Cathars' CrusadeHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Crusade Works

The ability of Cathars' Crusade is a triggered ability that fires every time a creature enters the battlefield under your control. It doesn't matter if the creature was cast as a spell, put onto the battlefield by an effect, or created as a token. Each time this happens, every creature you currently control—including the one that just arrived—receives a +1/+1 counter.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When a creature enters, the Crusade's ability goes on the stack. When the ability resolves, the game checks which creatures you control at that exact moment. If the creature that triggered the ability is still on the battlefield, it gets a counter along with its new allies. If multiple creatures enter at the same time, such as through a token-generating spell, the ability triggers once for each of those creatures, resulting in multiple counters for everyone.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Cathars' Crusade itself is not a creature and does not receive counters. Additionally, if a creature enters and then leaves the battlefield before the trigger resolves, it won't be there to receive its counter, though your other remaining creatures still will. Remember that this effect is mandatory; you must put the counters on your creatures even if you would prefer not to.

When to Deploy

This enchantment is most effective in 'Go-Wide' strategies where you plan to put many creatures onto the battlefield in a single turn. Because the counters are permanent, it is often better to play your creatures after Cathars' Crusade is already on the battlefield to maximize the total power added to your board.

Interaction examples

Token Doubling Synergy

Anointed Procession

If you have both enchantments out and an effect creates one 1/1 Soldier token, Anointed Procession causes you to create two tokens instead. This results in two separate triggers from Cathars' Crusade. Each trigger will put a +1/+1 counter on every creature you control. By the time both resolve, your two new tokens (and any other creatures you had) will each have received two +1/+1 counters.

The Treasure Connection

Smothering Tithe

While Smothering Tithe creates Treasure tokens, these are artifacts and not creatures, so they do not normally trigger Cathars' Crusade. However, if you have an additional effect that makes artifacts enter as creatures, every time an opponent draws a card and doesn't pay {2}, you would create a Treasure creature, triggering the Crusade and strengthening your entire team.