Power Plant WorkerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What Power Plant Worker Does

Power Plant Worker features an activated ability that costs three mana. Under normal circumstances, this gives the creature a temporary +2/+2 boost until the end of the turn. However, if you control both Mine Worker and Tower Worker, the effect changes significantly: instead of a temporary buff, the creature receives two permanent +1/+1 counters.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you pay the three generic mana to activate the ability. This ability goes on the stack and can be responded to by players. The game checks if you control Mine Worker and Tower Worker only when the ability resolves, not when it is activated. If both specific creatures are on your battlefield at that moment, you place two +1/+1 counters on Power Plant Worker. If either is missing, it simply gets +2/+2 until the end of the turn.

Common Mistakes and Restrictions

The most important restriction is that you can only activate this ability once each turn. You cannot spend six mana to get four counters in a single turn. Additionally, remember that the check for the other 'Worker' creatures happens upon resolution. If an opponent destroys your Mine Worker while the ability is still on the stack, you will only receive the temporary +2/+2 bonus instead of the permanent counters.

Strategic Implementation

Because this ability is a mana sink, it is best used at the end of your opponent's turn or during combat. If you have the full trio, prioritize using the ability every turn to steadily build Power Plant Worker into a massive threat that persists across turns. Using cards like Solemn Simulacrum can help you reach the required mana faster to ensure you can activate this ability while still casting other spells.

Interaction examples

Completing the Assembly Line

Mine WorkerTower Worker

With all three creatures on the battlefield, you activate Power Plant Worker's ability for three mana. As the ability resolves, the game detects Mine Worker and Tower Worker. Power Plant Worker receives two permanent +1/+1 counters, making it a 5/5 creature permanently.

A Missing Link

Tower Worker

You activate the ability of Power Plant Worker while only Tower Worker is present. Since Mine Worker is not on your battlefield when the ability resolves, the 'instead' condition is not met. Power Plant Worker gets +2/+2 until the end of the turn, becoming a temporary 5/5, but will return to a 3/3 during the cleanup step.

Interaction with Triggered Multipliers

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Assembly-Worker', note that Power Plant Worker's ability is an activated ability (indicated by the colon), not a triggered ability. Roaming Throne will not cause the +1/+1 counters or the +2/+2 buff to happen an additional time.