<p>The River Sneak enters the battlefield as a 2/2 because it will have only a single +1/+1 counter on top of its base 1/1 stats. <a href="https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Counter_(marker)" rel="noreferrer">Rule 122.2</a> says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Counters on an object are not retained if that object moves from one zone to another. The counters are not “removed”; they simply cease to exist. See rule 400.7.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Teferi's Time Twist moves the permanent into exile, then back onto the battlefield. As it moves into exile, the counter(s) it originally had on the battlefield disappear. Teferi's Time Twist specifically puts a +1/+1 counter on the creature, so it enters with that single counter, for total stats of 2/2.</p>

<hr>

<p>Teferi's Time Twist says that the creature enters the battlefield "with an additional +1/+1 counter on it". This counter is in addition to any other counters the creature would enter with for other reasons. <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBarkhide%20Troll%5d">Barkhide Troll</a>, for example, will enter with a +1/+1 counter because of its own ability, plus an additional counter because of the effect from Teferi's Time Twist.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-15T14:23:54.097Z
I believe the word “additional” in Teferi’s Time Twist is the source of confusion. It might be useful to address that directly, and explain what situations that word is relevant for, e.g. when a creature itself also has “~ enters the battlefield with # +1/+1 counter(s).” (+1 either way, I just think it would make the answer a bit better.)
KRyan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-15T21:10:56.020Z
I've added an explanation of that bit.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-14T21:59:25.730Z
2019-07-15T21:10:42.077Z
2019-07-15T21:10:42.077Z
murgatroid99
<p>If I control a <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=River%20Sneak" rel="noreferrer">River Sneak</a> with a +1/+1 counter on it and then play <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=460999" rel="noreferrer">Teferi's Time Twist</a> targeting my River Sneak would the river sneak return as a 4/4 or a 3/3?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-16T08:49:58.463Z
Note that River Sneak says **another** Merfolk creature. It is not triggered by itself.
infinitezero
<magic-the-gathering>
Teferi's Time Twist on creature with +1/+1 counter
Jokus
# Teferi's Time Twist on creature with +1/+1 counter

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-14)

If I control a [River Sneak](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=River%20Sneak) with a +1/+1 counter on it and then play [Teferi's Time Twist](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=460999) targeting my River Sneak would the river sneak return as a 4/4 or a 3/3?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Note that River Sneak says **another** Merfolk creature. It is not triggered by itself.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-07-14. Score: 23 | Accepted answer

The River Sneak enters the battlefield as a 2/2 because it will have only a single +1/+1 counter on top of its base 1/1 stats. [Rule 122.2](https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Counter_(marker)) says

> Counters on an object are not retained if that object moves from one zone to another. The counters are not “removed”; they simply cease to exist. See rule 400.7.

Teferi's Time Twist moves the permanent into exile, then back onto the battlefield. As it moves into exile, the counter(s) it originally had on the battlefield disappear. Teferi's Time Twist specifically puts a +1/+1 counter on the creature, so it enters with that single counter, for total stats of 2/2.

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Teferi's Time Twist says that the creature enters the battlefield "with an additional +1/+1 counter on it". This counter is in addition to any other counters the creature would enter with for other reasons. [Barkhide Troll](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBarkhide%20Troll%5d), for example, will enter with a +1/+1 counter because of its own ability, plus an additional counter because of the effect from Teferi's Time Twist.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I believe the word “additional” in Teferi’s Time Twist is the source of confusion. It might be useful to address that directly, and explain what situations that word is relevant for, e.g. when a creature itself also has “~ enters the battlefield with # +1/+1 counter(s).” (+1 either way, I just think it would make the answer a bit better.)  
> **username_2**: I've added an explanation of that bit.  

---

