"Becomes 1/1" vs. Counters

Judge Level 1

Turn to Frog makes everything a 1/1 — except the counters get a say.

Cards involved

Turn to Frog Turn to Frog
Grizzly Bears Grizzly Bears
Step / 4

The frog curse

Your Grizzly Bears carry a +1/+1 counter (3/3). Your opponent casts Turn to Frog on them: "… loses all abilities and becomes a blue Frog with base power and toughness 1/1 until end of turn."

What happens?

What is the Bear now?

The spell is about to resolve. How big is the frog?

Pick an answer to continue.

Layer 7 works in fixed sublayers: 7a characteristic-defining, 7b "becomes X/Y" effects, 7c counters, 7d switch effects (613.4). However late a "becomes 1/1" effect arrives, it always applies BEFORE counters — counters always stay visible.

Rules: 613.4

613.4Within layer 7, apply effects in a series of sublayers in the order described below. Within each sublayer, apply effects in timestamp order. (See rule 613.7.) Note that dependency may alter the order in which effects are applied within a sublayer. (See rule 613.8.)

Applying it

Base 1/1 (7b), then +1/+1 from the counter (7c): a 2/2 Frog with no abilities.

Rules: 613.4

613.4Within layer 7, apply effects in a series of sublayers in the order described below. Within each sublayer, apply effects in timestamp order. (See rule 613.7.) Note that dependency may alter the order in which effects are applied within a sublayer. (See rule 613.8.)

Rule of thumb

"Becomes X/Y" never beats counters — that's why creatures with counters survive effects like Turn to Frog or Polymorphist's Jest surprisingly often.

Rules: 613.4

613.4Within layer 7, apply effects in a series of sublayers in the order described below. Within each sublayer, apply effects in timestamp order. (See rule 613.7.) Note that dependency may alter the order in which effects are applied within a sublayer. (See rule 613.8.)

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Stack

Turn to Frog

Creature loses all abilities and becomes 1/1

Grizzly Bears

Your Bears — with a +1/+1 counter (3/3)

The stack is empty.

Battlefield

Turn to Frog
Grizzly Bears

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