+1/+1 counters
Zones & actions
Permanent stat boosts that stick — and cancel against -1/-1 counters.
How it works
A +1/+1 counter raises a creature's power and toughness by 1 each, for as long as the counter is on it. Counters aren't abilities and aren't tied to the effect that placed them — they stay even after that spell or ability is gone.
+1/+1 and -1/-1 counters annihilate: if a creature ever has both, equal numbers are removed as a state-based action.
Common confusions
“An effect sets the creature's base power/toughness — do counters still apply?”
Yes. In the layer system, setting base P/T (layer 7b) happens before counters (layer 7c), so a +1/+1 counter still adds on top of the new base value.
“The creature leaves the battlefield and comes back.”
It returns as a new object with no counters — counters don't carry across zone changes.