Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 1

If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 2

To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 3

You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 4

If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 5

An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 6

Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 7

If a permanent has +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action until that permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — ruling 8

To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician 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

Protection from Humans Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature and draw a card. , Discard a card: Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)

Complete guide

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician is a powerhouse of utility, combining card draw, creature removal, and the Proliferate mechanic all into one legendary Human Cleric. As the master of Phyrexia, he demands a high price for his gifts, turning your own creatures and life force into a devastating engine of attrition.

The Price of Power

Yawgmoth’s primary ability costs one life and the sacrifice of another creature to function. In return, you can place a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature and draw a card. Notably, this ability allows you to choose zero targets; you can simply pay the costs to draw a card without targeting anything at all. However, if you do choose a target and that creature leaves the battlefield or becomes illegal before the ability resolves, the entire ability will fizzle, and you will not draw your card.

Master of Proliferation

His second ability allows you to pay two black mana and discard a card to Proliferate. When you Proliferate, you choose any number of permanents or players that already have counters and add another counter of every type already present. Remember that if a permanent has multiple different types of counters, Proliferate adds one of each; you cannot choose to add only one type. This action does not target, so your opponents cannot react once you have started choosing which permanents to increase.

Protection and State-Based Actions

Yawgmoth possesses Protection from Humans, which prevents him from being targeted, blocked, or damaged by Human creatures. Keep in mind this only applies to the creature type; players and Planeswalkers are not considered Humans by the game rules. Additionally, be aware of how counters interact: if a creature has both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters, they are removed in pairs as a state-based action until only one type remains. You cannot Proliferate a counter that has already been negated and removed.

When to Activate

Yawgmoth is best used as a reactive engine or a combo finisher. Because his sacrifice ability is an instant-speed activated ability, you can use it to 'save' creatures that are about to die to removal spells, turning their deaths into fresh cards. The Proliferate ability is excellent for accelerating Planeswalker ultimates or finishing off creatures that already have -1/-1 counters on them.

Interaction examples

Drawing Through Death

Solemn Simulacrum

With Yawgmoth, Thran Physician on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. When the Simulacrum enters, you search for a land. Later, you pay one life and sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to Yawgmoth's ability. Because Solemn Simulacrum died, its own triggered ability goes on the stack alongside Yawgmoth's ability. You will end up drawing two cards: one from the Simulacrum's death trigger and one from Yawgmoth's activated ability.

Human Shield and Synergy

Roaming Throne

If you cast Roaming Throne and choose 'Human', it becomes a Human in addition to its other types. Because Yawgmoth has Protection from Humans, he cannot be targeted by any abilities the Throne might gain or have, and the Throne cannot block him if he attacks. Furthermore, since Roaming Throne is a Human, Yawgmoth's protection is highly relevant in mirror matches where your opponent might be using Roaming Throne to double up on triggered abilities.

Empty Field Draw

If your opponent has no creatures, you can still use Yawgmoth to draw cards. You pay one life and sacrifice a creature, but you choose not to target any creature with the -1/-1 counter effect. The ability resolves successfully, and you draw a card. This is a common way to dig for answers when the board is clear.

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

How it works : Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent has +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action until that permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Protection from Humans refers only to the creature type Human. As far as Yawgmoth is concerned, you, your opponents, and planeswalkers aren't Humans.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
You may activate Yawgmoth's first activated ability without choosing a target creature. You'll just draw a card. However, if you choose a target and it becomes illegal before the ability tries to resolve, the ability won't resolve and you won't draw a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.