What Does Proliferate Mean in Magic: The Gathering?
In Magic: The Gathering, proliferate is a keyword action introduced in Scars of Mirrodin. It allows players to increase the number of counters on permanents and/or players. In this article, we will delve into the world of proliferate, explaining what it means, how it works, and some key examples.
What is Proliferate?
Proliferate is a keyword action that lets players choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them and then add one more counter of each kind to them. This means that if a player has a token with a +1/+1 counter, proliferate would add another +1/+1 counter to it, making it a stronger creature.
How Does Proliferate Work?
Here’s an example of how proliferate works:
- A player has a creature with a +1/+1 counter.
- They use an ability that says "Proliferate" (e.g., Adored Luxuriant).
- They choose the creature with the +1/+1 counter as a target.
- The player adds another +1/+1 counter to the creature, making it a +2/+2 creature.
Proliferate and Counters
Proliferate works with all types of counters, including:
- +1/+1 counters
- -1/-1 counters
- Poison counters
- Loyalty counters
Here’s an example of how proliferate works with different types of counters:
| Counter Type | Initial Counters | Proliferate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1/+1 | 1 | Add another +1/+1 counter | 2 |
| -1/-1 | 1 | Add another -1/-1 counter | 2 |
| Poison | 3 | Add another poison counter | 4 |
| Loyalty | 2 | Add another loyalty counter | 3 |
Proliferate and Players
Proliferate can also be used on players, adding poison counters to them. For example, if a player has 3 poison counters, proliferate would add another poison counter, making them lose the game.
Proliferate and Abilities
Proliferate can trigger abilities that are activated by adding counters. For example, if a creature has an ability that says "Whenever this creature gets a +1/+1 counter, you may cast a creature spell," proliferate would trigger this ability.
Proliferate and Interactions
Proliferate can interact with other card effects in interesting ways. For example, if a card says "Destroy all tokens with a +1/+1 counter," proliferate would add more +1/+1 counters to the tokens, making them ineligible for destruction.
Key Examples of Proliferate
Here are some key examples of cards that use proliferate:
| Card Name | Mana Cost | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Adored Luxuriant | 2GG | Proliferate. |
| Echoing Truth | 2UU | Proliferate. |
| Kiora, Master of the Depths | 4GU | Whenever Kiora, Master of the Depths deals combat damage to a player, you may choose a creature card in that player’s graveyard. Return that card to the battlefield under your control. Whenever a creature card is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may cast it from your graveyard for its mana cost. If you do, proliferate. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, proliferate is a powerful keyword action in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to increase the number of counters on permanents and/or players. It can be used to make creatures stronger, trigger abilities, and add poison counters to players. By understanding how proliferate works and its interactions with other card effects, you can improve your gameplay and become a more formidable player.