The Astonishing Ant-ManHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Growth Loop

The Astonishing Ant-Man features a triggered ability that triggers every time you draw a card. This includes your normal draw during the draw step and any cards drawn via spells or abilities. Each time the trigger resolves, you place one +1/+1 counter on him, making him a growing threat that requires an answer.

Resolving the Insect Swarm

To activate his second ability, you must pay two generic and one green mana, tap The Astonishing Ant-Man, and remove any number of +1/+1 counters as a cost. Upon resolution, you create a number of 1/1 green Insect creature tokens equal to the number of counters removed. Because removing counters is part of the cost, these counters are gone before the ability even goes on the stack.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that the +1/+1 counters must be removed from The Astonishing Ant-Man specifically, not other creatures you control. Additionally, remember that if he is removed from the battlefield in response to your activation, you have already paid the cost (removed the counters), but the ability will still resolve to create the tokens based on how many counters were removed.

When to Activate

Timing is key with this hero. You can grow him to deal massive commander damage or, at the end of an opponent's turn, convert those counters into a surprise army of Insects to prepare for an all-out attack on your following turn.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Swarm

The Astonishing Ant-ManLlanowar Elves

With Llanowar Elves providing the necessary green mana, you can activate The Astonishing Ant-Man's ability more easily. If you remove three +1/+1 counters during your opponent's end step, you will create three 1/1 Insect tokens that will no longer have summoning sickness when your next turn begins.

Scaling Mana and Tokens

The Astonishing Ant-ManBirds of Paradise

Use Birds of Paradise to fix your mana for the {2}{G} activation cost. If you have drawn two cards this turn, The Astonishing Ant-Man has two counters; you can tap Birds of Paradise and two lands to remove both counters, resulting in two 1/1 Insect tokens while keeping The Astonishing Ant-Man safe from 'destroy creature with power 3 or greater' spells.