantments. The rules allow counters on any type of permanent, including enchantments, lands, and artifacts. There are no restrictions on what permanents can have counters, though some counters might be more common on some types than others.
15. What is Wither?
Wither is a static ability that causes damage to be dealt in the form of -1/-1 counters. When a creature with wither deals damage, the damage is represented by putting -1/-1 counters on the creature that took the damage, instead of dealing normal combat damage.
Conclusion
The interaction between +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters is a simple concept at its core but has very important implications within the game. They always cancel each other out in matched pairs, a state-based action that is automatically applied before the players receive priority. Always pay attention to the timing of their application and removal. By understanding this rule, you can better navigate complex board states and make more informed decisions in your MTG games. By mastering the simple interactions, you’ll become a more skilled player.