Grim Affliction on a creature with +1/+1 counters

ck3gds · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 998

Let's say I have a creature (size irrelevant) with some +1/+1 counters on it.

I target this creature with Grim Affliction ("Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then proliferate.")

Am I right to say that when resolving Grim Affliction, the -1/-1 counter doesn't immediately cancel with a +1/+1 counter, so I can still choose it for proliferating?

In other words:

1. Put a -1/-1 counter; it doesn't cancel yet
2. I choose to proliferate -1/-1 counter, and put another -1/-1 counter on it
3. Finish resolving Grim Affliction, check states etc

Stunseed · Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 2

This is correct. The spell will finish resolving before state based effects are checked.

moscowdemon · Level 3 Judge Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 218

The options you have here are the following:
1. Add an additional +1/+1 counter.
2. Add an additional -1/-1 counter.
3. Do nothing
Note you can only do nothing if you DON'T choose the creature with counters on it.

State-based actions are checked only before a player would recieve priority. The next point a player would recieve priority is after Grim Affliction resolves. During the resolution of it, all counters remain and one of those types can be proliferated. You cannot chose to add both a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter.