Do Copies of Creatures Get Counters?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, copying a creature can be a powerful way to create an additional army on the battlefield. But one question that often comes up is whether these copied creatures inherit the counters or auras that were placed on the original creature. In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and provide some key takeaways to help you make the most of your copied creatures.
Copyability of Counters and Auras
The basic rule is that counters and auras are not copiable. This means that when you copy a creature, it will not automatically inherit the counters or auras that were placed on the original creature. For example, if you have a creature with a +2/+2 counter on it and you copy it, the copied creature will not automatically gain the same counter.
Layer 1 vs. Layer 2 Objects
To understand why this is the case, let’s talk about the two layers of objects in Magic: The Gathering. Layer 1 objects are permanent cards that are on the battlefield, such as creatures, lands, and enchantments. Layer 2 objects are non-permanent cards that are in your hand or on the stack, such as spells, planeswalkers, and triggered abilities.
When you copy a creature, you’re creating a new Layer 1 object that is based on the original creature. Because the copied creature is a new object, it doesn’t automatically inherit the counters or auras that were placed on the original creature. Instead, you need to apply the copied creature’s effects separately, as if it were a new object.
Temporary and Permanent Counters
There are two types of counters in Magic: temporary and permanent. Temporary counters are counters that are only applied for a short time, such as a spell that gives a creature +2/+2 until end of turn. Permanent counters, on the other hand, are counters that stay on a creature permanently, such as a +2/+2 counter that can be added to a creature by an enchantment.
Do Copies of Creatures Gain Temporary Counters?
In general, copies of creatures do not gain temporary counters. For example, if you have a spell that gives a creature +2/+2 until end of turn, and you copy that creature, the copied creature will not gain the same temporary counter. This is because temporary counters are only applied to specific objects, and the copied creature is a new object.
Do Copies of Creatures Gain Permanent Counters?
On the other hand, copies of creatures can gain permanent counters if the original creature had them. For example, if you have a creature with a +2/+2 counter on it and you copy it, the copied creature will gain the same permanent counter. This is because permanent counters are based on the object’s characteristic, and the copied creature inherits the same characteristics as the original creature.
Key Takeaways
To summarize, here are some key takeaways about copied creatures and counters:
• Counters are not copiable: When you copy a creature, it does not automatically inherit the counters or auras that were placed on the original creature.
• Layer 1 vs. Layer 2 objects: Copies of creatures are new Layer 1 objects that are separate from the original creature. This means that they do not automatically inherit the characteristics of the original creature, including counters.
• Temporary and permanent counters: Temporary counters are only applied to specific objects, while permanent counters are based on the object’s characteristic and can be inherited by a copied creature.
• Gaining permanent counters: Copies of creatures can gain permanent counters if the original creature had them, while temporary counters are not gained by copied creatures.
By understanding how counters work when copying creatures, you can make more informed decisions when building your deck and developing your strategy. Remember that copied creatures are new objects with their own characteristics, and you need to apply their effects separately to reap the benefits of copying your creatures.