Does Vorinclex make planeswalkers enter with double counters?

Does Vorinclex Make Planeswalkers Enter with Double Counters?

When it comes to Magic: The Gathering, planeswalkers are a crucial component of any deck. With their ability to wield powerful magic and manipulate the game’s state, they can be a game-changer in the right hands. However, what happens when a planeswalker is played on the battlefield? Does Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider’s ability to double the number of counters on a spell or ability have any effect on the starting loyalty counters of a planeswalker? Let’s dive into the details.

The Short Answer

According to the official Magic: The Gathering rulings, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider’s ability does indeed affect planeswalkers. When a planeswalker enters the battlefield, it gains double the number of loyalty counters it would normally start with. This means that if a planeswalker has a loyalty counter printed on it, it will enter the battlefield with two loyalty counters instead of one.

The Longer Explanation

To understand how this works, let’s break down the relevant rules. According to the Comprehensive Ruling 603.1, planeswalkers have an intrinsic ability that causes them to gain loyalty counters as they enter the battlefield. This ability is defined by the plane’s text box, and its effects are determined by the plane’s flavor text.

Vorinclex’s Ability

Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider’s ability reads: "Whenever you play a spell or ability from exile, you may double the number of counters that ability would put on you or planeswalkers you control." Bolded for emphasis, this ability targets planeswalkers you control and allows you to double the number of loyalty counters they would normally gain from an ability.

The Interaction

When a planeswalker enters the battlefield, it gains loyalty counters through its intrinsic ability. Vorinclex’s ability then triggers, allowing you to double the number of loyalty counters the planeswalker would normally gain. This means that instead of gaining one loyalty counter, the planeswalker gains two.

Example

Let’s consider an example to illustrate this interaction:

You play a planeswalker, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, which has a loyalty counter printed on it. According to Oloro’s intrinsic ability, it would normally gain one loyalty counter as it enters the battlefield.

However, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider is on the battlefield, and its ability triggers. The ability doubles the number of loyalty counters Oloro would normally gain, so instead of gaining one, it gains two loyalty counters.

Conclusion

In summary, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider’s ability does indeed make planeswalkers enter with double loyalty counters. This interaction is significant, as it can greatly impact the strategy and gameplay of a deck that combines Vorinclex with planeswalkers.

Important Points to Keep in Mind

• Vorinclex’s ability targets planeswalkers you control, not planeswalkers in general.
• The ability triggers when a planeswalker enters the battlefield, and it doubles the number of loyalty counters they would normally gain.
• This interaction applies to all planeswalkers, including ones with intrinsic abilities that gain loyalty counters.

Additional Resources

• Comprehensive Ruling 603.1: This ruling explains how planeswalkers gain loyalty counters when they enter the battlefield.
• Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider’s ability: This ability reads: "Whenever you play a spell or ability from exile, you may double the number of counters that ability would put on you or planeswalkers you control."
• Example: This example illustrates how Vorinclex’s ability interacts with a planeswalker’s intrinsic ability to gain loyalty counters.