Does Proliferate Affect Tokens in Magic: The Gathering?
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The short answer is yes, but with a crucial caveat: Proliferate affects counters that are on tokens, not the tokens themselves. Proliferate is a powerful mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that allows you to duplicate existing counters on permanents and players. Understanding how it interacts with tokens is key to effectively utilizing this strategy. Let’s delve deeper into this interaction and address some common questions.
Understanding Proliferate
Proliferate, introduced in the Scars of Mirrodin block, is a keyword action that lets you choose any number of permanents and/or players that already have one or more counters on them. For each chosen permanent or player, you add one counter of each type they already have. This can lead to explosive growth of counters, making it a potent tool for various strategies, particularly those revolving around poison, +1/+1 counters, loyalty counters on planeswalkers, and more.
Tokens and Counters: A Clear Distinction
It’s important to distinguish between a token and a counter. A token is a permanent that isn’t represented by a card in your deck (think of a 1/1 Soldier creature created by a spell). A counter, on the other hand, is a marker placed on a permanent or player that modifies its characteristics or state. Proliferate specifically interacts with counters, not the entities they are attached to.
Therefore, if you have a creature token with a +1/+1 counter on it, you can use proliferate to add another +1/+1 counter. However, if you have a Treasure token (which is just a token, not a counter), proliferate won’t affect it directly. Proliferate only works if the token has a counter already present.
Proliferate in Action: Examples
Here are a few examples to illustrate how Proliferate interacts with tokens:
- Example 1: You control a 2/2 Beast token with a +1/+1 counter on it. If you proliferate, you can choose that token and add another +1/+1 counter, making it a 3/3.
- Example 2: You control several 1/1 Soldier tokens, and an enchantment that puts a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control when it enters the battlefield. You can use Proliferate to place another +1/+1 counter on each of your tokens.
- Example 3: You control a 1/1 Spirit token. You also have a planeswalker with three loyalty counters and an opponent with one poison counter. You can proliferate and choose all three: the Spirit gets a +1/+1 counter (assuming it had one already), your planeswalker gets another loyalty counter, and your opponent gets another poison counter.
- Example 4: You control a Treasure token (which is just a token artifact, not a counter). You also control a creature with a +1/+1 counter. If you proliferate, you can only add a counter to the creature. The Treasure token is unaffected.
Strategy and Synergies
Proliferate can create powerful synergies with token-generating strategies. Cards that create tokens and then put counters on them, such as some populate spells, can be devastating when combined with proliferate. Decks focused on building armies of tokens can quickly become overwhelming when proliferate is used to continuously boost the power and toughness of those tokens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify how proliferate works in Magic: The Gathering:
Does proliferate work on creature tokens?
Yes, but only if the creature token has counters on it. Proliferate adds counters, it doesn’t create tokens.
Does proliferate add tokens?
No, proliferate only adds counters to permanents or players that already have counters. It does not generate tokens.
Can you proliferate token creatures?
You can’t proliferate “token creatures” directly; you proliferate counters that are on token creatures. A plain vanilla creature token like a 1/1 Soldier is unaffected unless it already has a counter on it.
How does proliferate work with tokens?
Proliferate works by adding another counter of each kind already on a token. If the token has a +1/+1 counter, proliferate adds another +1/+1 counter. If the token has a poison counter, proliferate adds another poison counter.
Can you proliferate for zero?
Yes, “any number” includes zero. You don’t have to choose any permanents or players. It’s not a very common play, but technically allowed.
Does Hexproof block proliferate?
No, Hexproof does not block proliferate. Proliferate doesn’t target, so Hexproof (which prevents targeting) is irrelevant.
Does protection stop proliferate?
Similarly, protection also does not prevent proliferate, as protection only protects against damage, targeting, enchanting/equipping/fortifying, and blocking (DEBT). Proliferate is none of these.
Can you proliferate Planeswalker loyalty counters?
Yes, you can absolutely proliferate loyalty counters on planeswalkers, since planeswalkers are permanents that have counters. This is one of the most common uses of the proliferate mechanic.
Can you proliferate toxic?
Yes, you can proliferate poison counters on players. This is another common and potent use of proliferate, especially in decks built around the poison mechanic.
Does proliferate trigger heroic?
No, proliferate does not trigger heroic abilities. Heroic abilities trigger when a creature becomes the target of a spell you cast. Proliferate does not target.
Does proliferate count as putting a counter?
Yes, proliferate is considered to be a way to put counters on permanents and players. Cards that trigger when a counter is placed will trigger when a counter is placed through proliferate.
Can you proliferate more than once per turn?
Yes, you can proliferate as many times per turn as you have effects that allow you to do so. Some cards even provide ways to proliferate multiple times in a single action.
Does proliferate work with +1/+1 counters?
Yes. Proliferate adds counters to permanents or players that have counters. If there is a permanent or player with +1/+1 counters, proliferate will put more +1/+1 counters on that permanent or player.
Can you proliferate amass?
The Amass mechanic puts +1/+1 counters on an Army token. Since you can put +1/+1 counters on that token, you can proliferate to add even more +1/+1 counters.
Does deathtouch apply poison counters?
Deathtouch, on its own, doesn’t apply poison counters. However, there are cards that grant poison counters as a result of combat damage from a creature with deathtouch, but that’s a separate effect tied to a specific card.
The Power of Proliferate
Proliferate is a versatile and powerful mechanic that can significantly enhance a variety of strategies. Its ability to duplicate existing counters makes it a perfect fit for decks that focus on building up counters on creatures, planeswalkers, or even opponents. Understanding the nuances of how it interacts with tokens, and all types of counters in general, will enable you to utilize this mechanic to its fullest potential. Whether you’re spreading poison, building a token army, or protecting your planeswalkers, proliferate is a potent tool in your Magic: The Gathering arsenal.
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