Growing permanent
| Growing permanent | |
|---|---|
| Mechanic | |
| Introduced | Arabian Nights |
| Last used | Innistrad: Crimson Vow |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Growing permanents accumulate counters on its controller's turn, building up to produce an effect proportional to the number of counters. This effect debuted in Arabian Nights with Cyclone.
Starting with Fallen Empires numerous creatures (cards) grow spore counters during the upkeep. These are used for various effects, but often to produce 1/1 
Saproling tokens. This theming returned in Time Spiral block.
The mechanic was also prominently featured during the Urza's block on growing enchantments. These enchantments that start out without the ability to do anything but "grow" with time. While those in Urza's Saga all used verse counters and sacrificed themselves, the ones in Urza's Destiny were Auras and had more varied counter names and impacts. Both sets also featured growing artifacts.
While it was restricted to the upkeep for many years, this meant it would have zero effect until the player untapped, which was sometimes too slow. Some newer designs add counters at steps like the beginning of combat or the end step, which gives the caster a way to pick a time when the opponent was less able to interact.
Variants
- The Shrines from New Phyrexia (cards) have a bonus ability to gain counters when a spell of an appropriate color is cast.
- Goblin Bomb is a variant in which a coin flip decides if the enchantment grows or shrinks.