<p>While Glorfindel has already <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/49846/25333">answered</a> this question, the rulings on Gatherer reinforce that Thought Sponge's effect is a replacement effect:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Thought Sponge gets its +1/+1 counters at the moment it enters the
  battlefield. There’s not a time that it’s on the battlefield before
  its replacement effect has applied.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-16T20:26:42.173Z
2020-01-16T20:26:42.173Z
Raj
<p>Unfortunately for you, Thought Sponge won't trigger again. In fact, it doesn't even trigger at all, since it is indeed a replacement effect:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>614.1c Effects that read “[This permanent] enters the battlefield with . . . ,” “As [this permanent] enters the battlefield . . . ,” or “[This permanent] enters the battlefield as . . . “ are replacement effects.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and as you noted, replacement effects are unaffected by Yarok's ability.</p>

<p>A similar card which <em>is</em> affected by Yarok is <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPropeller%20Pioneer%5d">Propeller Pioneer</a> which has the Fabricate 1 ability:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is a triggered ability:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>603.1. Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[When/Whenever/At] [trigger condition or event], [effect]. [Instructions (if any).]”</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-07T15:16:14.743Z
Might be worth stating that if Thought Sponge's wording was "When Thought Sponge Enters the Battlefield, put a number of +1/+1 counters on it...", that would be a triggered ability and would be doubled.

Additionally, if there was a card like Doubling Season or Corpsejack Menace on your board, the number of counters would be doubled.
Soulus101
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-07T15:18:44.423Z
@Soulus101 any examples of those cards? (When ... enters the battlefield, put X +1/+1 counters on it...") My gut feeling says Wizards wouldn't print them, because they would be so similar yet different.
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-07T15:21:56.837Z
It's more to a point of "this is what a triggered ability would look like", rather than "and this exists". However, as it happens, the "Fabricate" mechanic from Aether Revolt does this (sort of), and similar effects exist.
Soulus101
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-27T12:37:09.603Z
@Glorfindel cards like that are rare for another reason, most of the cards that enter with +1/+1 counters based on something in the game state are base 0/0, and would die before the counters were added as SBA if it was a triggered ability rather than a replacement effect.
Andrew
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-04T16:14:47.020Z
2020-01-07T15:24:45.710Z
2020-01-07T15:24:45.710Z
Glorfindel
<h2>Situation</h2>
<p>I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bYarok%2c%20the%20Desecrated%5d">Yarok, the Desecrated</a> on the battlefield:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If a permanent entering the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I play <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bThought%20Sponge%5d">Thought Sponge</a>, after my opponent drew three cards this turn:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Thought Sponge enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the greatest number of cards an opponent has drawn this turn.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Does this creature's triggered ability trigger an additional time? Is it entering as a 4/4, or as a 7/7?</p>
<h2>Confusion</h2>
<p>I'm not sure whether this effect counts as replacement effect, as mentioned in the rulings of Yarok:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>7/12/2019.</em> Replacement effects are unaffected by Yarok’s ability. For example, a creature that enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter on it won’t receive an additional +1/+1 counter.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-04T19:06:29.237Z
That is not a triggered ability. *113.3c Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[Trigger condition], [effect],” and include (and usually begin with) the word “when,” “whenever,” or “at.” [...]*
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering><mtg-commander>
How does Thought Sponge interact with Yarok, the Desecrated?
Lainathiel
# How does Thought Sponge interact with Yarok, the Desecrated?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-04)

## Situation

I have [Yarok, the Desecrated](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bYarok%2c%20the%20Desecrated%5d) on the battlefield:

> If a permanent entering the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.

I play [Thought Sponge](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bThought%20Sponge%5d), after my opponent drew three cards this turn:

> Thought Sponge enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the greatest number of cards an opponent has drawn this turn.

Does this creature's triggered ability trigger an additional time? Is it entering as a 4/4, or as a 7/7?

## Confusion

I'm not sure whether this effect counts as replacement effect, as mentioned in the rulings of Yarok:

> *7/12/2019.* Replacement effects are unaffected by Yarok’s ability. For example, a creature that enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter on it won’t receive an additional +1/+1 counter.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-commander

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That is not a triggered ability. *113.3c Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[Trigger condition], [effect],” and include (and usually begin with) the word “when,” “whenever,” or “at.” [...]*  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-01-04. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Unfortunately for you, Thought Sponge won't trigger again. In fact, it doesn't even trigger at all, since it is indeed a replacement effect:

> 614.1c Effects that read “[This permanent] enters the battlefield with . . . ,” “As [this permanent] enters the battlefield . . . ,” or “[This permanent] enters the battlefield as . . . “ are replacement effects.

and as you noted, replacement effects are unaffected by Yarok's ability.

A similar card which *is* affected by Yarok is [Propeller Pioneer](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPropeller%20Pioneer%5d) which has the Fabricate 1 ability:

> When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.

This is a triggered ability:

> 603.1. Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[When/Whenever/At] [trigger condition or event], [effect]. [Instructions (if any).]”

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Might be worth stating that if Thought Sponge's wording was "When Thought Sponge Enters the Battlefield, put a number of +1/+1 counters on it...", that would be a triggered ability and would be doubled.  Additionally, if there was a card like Doubling Season or Corpsejack Menace on your board, the number of counters would be doubled.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 any examples of those cards? (When ... enters the battlefield, put X +1/+1 counters on it...") My gut feeling says Wizards wouldn't print them, because they would be so similar yet different.  
> **username_4**: It's more to a point of "this is what a triggered ability would look like", rather than "and this exists". However, as it happens, the "Fabricate" mechanic from Aether Revolt does this (sort of), and similar effects exist.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 cards like that are rare for another reason, most of the cards that enter with +1/+1 counters based on something in the game state are base 0/0, and would die before the counters were added as SBA if it was a triggered ability rather than a replacement effect.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-16. Score: 1

While username_3 has already [answered](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/49846/25333) this question, the rulings on Gatherer reinforce that Thought Sponge's effect is a replacement effect:

> Thought Sponge gets its +1/+1 counters at the moment it enters the
> battlefield. There’s not a time that it’s on the battlefield before
> its replacement effect has applied.


---

