Modular

For the design concept, see Mechanic#Modular.

Modular
Keyword Ability
Type	Static (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability)
Introduced	Darksteel
Last used	Modern Horizons
Reminder Text	Modular N (This comes into play with N +1/+1 counters on it. When it's put into a graveyard, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
Statistics	12 cards 100%
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keyword:"Modular"

Modular is a keyword ability that allows artifact creatures to come into play with a number of +1/+1 counters, and put those counters on another artifact creature when the creature goes to a graveyard.

History

Modular appeared in Darksteel and Fifth Dawn. The only creatures to appear with Modular also had "Arcbound" in the title, until the release of Modern Horizons.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Modular

A keyword ability that has a permanent enter the battlefield with +1/+1 counters on it and can move those counters to other artifact creatures. See rule 702.43, “Modular.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 702.43. Modular
  • 702.43a Modular represents both a static ability and a triggered ability. “Modular N” means “This permanent enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it” and “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may put a +1/+1 counter on target artifact creature for each +1/+1 counter on this permanent.”
  • 702.43b If a creature has multiple instances of modular, each one works separately.

Rulings

• If an Arcbound creature gets enough -1/-1 counters to make its toughness 0 or cause the damage on it to now be lethal, the Modular ability will still give another artifact creature a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number the Arcbound creature had before it got -1/-1 counters.
• For the comes-into-play ability, the number of counters the permanent gets is equal to the number that follows "modular" on the card.
• For the leaves-play ability, the number of counters on the permanent at the time it left play is what's relevant; the number after "modular" doesn't matter.
• When a creature with modular leaves play, you may put the counters onto a single target artifact creature. You can't split them among two or more artifact creatures.

Examples

Example

Arcbound Bruiser
Artifact Creature — Golem
0/0
Modular 3 (This comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it. When it's put into a graveyard, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)