-1/-1 counter: Difference between revisions
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As a further concession to mitigate complexity, +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters are the only [[power]]/[[toughness]] altering counters used in new products.<ref name="Fits All" /> Additionally, they are never used in the same block, to minimize confusion in [[limited]] play.<ref name="Wither and Undying" /><ref name="Block not Standard" /> A small handful of cards from the earliest sets still use other, [[obsolete counters]]. | As a further concession to mitigate complexity, +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters are the only [[power]]/[[toughness]] altering counters used in new products.<ref name="Fits All" /> Additionally, they are never used in the same block, to minimize confusion in [[limited]] play.<ref name="Wither and Undying" /><ref name="Block not Standard" /> A small handful of cards from the earliest sets still use other, [[obsolete counters]]. | ||
At least one set between 2015 and 2022 was expected to use -1/-1 counters.<ref name="When are" /> That set was later revealed to be ''[[Amonkhet]]'', which features creatures that come into play with -1/-1 counters and shed them off each turn for an [[effect]].<ref>{{ | At least one set between 2015 and 2022 was expected to use -1/-1 counters.<ref name="When are" /> That set was later revealed to be ''[[Amonkhet]]'', which features creatures that come into play with -1/-1 counters and shed them off each turn for an [[effect]].<ref>{{DailyRef|card-preview/developing-amonkhet-2017-04-04|Developing ''Amonkhet''|[[Dave Humpherys]]|April 4, 2017}}</ref> -1/-1 counters are currently ranked at a 2 on the [[Storm Scale]].<ref name="Storm Scale" /> | ||
== Cancellation with +1/+1 counters == | == Cancellation with +1/+1 counters == | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist|refs= | {{reflist|refs= | ||
<ref name="Fits All">{{ | <ref name="Fits All">{{DailyRef|making-magic/11-size-fits-all-2008-02-11|+1/+1 Size Fits All|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 11, 2008}}</ref> | ||
<ref name="The Road">{{ | <ref name="The Road">{{DailyRef|making-magic/11-road-2005-09-26|+1/+1 For the Road|[[Mark Rosewater]]|September 26, 2005}}</ref> | ||
<ref name="When are">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/116155415598|title=When are -1/-1 counters coming back?|April 11, 2015}}</ref> | <ref name="When are">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/116155415598|title=When are -1/-1 counters coming back?|April 11, 2015}}</ref> | ||
<ref name="Storm Scale">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/157405990543/|title=Once upon a time, you rating -1/-1 counters at 1 on the Storm Scale. Should they be ranked higher, since they're deciduous, rather than evergreen?|2017-02-18}}</ref> | <ref name="Storm Scale">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/157405990543/|title=Once upon a time, you rating -1/-1 counters at 1 on the Storm Scale. Should they be ranked higher, since they're deciduous, rather than evergreen?|2017-02-18}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 23:01, 6 April 2019
| -1/-1 counter | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Minus.svg}}|70x70px]] | |
| Counter | |
| Use | Power and toughness alteration |
| Placed on | Creatures |
| Introduced | Arabian Nights |
| Last used | Amonkhet |
| Scryfall search | |
| oracle:"-1/-1 counter" | |
-1/-1 counters are the second most common counter type in Magic, following +1/+1 counters. They were introduced on the Arabian Nights card Unstable Mutation.[1]
Description
-1/-1 counters appear in all five colors, but are primarily in black and secondarily in green. Flavorwise, putting -1/-1 counters on a creature usually indicates a character being scarred or infected.
For ease of comprehension, blocks tend to focus on only a single type of counter on creatures. -1/-1 counters are used less often than +1/+1 counters because they have less available design space, due to their similarity to +1/+1 counters and their capacity to kill creatures and thereby simplify the game state.[1][2]
As a further concession to mitigate complexity, +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters are the only power/toughness altering counters used in new products.[1] Additionally, they are never used in the same block, to minimize confusion in limited play.[3][4] A small handful of cards from the earliest sets still use other, obsolete counters.
At least one set between 2015 and 2022 was expected to use -1/-1 counters.[5] That set was later revealed to be Amonkhet, which features creatures that come into play with -1/-1 counters and shed them off each turn for an effect.[6] -1/-1 counters are currently ranked at a 2 on the Storm Scale.[7]
Cancellation with +1/+1 counters
When both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters are present on the same creature, they are immediately removed in matched pairs until only one or the other remains.
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 121.3. If there are no cards in a player’s library and an effect offers that player the choice to draw a card, that player can choose to do so. However, if an effect says that a player can’t draw cards and another effect offers that player the choice to draw a card, that player can’t choose to do so.
- 121.3a The same principles apply if the player who’s making the choice is not the player who would draw the card. If the latter player has no cards in their library, the choice can be taken. If an effect says that the latter player can’t draw a card, the choice can’t be taken.
Mechanics
Because +1/+1 counters are the default creature counter,[8] -1/-1 counters have been used by far fewer mechanics. There are currently three keyworded mechanics using -1/-1 counters, all of them from Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block or Scars of Mirrodin block:
References
- ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (February 11, 2008). "+1/+1 Size Fits All". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 14, 2014). "Why are -1/-1 counters so infrequent?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 15, 2014). "Wither and undying in the same set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 9, 2015). "Wouldn't the rule...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 11, 2015). "When are -1/-1 counters coming back?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Dave Humpherys (April 4, 2017). "Developing Amonkhet". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2017-02-18). "Once upon a time, you rating -1/-1 counters at 1 on the Storm Scale. Should they be ranked higher, since they're deciduous, rather than evergreen?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 26, 2005). "+1/+1 For the Road". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.