Does Doubling Season Make Planeswalkers Enter with Double Loyalty?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Planeswalkers are formidable creatures that possess unique abilities and powers. Doubling Season, on the other hand, is a card that provides a temporary bonus to the number of mana available for use. But can these two elements combine? Does Doubling Season truly make Planeswalkers enter the battlefield with double loyalty?
The Facts
According to the official ruling from Wizards of the Coast (Wizards), doubling only applies to counts that are triggered by the entering creature’s enter the battlefield effect. This means that abilities that put loyalty counters on Planeswalkers, such as gain X loyalty, are not doubled by Doubling Season.
How Doubling Season Affects Planeswalker Counts
Here’s a breakdown of how Doubling Season affects Planeswalkers:
- Planeswalker abilities that add loyalty: Since these abilities don’t trigger from counts, they are not affected by Doubling Season. For example, Nissa, Vastwood Seer’s ability to put 2 loyalty counters on herself does not double in the presence of Doubling Season.
- Planeswalkers with triggered abilities: Counters triggered by the entering Planeswalker’s effect, such as Elspeth, Sun’s Zealot’s ability to lose 2 life, are doubled if Doubling Season is in effect.
Subheading: The Interactive Example
To illustrate this concept, imagine two scenarios:
Scenario 1
You have a Planeswalker in play with an ability that adds +2 loyalty. Without Doubling Season, the Planeswalker would put 2 loyalty counters on itself and gain the ability. With Doubling Season, the Planeswalker would still add 2 loyalty counters, but it would not double the effect to 4 loyalty counters.
Scenario 2
You have a Planeswalker that triggers an ability when it enters, such as a +1/+1 or -1/-1 effect based on the Planeswalker’s number of loyalty counters. With Doubling Season in effect, the Planeswalker would trigger the ability twice: once with the original loyalty and again with the doubled loyalty.
Conclusion: Doubling Season and Planeswalker Loyalty
In summary:
- Doubling Season does not double loyalty counters added by Planeswalker abilities.
- Only triggered abilities based on the entering creature’s count are doubled.
- Planerswalkers with abilities that add loyalty are not affected by Doubling Season.
When playing Magic, it’s essential to understand the intricacies of cards like Doubling Season and how they interact with other cards and abilities. By grasping this concept, you can make informed decisions and become a more strategic player.
Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I double the loyalty counters by placing Doubling Season on a permanents with a triggered effect?
- No, unless the triggered effect is based on a count triggered by the entering creature (e.g., +1 loyalty for each creature you control).
Do Planeswalker with abilities that add loyalty counters double them in the presence of Doubling Season?
- No, these abilities remain unaffected.
Will Doubling Season double the triggered abilities of Planeswalkers that enter the battlefield?
- Yes, if the triggered abilities rely on the entering creature’s count to trigger.