Scolding Administrator — ruling 1

It doesn't matter if the creature or creatures targeted by the spell that caused the repartee ability to trigger leave the battlefield or stop being creatures before that spell resolves. As long as that spell targeted one or more creatures when it was cast, the repartee ability will trigger and later resolve.

Scolding Administrator — ruling 2

Scolding Administrator's last ability puts all counters that were on Scolding Administrator onto the target creature, not just its +1/+1 counters.

Scolding Administrator — ruling 3

In some unusual cases, you may end up putting the appropriate counters on more than one permanent. For example, if you control The Ozolith (a card from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set) when Scolding Administrator dies, you'll put the appropriate number of each kind of counter onto both The Ozolith and the target creature.

Scolding Administrator — ruling 4

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

Scolding Administrator — ruling 5

A repartee ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack.

Scolding Administrator — ruling 6

Scolding Administrator's last ability doesn't cause you to move counters from Scolding Administrator onto the target creature. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter Scolding Administrator had when it died onto the target creature.

Scolding Administrator — ruling 7

If Scolding Administrator has -1/-1 counters on it when it dies, that ability will include those as well. This may result in the recipient of the counters dying.

Scolding Administrator : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Scolding Administrator 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

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Repartee — Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets a creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. When this creature dies, if it had counters on it, put those counters on up to one target creature.

How it works : Scolding Administrator

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
It doesn't matter if the creature or creatures targeted by the spell that caused the repartee ability to trigger leave the battlefield or stop being creatures before that spell resolves. As long as that spell targeted one or more creatures when it was cast, the repartee ability will trigger and later resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Scolding Administrator's last ability puts all counters that were on Scolding Administrator onto the target creature, not just its +1/+1 counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
In some unusual cases, you may end up putting the appropriate counters on more than one permanent. For example, if you control The Ozolith (a card from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set) when Scolding Administrator dies, you'll put the appropriate number of each kind of counter onto both The Ozolith and the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If enough -1/-1 counters are put on Scolding Administrator at the same time to make its toughness 0 or less, its last ability will see all of the +1/+1 counters it had when it died as well as the -1/-1 counters it 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.
#5March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
A repartee ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Scolding Administrator's last ability doesn't cause you to move counters from Scolding Administrator onto the target creature. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter Scolding Administrator had when it died onto the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If Scolding Administrator has -1/-1 counters on it when it dies, 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.