Flourishing Defenses 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.
01
Official card text
Whenever a -1/-1 counter is put on a creature, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.
How it works : Flourishing Defenses
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
This ability triggers both when a -1/-1 counter is put on a creature on the battlefield and when a creature enters with a -1/-1 counter on it. This includes when a creature returns to the battlefield as a result of persist.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
This ability triggers once for each -1/-1 counter. For example, if Leech Bonder (a creature that enters with two -1/-1 counters on it) entered, Flourishing Defenses's ability would trigger twice.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
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#1
Blowfly Infestation + Flourishing Defenses
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite death triggers
- 1Put a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to one.
- 2The creatue dies as a state-based action due to having zero toughness.
- 3Flourishing Defenses and Blowfly Infestation trigger.
- 4Resolve the Flourishing Defenses trigger, creating a creature token.
- 5Resolve the Blowfly Infestation trigger, putting a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to 1.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
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#2
High Perfect Morcant + Flourishing Defenses
Near-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature tokensNear-infinite proliferateReduce any number of opposing creatures' toughness to 0 whenever an Elf enters under your control
- 1Cast High Perfect Morcant either from your hand or the command zone by paying
plus commander tax if applicable. - 2When High Perfect Morcant enters, its first ability triggers, causing each opponent to put a -1/-1 counter on a creature they control.
- 3Flourishing Defenses triggers for each counter placed this way. Resolve the first trigger, creating a 1/1 Elf Warrior creature token.
- 4When the Elf Warrior enters, High Perfect Morcant's first ability triggers, causing each opponent to put a -1/-1 counter on a creature they control.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
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#3
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Flourishing Defenses + Grave Venerations
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 counters
- 1Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing a creature, targeting any creature an opponent controls.
- 2When the sacrificed creature dies, Grave Venerations triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and each opponent to lose 1 life
- 3Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on a creature an opponent controls, and causing you to draw a card.
- 4Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 5Repeat.
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#4
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Flourishing Defenses + Blood Artist
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 counters
- 1Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing a creature, targeting any creature an opponent controls.
- 2When the sacrificed creature dies, Blood Artist triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and target opponent to lose 1 life
- 3Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on a creature an opponent controls, and causing you to draw a card.
- 4Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 5Repeat.
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#5
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Flourishing Defenses + Zulaport Cutthroat
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 counters
- 1Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing a creature, targeting any creature an opponent controls.
- 2When the sacrificed creature dies, Zulaport Cutthroat triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and each opponent to lose 1 life
- 3Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on a creature an opponent controls, and causing you to draw a card.
- 4Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 5Repeat.
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#6
Ivy Lane Denizen + Devoted Druid + Flourishing Defenses
Infinite creature tokensInfinite creature ETBInfinite green mana
- 1Activate Devoted Druid by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Devoted Druid's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
- 3Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 4When the creature token enters, Ivy Lane Denizen triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Devoted Druid.
- 5Repeat.
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#7
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Flourishing Defenses + Bastion of Remembrance
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 counters
- 1Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing a creature, targeting any creature an opponent controls.
- 2When the sacrificed creature dies, Bastion of Remembrance triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and each opponent to lose 1 life
- 3Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on a creature an opponent controls, and causing you to draw a card.
- 4Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 5Repeat.
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#8
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Flourishing Defenses + Moldervine Reclamation
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 counters
- 1Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing a creature, targeting any creature an opponent controls.
- 2When the sacrificed creature dies, Moldervine Reclamation triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and draw a card
- 3Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on a creature an opponent controls, and causing you to draw a card.
- 4Flourishing Defenses triggers, creating a creature token.
- 5Repeat.
Related cards and tokens
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Legal formats
modernlegacyvintagecommanderoathbreakerduelpredh
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Meta decks with Flourishing Defenses
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