Delay counter

Delay counter
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Time.svg}}|70x70px]]
Counter
Use	Delaying effect to future upkeep
Placed on	Enchantment, Spell
Introduced	Tempest
Last used	Odyssey
Statistics
2 counter creation cards 50% 50%
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oracle:"Delay counter"

Delay counters are a type of counter introduced in Tempest. Both instances of it are used to delay effects to a later turn's upkeep.

Description

Delay counters first appeared in Tempest on Ertai's Meddling. It was an instant that allowed for the exile of a spell with delay counters equal to the number of additional mana used to cast. A counter is removed at each upkeep and a copy of the spell returns to the stack once all delay counters are removed from it.

They appeared once again on Delaying Shield in Odyssey. In this case it was an enchantment which would convert damage done to the player into Delay counters on it instead. Then at the beginning of upkeep the delay counters are removed and the player would take damage for each one unless they pay some mana to counteract it.

The different types of Delay counters do not currently interact.

Trivia

• In Magic Online, the counter is colored blue as its considered a neutral effect and shares its icon with Age, Depletion, Eon, Fade, Hour, Hourglass, Isolation, and Time counters.