<p>The two actions (adding counters and the permanent type change) are two different steps of the same spell. That means they're executed separately:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>608.2c The controller of the spell or ability follows its instructions in the order written.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There's no rule prohibiting +1/+1 counters on a non-creature permanent. For example, the land <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLlanowar%20Reborn%5d">Llanowar Reborn</a> enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter.</p>

<p>So unfortunately Simic Ascendancy wouldn't trigger, as the counters are put on the land while it's not a creature yet.</p>

<p>Simic Ascendancy <em>would</em> trigger if the land was already also a creature prior to the spell resolving: for example, casting Awakening a second time on the same animated land, or casting it on a land that was animated by <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNissa%2c%20Who%20Shakes%20the%20World%5d">Nissa, Who Shakes the World</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T08:40:00.003Z
damn. thanks for clarification, I thought I was on something there ☺
bautista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T09:54:38.543Z
@bautista however if you animate it first with Nissa, then cast awakening, it does work...
fireshark519
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T21:17:09.037Z
And of course, there's always Dryad Arbor
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-21T07:18:17.970Z
@ike but unfortunately not standard legal
bautista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T08:27:53.047Z
2019-05-10T20:56:55.710Z
2019-05-10T20:56:55.710Z
Glorfindel
<p>Does <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAwakening%20of%20Vitu-Ghazi%5d">Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi</a> trigger the ability of <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSimic%20Ascendancy%5d">Simic Ascendancy</a>?</p>

<p>Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Put nine +1/+1 counters on target land you control. It becomes a legendary 0/0 Elemental creature with haste named Vitu-Ghazi.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So either the land gets the +1/+1 counters and <strong>afterwards</strong> becomes a creature.
Or it becomes a creature and then receives the +1/+1 counters. </p>

<p>To me the last assumption seems correct because it is irritating to me to be able to put +1/+1 counters on a land.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T21:16:15.573Z
It was probably done that way to avoid the situation where you temporarily have a 0/0 creature. It wouldn't be a problem because SBAs aren't checked during the resolution of a spell, but it would confuse some people.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T06:05:24.803Z
@ikegami well amass does exactly do this. Create a 0/0 token and then put +1/+1 counters on it.
bautista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T18:45:44.677Z
Amass was probably done that way to keep the text short. It avoids an entire "otherwise" clause.
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering>
Is Simic Ascendancy triggered by Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi?
bautista
# Is Simic Ascendancy triggered by Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-10)

Does [Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAwakening%20of%20Vitu-Ghazi%5d) trigger the ability of [Simic Ascendancy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSimic%20Ascendancy%5d)?

Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi says:

> Put nine +1/+1 counters on target land you control. It becomes a legendary 0/0 Elemental creature with haste named Vitu-Ghazi.

So either the land gets the +1/+1 counters and **afterwards** becomes a creature.
Or it becomes a creature and then receives the +1/+1 counters.

To me the last assumption seems correct because it is irritating to me to be able to put +1/+1 counters on a land.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It was probably done that way to avoid the situation where you temporarily have a 0/0 creature. It wouldn't be a problem because SBAs aren't checked during the resolution of a spell, but it would confuse some people.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 well amass does exactly do this. Create a 0/0 token and then put +1/+1 counters on it.  
> **username_1**: Amass was probably done that way to keep the text short. It avoids an entire "otherwise" clause.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-05-10. Score: 15 | Accepted answer

The two actions (adding counters and the permanent type change) are two different steps of the same spell. That means they're executed separately:

> 608.2c The controller of the spell or ability follows its instructions in the order written.

There's no rule prohibiting +1/+1 counters on a non-creature permanent. For example, the land [Llanowar Reborn](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLlanowar%20Reborn%5d) enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter.

So unfortunately Simic Ascendancy wouldn't trigger, as the counters are put on the land while it's not a creature yet.

Simic Ascendancy *would* trigger if the land was already also a creature prior to the spell resolving: for example, casting Awakening a second time on the same animated land, or casting it on a land that was animated by [Nissa, Who Shakes the World](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNissa%2c%20Who%20Shakes%20the%20World%5d).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: damn. thanks for clarification, I thought I was on something there ☺  
> **username_3**: @username_0 however if you animate it first with Nissa, then cast awakening, it does work...  
> **username_1**: And of course, there's always Dryad Arbor  
> **username_0**: @ike but unfortunately not standard legal  

---

