Cytospawn ShamblerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Graft 6

Cytospawn Shambler enters the battlefield with six +1/+1 counters. Since its base power and toughness are 0/0, it will immediately be a 6/6. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, the Graft ability triggers. You choose whether to move one +1/+1 counter from the Shambler to that new creature as the trigger resolves.

Granting Trample

The Shambler's activated ability costs one green mana and targets any creature that has at least one +1/+1 counter on it. If you successfully move a counter using Graft, that creature becomes an eligible target. Note that the creature must already have a counter to be targeted; you cannot activate this ability targeting a creature with no counters in hopes of adding one later.

Strategic Timing

Graft is a mandatory trigger but a voluntary movement. You must put the trigger on the stack whenever a creature enters, but you only decide to move the counter upon resolution. This allows you to see if your opponent responds to the creature entering before you commit your precious counters. Use the trample activation during the declare attackers step or in response to blockers being chosen to ensure your damage spills over.

Interaction examples

Spreading the Growth

Avenger of Zendikar

When Avenger of Zendikar enters while you have Cytospawn Shambler on the battlefield, two things happen: the Avenger's token-making ability triggers and the Shambler's Graft ability triggers. You can Graft a counter onto the Avenger to make it a 6/6. Later, when you play a land, the Avenger puts +1/+1 counters on all your Plant tokens. Because those Plants now have counters, the Shambler can spend green mana to give any of those Plants trample.

The Trample Overrun

Craterhoof Behemoth

As Craterhoof Behemoth enters the battlefield, you use Cytospawn Shambler's Graft ability to move a +1/+1 counter onto it. While the Behemoth already grants itself and others trample through its own trigger, if an opponent uses an effect to strip the Behemoth of its abilities, the Shambler's activated ability can be used to re-grant trample to the Behemoth because it still carries that +1/+1 counter.