Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 1

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.

Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 2

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.

Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 3

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.

Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 4

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

Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 5

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.

Norn's Choirmaster — ruling 6

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.

Norn's Choirmaster : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Norn's Choirmaster 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

Flying, first strike Whenever a commander you control enters or attacks, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)

Complete guide

Norn's Choirmaster is a powerful Phyrexian Angel that rewards you for leading your army with a commander. By granting free proliferation triggers, it ensures your board state grows stronger every time your leader enters the fray or charges into battle.

Understanding Proliferate

When Norn's Choirmaster triggers, you proliferate. This means you choose any number of permanents or players that already have counters and add another of each kind they already possess. You cannot add counters to cards in exile or your graveyard, only those currently on the battlefield or the players themselves.

The Step-by-Step Resolution

First, the ability triggers when a commander you control enters the battlefield or attacks. Once the ability resolves, you select the targets for proliferation. Note that if a permanent has multiple types of counters, such as a +1/+1 counter and a Shield counter, you must add one of each. Players cannot wait to see which permanents you choose before responding; they must act while the ability is still on the stack.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking you can pick and choose which specific counters to add on a single permanent. If you choose a permanent to proliferate, it receives one of every counter type it currently has. Additionally, remember that +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters cancel each other out as a state-based action before you get a chance to proliferate them together.

When to Play It

This Angel is most effective in decks where your commander has a low mana cost or high survivability. Since it triggers on both entering and attacking, it provides recurring value that can quickly escalate poison counters, loyalty counters on planeswalkers, or +1/+1 counters on your creatures.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Chorus

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Angel' as the creature type, Norn's Choirmaster will trigger twice whenever your commander enters or attacks. This allows you to proliferate twice in a row, effectively adding two of every counter type to your chosen targets.

Commander Synergy

Solemn Simulacrum

While Solemn Simulacrum helps you ramp into your 5-mana Angel, it doesn't trigger the Choirmaster because it isn't a commander. However, if your commander is on the field with a +1/+1 counter and you cast your commander again (after it was returned to your hand), Norn's Choirmaster will trigger, allowing you to strengthen the Golem if it has any counters on it.

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

How it works : Norn's Choirmaster

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 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.
#2February 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.
#3February 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.
#4February 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.
#5February 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.
#6February 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.