Tervigon — ruling 1

A creature with ravenous gets its counters as it enters the battlefield. It doesn't enter the battlefield first and then get its counters. Any triggered ability that looks for a creature with a certain power or toughness entering the battlefield will see the counters when it checks to see if it should trigger.

Tervigon — ruling 2

The triggered ability that checks to see if X is 5 or greater refers to the value of X that was chosen as the spell was cast, which may be different from the number of counters it entered with if there are replacement effects involved. This is also true for any other ability that it has which refers to X and triggers when it enters the battlefield.

Tervigon — ruling 3

If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a creature with Ravenous, it will not enter with any counters from the ravenous ability.

Tervigon — ruling 4

If a permanent spell with ravenous is copied, the copy will have the same value for X, and the token permanent that the spell becomes as it enters the battlefield will enter with X counters.

Tervigon : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Tervigon 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

Ravenous (This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it. If X is 5 or more, draw a card when it enters.) Trample Spawn Termagants — Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create that many 1/1 green Tyranid creature tokens.

Complete guide

Tervigon is a powerful Tyranid leader that scales throughout the game, rewarding players who invest significant mana into its Ravenous ability. Once it hits the battlefield, it utilizes Trample to push through damage and generate a swarm of 1/1 green Tyranid creature tokens.

What it Does

Tervigon features three distinct abilities: Ravenous, Trample, and Spawn Termagants. Ravenous allows it to enter the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters, where X is the amount of mana you spent on the variable cost. If X is 5 or more, you also draw a card. Additionally, its Spawn Termagants ability creates 1/1 Tyranid tokens whenever Tervigon deals combat damage to a player, equal to the amount of damage dealt.

How it Resolves

Step 1: As you cast the spell, you choose a value for X. Step 2: As Tervigon enters the battlefield, it receives X +1/+1 counters immediately; it never exists on the battlefield without these counters. Step 3: If X was 5 or more, the Ravenous draw trigger is put on the stack. Step 4: When Tervigon deals combat damage to a player, Spawn Termagants triggers. Step 5: Upon resolution, you count the damage dealt and create that many 1/1 green Tyranid creature tokens.

Common Mistakes

One common error is assuming replacement effects that increase counters, like Hardened Scales, will help you draw a card. The Ravenous draw trigger only checks the value of X chosen when the spell was cast, not the final number of counters. Additionally, remember that if Tervigon is blocked and all its damage is assigned to a creature, you will not create any tokens; damage must reach the player to trigger Spawn Termagants.

When to Play it

Tervigon is best played when you can maximize X to at least 5 to replace itself in your hand. Because it lacks Haste, it is vulnerable for a turn, so it is often wise to cast it when you have protection or when your opponent is tapped out. In the late game, it acts as a massive finisher that can rebuild your board state instantly after a single successful attack.

Interaction examples

Ramping into a Massive Tervigon

Tervigon

Birds of Paradise

Llanowar Elves

With Birds of Paradise and Llanowar Elves on the field, you can generate extra mana to cast Tervigon where X equals 5. Tervigon enters as a 5/5 creature, and because X is 5, its Ravenous ability triggers, allowing you to draw a card immediately.

Utilizing Trample to Spawn Tokens

Tervigon

Birds of Paradise

If your opponent blocks your 5/5 Tervigon with a 0/1 Birds of Paradise, Tervigon's Trample allows you to assign 1 damage to the Bird and 4 damage to the opponent. Because 4 combat damage was dealt to the player, Spawn Termagants triggers and creates four 1/1 green Tyranid creature tokens.

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

How it works : Tervigon

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 7, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
A creature with ravenous gets its counters as it enters the battlefield. It doesn't enter the battlefield first and then get its counters. Any triggered ability that looks for a creature with a certain power or toughness entering the battlefield will see the counters when it checks to see if it should trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 7, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The triggered ability that checks to see if X is 5 or greater refers to the value of X that was chosen as the spell was cast, which may be different from the number of counters it entered with if there are replacement effects involved. This is also true for any other ability that it has which refers to X and triggers when it enters the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 7, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a creature with Ravenous, it will not enter with any counters from the ravenous ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 7, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent spell with ravenous is copied, the copy will have the same value for X, and the token permanent that the spell becomes as it enters the battlefield will enter with X counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.