<p>Counters are a specific object in the game, usually represented by a physical token (glass beads, tiny dice, pennies if you're desperate, &amp;c.) so you can keep track of them.</p>

<p>+1/+1 counters are a specific kind of counter with a baked-in ability: modifying the power and toughness of a creature they are attached to.</p>

<p><strong>Only things specified as "counters" in the game rules or card text are counters.</strong></p>

<p>All of these things are <strong>not</strong> counters and do not involve counters:</p>

<ul>
<li>Your creature's base power and toughness, and effects that set them to specific values.</li>
<li>A creature's power and toughness that gets set by the card text while the value in the corner just says "*/*."</li>
<li>A card that modifies a creature's power and toughness, such as "target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn" or "all white creatures get +1/+1."</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>The only times you're likely to be interacting with counters in Magic without a card being super explicit are planeswalker loyalty and a handful of specialized set mechanics:</p>

<ul>
<li>Infect and Wither turn damage into -1/-1 counters.</li>
<li>Suspend and cumulative upkeep both use counters to keep track of their "ticks."</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-08T17:19:17.620Z
2016-07-09T03:27:37.053Z
2016-07-09T03:27:37.053Z
Alex P
<p>I put 4 +1/+1 counters on a 1/1 creature, so now it is a 5/5. My opponent casts a spell that says to remove all +1/+1 counters from target creature. Is my creature now a 1/1? Or are all creatures 0/0 with +1 counters on them?  If they are 0/0s, then since all counters would be removed, is my card dead?</p>

<p>Related, can I use <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSage%20of%20Hours%5d">Sage of Hours</a>, again and again, or would it be dead after the first time I use it due to removing all counters?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-08T18:04:12.617Z
When asking a question about terminology, I would *always* name all of the cards involved. When you don't know the terminology, it can be a little more difficult to understand exactly what you are asking. Once we see the cards involved, the question usually becomes apparent.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-08T18:05:39.317Z
I have edited your post for clarity. I don't understand why you mention Oreskos or Ephrara; they don't have anything to do with +1/+1 counters.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-08T19:06:22.743Z
@Rainbolt  im sorry i confused myself,
Keshav
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-08T19:43:03.830Z
@Keshav Please do not edit out your primary question, particularly after it has been answered
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-09T02:24:29.553Z
sort of related: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/18214/are-1-1-counters-different-from-1-1-effects
Cascabel
<magic-the-gathering>
Are counters the same as a creature's power/toughness?
Keshav
# Are counters the same as a creature's power/toughness?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-08)

I put 4 +1/+1 counters on a 1/1 creature, so now it is a 5/5. My opponent casts a spell that says to remove all +1/+1 counters from target creature. Is my creature now a 1/1? Or are all creatures 0/0 with +1 counters on them? If they are 0/0s, then since all counters would be removed, is my card dead?

Related, can I use [Sage of Hours](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSage%20of%20Hours%5d), again and again, or would it be dead after the first time I use it due to removing all counters?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: When asking a question about terminology, I would *always* name all of the cards involved. When you don't know the terminology, it can be a little more difficult to understand exactly what you are asking. Once we see the cards involved, the question usually becomes apparent.  
> **username_2**: I have edited your post for clarity. I don't understand why you mention Oreskos or Ephrara; they don't have anything to do with +1/+1 counters.  
> **username_0**: @username_1  im sorry i confused myself,  
> **username_3**: @username_0 Please do not edit out your primary question, particularly after it has been answered  
> **username_4**: sort of related: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/18214/are-1-1-counters-different-from-1-1-effects  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-07-08. Score: 6

Counters are a specific object in the game, usually represented by a physical token (glass beads, tiny dice, pennies if you're desperate, &c.) so you can keep track of them.

+1/+1 counters are a specific kind of counter with a baked-in ability: modifying the power and toughness of a creature they are attached to.

**Only things specified as "counters" in the game rules or card text are counters.**

All of these things are **not** counters and do not involve counters:

* Your creature's base power and toughness, and effects that set them to specific values.
* A creature's power and toughness that gets set by the card text while the value in the corner just says "\*/\*."
* A card that modifies a creature's power and toughness, such as "target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn" or "all white creatures get +1/+1."

---

The only times you're likely to be interacting with counters in Magic without a card being super explicit are planeswalker loyalty and a handful of specialized set mechanics:

* Infect and Wither turn damage into -1/-1 counters.
* Suspend and cumulative upkeep both use counters to keep track of their "ticks."


---

