Does Proliferate Apply to Planeswalkers? A Comprehensive Guide
The short, direct, and definitive answer is: Yes, proliferate absolutely applies to planeswalkers. Proliferate is a potent mechanic in Magic: The Gathering, and its versatility extends to manipulating loyalty counters on planeswalkers, making it a powerful tool in many strategies. But how exactly does it work, and what are the nuances? Let’s dive deep into the world of proliferate and planeswalkers.
Understanding Proliferate
Proliferate is a keyword action that allows you to add a counter of any type already present on a permanent or player. The formal rules text is simple: “Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind that permanent or player already has.” This means if a permanent has multiple kinds of counters, you add one of each. The crucial point here is the phrase “any kind,” which includes loyalty counters found on planeswalkers.
How Proliferate Affects Planeswalkers
Planeswalkers enter the battlefield with a set number of loyalty counters, determined by the card itself. These counters act as their “life total”. Activating loyalty abilities involves adding or removing these counters as costs. When you use a proliferate effect, you can choose a planeswalker you control that already has loyalty counters. As a result, the planeswalker will gain an additional loyalty counter. This can significantly extend their lifespan on the battlefield and enable you to access their more powerful ultimate abilities.
Examples of Proliferate in Action
Imagine you have a planeswalker with three loyalty counters and you cast a spell with proliferate. You choose that planeswalker when the proliferate ability resolves. As a result, that planeswalker now has four loyalty counters. If there are two planeswalkers on the field with one having two and the other having five loyalty counters, both can be chosen for proliferate and after the ability resolves, the planeswalker with two loyalty counters now has three and the other now has six.
It is also important to note that proliferate is not a targeted ability. You choose the permanent or player you are going to add counters to which means that you can choose a hexproof permanent to proliferate.
Proliferate’s Impact on Strategies
Proliferate is a valuable tool for strategies that are centered on or supported by planeswalkers. Proliferate can allow you to utilize low loyalty planeswalkers as strong engine pieces since they can gain loyalty quickly through proliferate effects or for a late game bomb that has a strong ultimate ability. This is because proliferate works well in any strategy which requires counters to be placed. The effect is very versatile and can be utilized in a multitude of different ways depending on what you are trying to accomplish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Proliferate and Planeswalkers
Here are 15 of the most frequently asked questions surrounding proliferate and planeswalkers:
1. Can you proliferate loyalty counters on planeswalkers?
Yes, you absolutely can. Loyalty counters are just one type of counter that proliferate can add. If a planeswalker has at least one loyalty counter, you can choose it as a target for proliferate.
2. Does proliferate target?
No, proliferate does not target. It uses the word ‘choose’ which is similar to clone. This means you can add counters to permanents with hexproof.
3. Does Doubling Season affect planeswalkers entering the battlefield?
Yes, Doubling Season doubles the number of loyalty counters a planeswalker enters the battlefield with. If a planeswalker should enter with 3 loyalty counters it will enter with 6 instead. This does not affect loyalty abilities of planeswalkers though.
4. Does Doubling Season double loyalty counters added by activated abilities?
No, Doubling Season does not double loyalty counters added as a cost. The ability itself will still only add the base amount that the loyalty ability says.
5. Does Vorinclex affect planeswalkers entering with double counters?
Yes, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider causes your planeswalkers to enter the battlefield with double the normal number of loyalty counters. Your opponent’s walkers enter with half. He also doubles the number of counters your +N loyalty abilities add, and halves your opponents.
6. How do you get more loyalty on planeswalkers?
The most common way to gain loyalty counters is by activating the planeswalkers’ plus loyalty abilities. However, you can also add loyalty counters through proliferate or other effects that place counters on permanents.
7. Can you proliferate +1/+1 counters?
Generally yes, but it depends on the set. In some sets there are no +1/+1 counters, such as in sets focused on Oil counters. In these instances, you will not be able to proliferate the +1/+1 counters.
8. Can you proliferate more than once per turn?
Yes, you can proliferate multiple times per turn if you have multiple cards or abilities that allow you to do so. Each instance of proliferate is resolved separately.
9. Does Deathtouch affect planeswalkers?
Deathtouch does not directly affect planeswalkers since they are not creatures. Damage is dealt to planeswalkers, removing loyalty counters. Unless there is a specific ability such as Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence which would allow a deathtouch creature to destroy a planeswalker, deathtouch does not apply to planeswalkers.
10. Can you proliferate toxic counters?
Yes, proliferate can add more toxic counters to players that already have at least one.
11. Can you have multiple planeswalkers with the same name on the battlefield?
No, you cannot have two planeswalkers with the exact same name. However, you can have different versions of the same planeswalker such as Garruk, Unleashed and Garruk, Cursed Huntsman.
12. Can a legendary planeswalker be a commander?
Some planeswalkers are written to be able to act as a commander and thus can be a commander if they have the text that specifically states they can act as such.
13. Can a planeswalker go to negative loyalty?
Yes, a planeswalker can reach negative loyalty. The game checks if a planeswalker has 0 loyalty and will immediately put it into the graveyard at that point.
14. Can you bring a planeswalker to 0 loyalty?
No, a planeswalker is immediately put into the graveyard when its loyalty reaches 0. It is a state based action.
15. Can you copy a planeswalker ability?
Yes, you can copy a planeswalker ability. The source of the copy is the same as the source of the original ability.
Conclusion
Proliferate is a versatile mechanic that directly benefits planeswalkers, allowing players to accelerate their loyalty gain. It can also manipulate other counters on the battlefield, but its synergy with loyalty counters makes it particularly useful for planeswalker-centric strategies. The fact that proliferate isn’t a targeted ability further enhances its value. Knowing the interactions of proliferate with planeswalkers and other mechanics can provide a major advantage in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. So, next time you have a chance to proliferate, don’t forget about your planeswalkers, they might just be your key to victory.