Backup

Backup
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Backup.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Introduced	March of the Machine
Last used	March of the Machine
Reminder Text	Backup N (When this creature enters the battlefield, put N +1/+1 counters on target creature. If that’s another creature, it gains the following abilities until end of turn.)
Statistics	25 cards 24% 4% 16% 28% 24% 4%
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keyword:"Backup"

Backup is a keyword ability introduced in March of the Machine.

Description

When a card with Backup enters the battlefield, players may put a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature equal to the Backup number. If another target creature is chosen, that creature also temporarily gains all abilities printed after the Backup ability. The mechanic was designed to represent the forces of each plane defending their homes from New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse together.

To avoid the confusion of ability granting and self-referential text, Backup creatures use the technically more accurate "this creature" phrasing for abilities intended to be granted. While using their own name would work rules-wise, this form of ability copying has often been confusing.

Rules

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

Backup

A keyword ability that lets a creature give +1/+1 counters to itself or another when it enters the battlefield. If a different creature is chosen, that creature also temporarily gains one or more abilities. See rule 702.165, “Backup.”

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

• 702.165. Backup
  • 702.165a Backup is a triggered ability. “Backup N” means “When this creature enters the battlefield, put N +1/+1 counters on target creature. If that’s another creature, it also gains the non-backup abilities of this creature printed below this one until end of turn.” Cards with backup have one or more abilities printed after the backup ability. (Some cards with backup also have abilities printed before the backup ability.)
  • 702.165b If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a permanent with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that permanent, the order of abilities printed on it is maintained.
  • 702.165c Only abilities printed on the object with backup are granted by its backup ability. Any abilities gained by a permanent, whether due to a copy effect, an effect that grants an ability to a permanent, or an effect that creates a token with certain abilities, are not granted by a backup ability.
  • 702.165d The abilities that a backup ability grants are determined as the ability is put on the stack. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities after the ability is put on the stack but before it resolves.

Rulings

• Only abilities that are printed after Backup are granted to the target creature. Abilities printed before Backup are not granted to the target creature.
• If a player gives additional abilities to a creature in response to its Backup ability, those abilities are added before the printed Backup ability and are therefore not granted to the Backup target.
• If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won't gain additional abilities.
• If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities.
• If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained.
• Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects.
• The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won't change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves.

Examples

Example

Boon-Bringer Valkyrie
Creature — Angel Warrior
4/4
Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counters on target creature. If that’s another creature, it gains the following abilities until end of turn.)
Flying, first strike, lifelink

Trivia

• Backup was called "Boost" during design.
• The mechanic was originally designed by Ari Nieh.
• Backup's "printed below" clause could have some interesting applications regarding sharing only certain abilities, but it is merely used in conjunction with ability templating (hand or casting abilities above battlefield ones) to avoid granting extraneous non-battlefield abilities such as Flash (Saiba Cryptomancer) or Cycling (Gloomfang Mauler). Granting these would typically not have any impact, if not for Mutual Destruction and Abandoned Sarcophagus specifically.