Unveiling the Counter-Hoarding Artifact: The Ozolith in Magic: The Gathering
The Magic: The Gathering artifact that most prominently keeps and manipulates counters is The Ozolith. This card, introduced in the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set, is a colorless artifact that acts as a temporary repository for counters from creatures leaving the battlefield, allowing you to later redistribute those counters onto another creature. This makes it a powerful engine for building up massive creatures over time.
Understanding The Ozolith’s Mechanics
The Ozolith’s ability is two-fold:
- Counter Storage: “Whenever a creature you control leaves the battlefield, if it had counters on it, put those counters on The Ozolith.” This means that if any creature you control dies, is exiled, or otherwise leaves the battlefield while having counters on it (such as +1/+1 counters, shield counters, etc.), those counters are transferred to The Ozolith.
- Counter Redistribution: “At the beginning of combat on your turn, if The Ozolith has counters on it, you may move all counters from The Ozolith onto target creature.” This allows you to then place all the counters stored on The Ozolith onto a creature you control during your pre-combat main phase, effectively buffing that creature significantly.
This makes The Ozolith an extremely versatile card, capable of turning small sacrifices into massive power boosts. The potential for strategic gameplay is considerable, requiring players to think carefully about creature placement, counter accumulation, and opportune moments to transfer the counters for maximum impact. The Games Learning Society has explored these kinds of strategic considerations in games like Magic: The Gathering extensively, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of such gameplay. You can learn more at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
The Power of The Ozolith
The Ozolith is particularly potent in decks that focus on:
- Creature Sacrifice: Decks that intentionally sacrifice creatures for value can use The Ozolith to essentially convert those sacrifices into permanent buffs for other creatures.
- Counter Synergies: Decks that already utilize counters, such as +1/+1 counter strategies or decks that use other types of counters like shield counters or oil counters, will find The Ozolith to be a natural fit.
- Resilience: The Ozolith’s ability to preserve counters even when creatures die makes it a powerful tool for recovering from board wipes or other forms of removal.
- Evolving Board States: This artifact changes the risk/reward balance of engagements. Opponents must consider what the repercussions are to removal or damage spells.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Counters and Artifacts in Magic: The Gathering
1. What types of counters can The Ozolith store?
The Ozolith can store virtually any type of counter, not just +1/+1 counters. This includes -1/-1 counters, charge counters, loyalty counters (though these are usually on planeswalkers), shield counters, stun counters, and more. Essentially, if a counter can be placed on a creature, it can be transferred to The Ozolith.
2. Does The Ozolith work with creatures that flicker (are temporarily exiled and then returned to the battlefield)?
Yes! When a creature flickers, it leaves the battlefield and then returns. If it had counters on it when it left, those counters will be transferred to The Ozolith. However, if a creature returns as a new object, it won’t retain any counters.
3. What happens if The Ozolith leaves the battlefield? Do the counters disappear?
Yes, if The Ozolith is destroyed or exiled, all counters on it are simply lost. Unlike Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, counters are not retained when The Ozolith changes zones.
4. Can I move the counters from The Ozolith onto an artifact creature?
Yes, you can move the counters from The Ozolith onto any creature you control, including artifact creatures. The key is that the target must be a creature at the time you activate the ability.
5. If a creature with indestructible has counters on it and is “destroyed,” do the counters still go to The Ozolith?
Yes. Indestructible prevents a permanent from being destroyed due to lethal damage or effects that say “destroy.” However, if the permanent leaves the battlefield for another reason (e.g., exile, being sacrificed, being returned to its owner’s hand, etc.), the counters will go to The Ozolith.
6. Can I use The Ozolith to move counters onto a creature on my opponent’s side of the battlefield?
No. The Ozolith’s ability specifically states “target creature you control.” You cannot target an opponent’s creature with this ability.
7. How does The Ozolith interact with Skullbriar, the Walking Grave?
Skullbriar is a special case. Its ability states that it retains all counters even when it changes zones. Therefore, if Skullbriar leaves the battlefield with counters on it, it will keep those counters when it moves to the graveyard or exile. The Ozolith will not receive those counters because Skullbriar retains them.
8. Can The Ozolith move counters onto a creature that is summoning sick?
Yes. Summoning sickness only prevents a creature from attacking or activating abilities with the tap symbol on the turn it enters the battlefield. It does not prevent you from targeting it with The Ozolith’s ability and moving counters onto it.
9. If I control multiple Ozoliths, do the counters get divided between them?
No. Each Ozolith is a separate object. When a creature leaves the battlefield with counters, you choose one Ozolith to put those counters on. The counters are not divided.
10. Does The Ozolith trigger when a token creature with counters on it leaves the battlefield?
Yes, The Ozolith’s ability triggers when any creature you control leaves the battlefield with counters on it, including token creatures.
11. If I proliferate, do the new counters go to The Ozolith?
No. Proliferate adds counters to permanents and/or players. It does not involve a creature leaving the battlefield. Therefore, proliferate does not trigger The Ozolith’s first ability.
12. What happens if I have a creature with both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on it?
State-based actions in Magic: The Gathering dictate that if a permanent has both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on it, the same number of each type of counter are removed from it until only one type of counter remains, or until all counters are removed. If, after this process, the creature leaves the battlefield, only the remaining counters are moved to The Ozolith.
13. Can lands have counters placed on them using The Ozolith?
No, The Ozolith can only move its counters onto a creature that is under your control. Since lands cannot be creatures unless they are somehow temporarily animated, such as by a spell. A land turning into a creature does not retain the counters once it returns to being only a land.
14. Is there a way to prevent counters from being moved onto The Ozolith?
Not directly. The Ozolith’s ability to gain counters when a creature leaves the battlefield is a triggered ability. The best way to prevent the counters from going to The Ozolith is to prevent the creature from leaving the battlefield or to prevent the counters from being on the creature in the first place. For example, giving a creature indestructible can prevent it from being destroyed, thus preventing the Ozolith’s trigger.
15. How does The Ozolith work in a Commander (EDH) deck?
The Ozolith is an excellent addition to many Commander decks. Because Commander games tend to last longer and involve more creatures, there are more opportunities to accumulate counters on The Ozolith. It’s particularly strong in decks that have a “sacrifice” theme, like Aristocrats decks, or decks that focus on building up a single, powerful creature, sometimes called Voltron decks.