Backup – Backup allows creatures to help a friend or themselves in a pinch.

The forces defending their homeworlds aren’t doing so alone. They brought plenty of backup. Backup is a new triggered ability that allows creatures to help a friend . . . or even themselves . . . in a pinch. Backup always comes with a number. Whenever a creature with backup enters the battlefield, you put that many 1/ 1 counters on a target creature. If you chose another creature as the target, that creature also gets every ability of the original creature that is printed below backup until end of turn. For example, when Boon-Bringer Valkyrie enters the battlefield, you can either put a 1/ 1 counter on Boon-Bringer Valkyrie itself, or you can put a 1/ 1 counter on another creature and have that creature gain flying, first strike, and lifelink until end of turn. Note that even if you have another creature gain those abilities until end of turn, Boon-Bringer Valkyrie will keep them. Note that backup confers only abilities that are printed below the backup ability. You can’t respond to the backup ability by giving Boon-Bringer Valkyrie additional abilities and have backup give those abilities to the backup target. However, token copies of a creature with backup work just like the original. For example, if a token enters the battlefield as a copy of Boon-Bringer Valkyrie, that backup ability can have another creature gain its keywords until end of turn. On a few creatures, abilities that wouldn’t make much sense to have another creature gain until end of turn, such as flash or landcycling, are printed above backup. Creatures that are the targets of backup abilities don’t gain any abilities printed above backup. #mtgarena #magicthegathering #mtgmachine #mtg #mtg_arena #mtga For info on upcoming and current in-game events: Subscribe: @playmtgarena | Enable ALL push notifications 🔔 Download: Follow MTG Arena: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: TikTok: @mtgarena About Magic: The Gathering Arena: MTG Arena is a digital collectible card game available on desktop and mobile, for beginners and long-time Magic lovers alike! Collect, build, and master your unique deck that will become its own legend. Earn rewards and go head-to-head against friends or other players. Start playing for free and feel the magic of the original fantasy CCG!
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