Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 1

While proliferating twice, players can't respond between proliferating the first time and proliferating the second time.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 2

If you proliferate twice, you don't have to choose the same set of players and/or permanents to get additional counters each time.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 3

To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 4

You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 5

If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 6

An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 7

Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres — ruling 8

If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

When Ezuri enters, you may pay . If you do, proliferate twice. Whenever you proliferate, draw a card.

Complete guide

Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres is a powerful Phyrexian leader that rewards you for spreading growth and contagion across the battlefield. By combining an enters-the-battlefield trigger with a potent card-draw engine, he ensures your resources stay as plentiful as your counters. Whether you are building up your own army or debilitating your foes, Ezuri watches and learns from every mutation.

A Double Dose of Proliferation

When Ezuri enters the battlefield, you have the option to pay {3}. If you do, you proliferate twice. Proliferating means choosing any number of players and/or permanents that have at least one counter and adding another counter of each kind already there. Because Ezuri specifies proliferating twice, you perform this action twice in succession. You may choose the same set of targets for both instances, or completely different ones depending on the current state of the board.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, Ezuri enters the battlefield, and his triggered ability goes on the stack. When the ability resolves, you decide whether to pay {3}. If you pay, you immediately proliferate for the first time by choosing permanents or players and adding counters. Then, you immediately proliferate a second time. It is important to note that no player can cast spells or activate abilities between the first and second proliferation; the entire effect happens during the resolution of the trigger.

Drawing from Development

Ezuri’s second ability is a triggered ability that goes on the stack whenever you proliferate. This includes the instances from his own entry trigger, as well as any other spells or abilities you control that result in proliferation. Even if you choose zero targets when you proliferate, Ezuri's ability still triggers, allowing you to draw a card. If you proliferate twice via Ezuri's first ability, you will trigger the draw ability twice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common misconception is that you can choose which specific counters to add if a permanent has multiple types. If you choose a permanent with both a +1/+1 counter and a Shield counter, you must add one of each; you cannot pick just one. Additionally, remember that you can only proliferate counters on permanents currently on the battlefield. You cannot add counters to cards in the graveyard, exile, or your hand, even if those cards have counters on them.

Interaction examples

Standard Entry and Growth

You cast Ezuri while you have a creature with a +1/+1 counter on the battlefield. As Ezuri enters, you pay {3}. You proliferate once, adding a second +1/+1 counter to your creature, which triggers Ezuri's second ability. Then you proliferate again, adding a third +1/+1 counter, triggering Ezuri again. You then put two 'draw a card' triggers on the stack.

Building Resources

Solemn Simulacrum

With Ezuri on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum to find a land. Later, if you use another effect to proliferate, Ezuri triggers to draw you a card. If Solemn Simulacrum dies while Ezuri is out, you draw a card from the Golem's own ability, helping you dig deeper for more proliferation enablers.

The Eternal Loop

Eternal Witness

If you have a spell in your graveyard that proliferates, you can play Eternal Witness to return it to your hand. When you cast that spell, Ezuri's ability triggers, allowing you to draw a card. This synergy ensures that as long as you can recover your proliferation spells, Ezuri will keep your hand full of options.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
While proliferating twice, players can't respond between proliferating the first time and proliferating the second time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you proliferate twice, you don't have to choose the same set of players and/or permanents to get additional counters each time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.