Winding Constrictor 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
If one or more counters would be put on an artifact or creature you control, that many plus one of each of those kinds of counters are put on that permanent instead. If you would get one or more counters, you get that many plus one of each of those kinds of counters instead.
Complete guide
Winding Constrictor is a powerful Snake that amplifies every counter-based strategy you employ. Whether you are boosting your creatures with +1/+1 counters or accumulating energy for yourself, this card ensures you get a little bit extra every single time. It is a staple for decks that want to scale their power quickly and efficiently.
Scaling Your Strength
Winding Constrictor features two replacement effects. The first applies to artifacts and creatures you control, while the second applies to you, the player. Whenever an effect would put one or more counters on these targets, Winding Constrictor intervenes and adds exactly one more counter of that specific kind. This applies to any type of counter, including +1/+1 counters, charge counters, or energy counters.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When an effect, such as a spell or ability, resolves and instructs you to place a counter, you do not put the original amount on the stack. Instead, the replacement effect modifies the event as it happens. For example, if a spell says 'Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature,' Winding Constrictor changes that instruction to 'Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.' This happens immediately and does not use the stack a second time.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is trying to apply Winding Constrictor's effect to itself as it enters the battlefield. According to official rulings, the Constrictor must already be on the battlefield to modify how counters are placed. Furthermore, if you control multiple Winding Constrictors, each one applies its effect separately and additively. Two Constrictors will add two extra counters, three will add three, and so on.
Strategic Timing
To maximize value, you should cast Winding Constrictor before playing cards that enter the battlefield with counters. Because it modifies how permanents enter the battlefield, having it active ensures your other creatures start their life on the board even stronger than usual. It is also excellent in formats with energy or poison, as it makes every resource gain more impactful.
Interaction examples
Llanowar ElvesIf you control Winding Constrictor and cast a spell that puts a +1/+1 counter on Llanowar Elves, Winding Constrictor's replacement effect will trigger, resulting in Llanowar Elves receiving two +1/+1 counters instead of just one.
Birds of ParadiseWhile Birds of Paradise does not naturally interact with counters, if you were to use an effect to place a flying counter or a +1/+1 counter on it while Winding Constrictor is on the battlefield, the Bird would receive an additional counter of that type, making your mana accelerant a more formidable flying threat.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Winding Constrictor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a nonartifact, noncreature permanent (such as a planeswalker) would enter the battlefield with counters on it and become an artifact or a creature on the battlefield due to another card's effect (such as that of Mycosynth Lattice), Winding Constrictor's effect will give that permanent another of those counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If an artifact or creature you control would enter the battlefield with a number of any kind of counters on it, it enters with that many plus one instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect includes multiple instructions to put one or more counters on an artifact or creature, such as Lifecrafter's Gift does, Winding Constrictor's effect applies to each of those instructions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you control two Winding Constrictors, the number of counters placed on the artifact or creature is the original number plus two. Three Winding Constrictors adds three to the original number, and so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If you would get counters of multiple kinds at the same time, Winding Constrictor increases the number of each of those kinds of counters by one. The same is true if counters of multiple kinds would be placed on an artifact or creature you control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Winding Constrictor's effect can't apply to itself as it's entering the battlefield or to any other permanent entering the battlefield at the same time as it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ghave, Guru of Spores + Cryptic Trilobite + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Cryptic Trilobite's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding
. - 2Activate Ghave's first ability by paying
and removing a +1/+1 counter from Cryptic Trilobite, creating a 1/1 Saproling creature token. - 3Activate Ghave's second ability by paying and sacrificing the Saproling token, putting two +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 4Repeat.
Ghave, Guru of Spores + Cryptic Trilobite + Hardened Scales + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Cryptic Trilobite's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Ghave's first ability by paying and removing a +1/+1 counter from Cryptic Trilobite, creating a 1/1 Saproling creature token.
- 3Activate Ghave's second ability by paying and sacrificing the Saproling token, putting three +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 4Repeat.
Ghave, Guru of Spores + Cryptic Trilobite + Conclave Mentor + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Cryptic Trilobite's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Ghave's first ability by paying and removing a +1/+1 counter from Cryptic Trilobite, creating a 1/1 Saproling creature token.
- 3Activate Ghave's second ability by paying and sacrificing the Saproling token, putting three +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 4Repeat.
Vigor + Walking Ballista + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Walking Ballista by removing a +1/+1 counter on it, targeting itself, but putting two +1/+1 counters on it due to Vigor.
- 2Activate Walking Ballista by removing a +1/+1 counter on it, dealing 1 damage to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Tayam, Luminous Enigma + Wall of Roots + Ashnod's Altar + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Wall of Roots by putting two -0/-1 counters on it (due to Winding Constrictor), adding
. - 2Activate Tayam by paying
and removing three counters from creatures you control. - 3In response to Tayam's ability, activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Wall of Roots, adding .
- 4Resolve Tayam's ability, milling yourself three cards and returning Wall of Roots from your graveyard to the battlefield with two vigilance counters on it due to Tayam and Winding Constrictor.
- 5Repeat.
Crystalline Crawler + Simic Ascendancy + Corpsejack Menace + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Simic Ascendancy by paying
, putting four +1/+1 counters on Crystalline Crawler. - 2Simic Ascendancy triggers, putting growth counters on it.
- 3Activate Crystalline Crawler's second ability by removing three +1/+1 counters from it, adding .
- 4Repeat.
- 5At the beginning of your next upkeep, Simic Ascendancy triggers, causing you to win the game.
Ghave, Guru of Spores + Cryptic Trilobite + Branching Evolution + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Cryptic Trilobite's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Ghave's first ability by paying and removing a +1/+1 counter from Cryptic Trilobite, creating a 1/1 Saproling creature token.
- 3Activate Ghave's second ability by paying and sacrificing the Saproling token, putting four +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 4Repeat.
Crystalline Crawler + Simic Ascendancy + Branching Evolution + Winding Constrictor
- 1Activate Simic Ascendancy by paying , putting four +1/+1 counters on Crystalline Crawler.
- 2Simic Ascendancy triggers, putting growth counters on it.
- 3Activate Crystalline Crawler's second ability by removing three +1/+1 counters from it, adding .
- 4Repeat.
- 5At the beginning of your next upkeep, Simic Ascendancy triggers, causing you to win the game.
Legal formats
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