Modular

Modular
Keyword Ability
Type	Static (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability)
Introduced	Darksteel
Last used	Modern Horizons 3
Reminder Text	Modular N (This enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
Storm Scale	7
Statistics	24 cards 12.5% 12.5% 4.2% 4.2% 62.5% 4.2%
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keyword:"Modular"

For the design concept, see Mechanic#Modular.

Modular is a keyword ability that causes a permanent to enter the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters. When that permanent dies, its controller may put a +1/+1 counter onto an artifact creature for each +1/+1 counter the permanent had on it when it died.

History

Modular first appeared in Darksteel and Fifth Dawn. Permanents with modular tend to hold similar qualities, in that they are all artifacts with zero printed power. Until the release of Modern Horizons, the only creatures with Modular also had "Arcbound" in the title, and Arcbound Javelineer is the first modular creature with nonzero printed toughness. Alongside other cards with modular, the first non-creature card with Modular - Power Depot - was printed in Modern Horizons 2. Modular cards also appeared in Universes Beyond Transformers and in Modern Horizons 3.

"Fixed Modular"

Mark Rosewater had stated that if R&D had modular to do over, they wouldn’t restrict it to artifact creatures (either who could have it or who could get the counters).

Star Pupil and Spiteful Squad from Strixhaven: School of Mages have a similar ability to Modular, but when they die, all counters on it of any type can be moved to any creature its controller controls. Similar cards also appear in later sets (e.g. Parish-Blade Trainee and Iron Apprentice). These are referred to as having "fixed Modular".

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 a creature with Modular gets enough -1/-1 counters to make its toughness 0 or cause the damage on it to be lethal, the Modular ability will still give another artifact creature a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number the Modular creature had before it got -1/-1 counters. See rule 704.8.
• For the enters-the-battlefield ability, the number of counters the permanent gets is equal to the number that follows the word "Modular" on the card.
• For the leaves-the-battlefield ability, the number of +1/+1 counters on the permanent at the time it left the battlefield is what's relevant; the number after "Modular" doesn't matter.
• When a creature with Modular dies, you may put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number it had onto a single target artifact creature. You can't split them among two or more artifact creatures, or put less than the number of counters it had when it died unless you choose not to use the ability.

Examples

Example

Arcbound Bruiser
Artifact Creature — Golem
0/0
Modular 3 (This enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)

Cards that grant Modular

Creatures

• Blaster, Combat DJ