Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance — ruling 1

Hei Bai's last ability doesn't cause you to move counters from Hei Bai onto the target creature. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter Hei Bai had when he left the battlefield onto the target creature.

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance — ruling 2

If Hei Bai has -1/-1 counters on him when he leaves the battlefield, that ability will include those as well. This may result in the recipient of the counters dying.

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance — ruling 3

In some cases, you may end up putting the appropriate counters on more than one permanent. For example, if you control a Buzzard-Wasp Colony when Hei Bai dies, you'll put the appropriate number of each kind of counter onto both the Buzzard-Wasp Colony and the target creature. If you target Buzzard-Wasp Colony with Hei Bai's last ability, it will receive counters from both abilities.

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance — ruling 4

If enough -1/-1 counters are put on Hei Bai at the same time to make his toughness 0 or less, his last ability will see all of the +1/+1 counters he had when he left the battlefield as well as the -1/-1 counters he had, and an equal number of each of those types of counters (plus any other applicable counters) will be put onto the target creature.

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance — ruling 5

Hei Bai's last ability puts all counters that were on Hei Bai onto the target creature, not just his +1/+1 counters.

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance 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

Whenever Hei Bai enters or attacks, you may sacrifice another creature or artifact. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on Hei Bai. When Hei Bai leaves the battlefield, put its counters on target creature you control.

How it works : Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Hei Bai's last ability doesn't cause you to move counters from Hei Bai onto the target creature. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter Hei Bai had when he left the battlefield onto the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If Hei Bai has -1/-1 counters on him when he leaves the battlefield, that ability will include those as well. This may result in the recipient of the counters dying.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
In some cases, you may end up putting the appropriate counters on more than one permanent. For example, if you control a Buzzard-Wasp Colony when Hei Bai dies, you'll put the appropriate number of each kind of counter onto both the Buzzard-Wasp Colony and the target creature. If you target Buzzard-Wasp Colony with Hei Bai's last ability, it will receive counters from both abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If enough -1/-1 counters are put on Hei Bai at the same time to make his toughness 0 or less, his last ability will see all of the +1/+1 counters he had when he left the battlefield as well as the -1/-1 counters he had, and an equal number of each of those types of counters (plus any other applicable counters) will be put onto the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Hei Bai's last ability puts all counters that were on Hei Bai onto the target creature, not just his +1/+1 counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.