<p>No, <strong>it has to be a +1/+1 counter</strong>. A counter is a very specific thing, see the <a href="http://media.wizards.com/2018/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020181005.txt" rel="noreferrer">comprehensive rules</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>121.1a A +X/+Y counter on a creature or on a creature card in a zone other than the battlefield, where X and Y are numbers, adds X to that object’s power and Y to that object’s toughness. Similarly, -X/-Y counters subtract from power and toughness. See rule 613.3.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>+1/+0 and +0/+1 counters do not magically combine into +1/+1 counters; the only counters that affect each other are +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>121.3. If a permanent has both a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter on it, N +1/+1 and N -1/-1 counters are removed from it as a state-based action, where N is the smaller of the number of +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on it. See rule 704.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Note that +X/+Y counters other than +1/+1 and -1/-1, like +1/+0 and +0/+1, are very rare; those boosts mostly happen as <em>temporary</em> effects (i.e. a target creature gains +1/+0 until end of turn). This is entirely different from a counter.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-18T20:36:18.677Z
2018-12-18T20:36:18.677Z
Glorfindel
<p>The ability refers specifically to "+1/+1 counters", so that is the only thing is would care about. A creature with a +1/+0 counter, or a +0/+1 counter, would not be affected.</p>

<p>It is worth noting that Magic stopped using +1/+0 and +0/+1 counters. Old cards may still have them, but they haven't been seen on any new cards in a long time. <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/11-size-fits-all-2008-02-11" rel="noreferrer">Here</a> is an article from 2008 explaining this decision.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-18T20:33:41.397Z
2018-12-18T20:33:41.397Z
GendoIkari
<p>I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHerald%20of%20Secret%20Streams%5d">Herald of Secret Streams</a>, with his ability</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them can't be blocked.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Say I were to put +1/+0 or +0/+1 on a creature, would Herald's ability still apply or does it have to be a +1/+1?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-18T20:38:24.373Z
Be careful about using terms such as "activate" here; it may make sense in English, but to activate an ability in MTG means something different than what this card does.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-20T06:57:49.177Z
Why do you think it means +1/+0 if it says +1/+1???
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering>
Does Herald of Secret Streams work with +1/+0 or +0/+1 counters?
Pweeen
# Does Herald of Secret Streams work with +1/+0 or +0/+1 counters?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-18)

I have [Herald of Secret Streams](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHerald%20of%20Secret%20Streams%5d), with his ability

> Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them can't be blocked.

Say I were to put +1/+0 or +0/+1 on a creature, would Herald's ability still apply or does it have to be a +1/+1?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Be careful about using terms such as "activate" here; it may make sense in English, but to activate an ability in MTG means something different than what this card does.  
> **username_2**: Why do you think it means +1/+0 if it says +1/+1???  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-12-18. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

No, **it has to be a +1/+1 counter**. A counter is a very specific thing, see the [comprehensive rules](http://media.wizards.com/2018/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020181005.txt):

> 121.1a A +X/+Y counter on a creature or on a creature card in a zone other than the battlefield, where X and Y are numbers, adds X to that object’s power and Y to that object’s toughness. Similarly, -X/-Y counters subtract from power and toughness. See rule 613.3.

+1/+0 and +0/+1 counters do not magically combine into +1/+1 counters; the only counters that affect each other are +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters:

> 121.3. If a permanent has both a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter on it, N +1/+1 and N -1/-1 counters are removed from it as a state-based action, where N is the smaller of the number of +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on it. See rule 704.

Note that +X/+Y counters other than +1/+1 and -1/-1, like +1/+0 and +0/+1, are very rare; those boosts mostly happen as *temporary* effects (i.e. a target creature gains +1/+0 until end of turn). This is entirely different from a counter.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-12-18. Score: 5

The ability refers specifically to "+1/+1 counters", so that is the only thing is would care about. A creature with a +1/+0 counter, or a +0/+1 counter, would not be affected.

It is worth noting that Magic stopped using +1/+0 and +0/+1 counters. Old cards may still have them, but they haven't been seen on any new cards in a long time. [Here](https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/11-size-fits-all-2008-02-11) is an article from 2008 explaining this decision.


---

