Proliferate — what does it mean?
Choose any number of permanents and/or players that have a counter, then give each one more of every kind of counter they already have.
Proliferate appears on 101 cards.
How does Proliferate work?
Proliferate is a keyword action (rule 701.34). You choose any number of permanents and players that already have at least one counter. Each one you choose gets one more counter of each kind it already has. You can also choose nothing. Choosing isn't targeting, so hexproof and shroud don't stop proliferate.
Since the 2019 rules change, you choose per permanent or player, not per kind of counter. If a permanent has two different kinds of counters, it gets one more of each; you can't skip one kind. If you don't want something to grow, just don't choose it. A creature with both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters still has them cancel out in pairs afterward, as always.
Proliferate works on every kind of counter: loyalty on planeswalkers, time counters, +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters, and counters on players such as poison and energy. Proliferate really puts counters, so effects that change how many counters get put on something apply as usual. Adding loyalty this way doesn't count as activating a loyalty ability, so you can still activate one of that planeswalker's abilities this turn.
An example at the table
You have a planeswalker with 3 loyalty, a creature with two +1/+1 counters, and another creature with a -1/-1 counter. Your opponent has 8 poison counters and a creature with a +1/+1 counter. You cast a spell that proliferates. You choose the planeswalker (up to 4), your big creature (now three +1/+1 counters), and your opponent (9 poison). You leave out your creature with the -1/-1 counter and your opponent's creature. At 10 poison counters your opponent loses, so the next proliferate could end the game.
Cards with Proliferate
Karn's BastionIllustration: Adam Paquette
Evolution SageIllustration: Simon Dominic
CankerbloomIllustration: Nicholas Gregory
ThrummingbirdIllustration: José Parodi
Yawgmoth, Thran PhysicianIllustration: Mark WintersCommon mistakes
- Thinking you choose per kind of counter. You choose permanents and players; each one gets one more of every kind it already has.
- Thinking proliferate can add a new kind of counter. You can't choose something with no counters, and only existing kinds grow.
- Thinking you have to choose everything. Choose as many as you like, including none, so you can leave your own -1/-1 counters or an opponent's planeswalker alone.
- Thinking hexproof protects against it. Proliferate chooses without targeting, so hexproof and shroud don't matter.
Frequently asked questions
- Can proliferate give an opponent more poison counters?
- Yes. Players with counters can be chosen too, so an opponent with poison counters gets one more.
- Does proliferate work on energy?
- Yes. Energy is a kind of counter on a player, so if you have energy you can choose yourself and get one more.
- Can I grow only one kind of counter on a permanent?
- No. If you choose the permanent, it gets one more of each kind of counter it already has.
- Does proliferating count as using a loyalty ability?
- No. The planeswalker gets a counter, but you didn't activate anything, so you can still activate a loyalty ability that turn.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 701.34. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
FlyingToxicVigilanceTrampleLifelink
Which cards with Proliferate do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026