#moving counters

[magicjudge]

Hi!

I just ordered the Call for Backup commander precon and plan to run it with Shalai & Hallar as the commander and I noticed that Forgotten Ancient is in the deck. I also own the original Ikoria Ozolith So my question might be stupid, but does "moving" +1/+1 counters from one permanent on another count as putting them on that permanent (for purposes of shalai/hallar triggering)?

Thanks and sorry if stoopid...

There's no such thing as actually moving a counter, at least deep down in the rules. Moving a counter just means removing it from where it was and adding that same kind of counter to the other permanent.

So yes, Forgotten Ancient and The Ozolith with trigger Shalai and Hallar when you move counters around.

[magicjudge]

Can you explain the how and why of The Ozolith/Resourceful defense interaction with Modular?

Ok, so if you control both of these permanents and a creature ((with some counters on it) and that creature leaves the battlefield, then both the Ozolith and Resourceful Defenses will trigger. Each of those triggers will work fully and you'll end up with a matching set of counters added to both of them.

Why? Because you're not actually moving the counters that were on your creature, but rather just putting new ones of the same types and amounts on the other card. It's one set of counters getting replicated twice, not the actual physical counters moving from one card to another, even if that's what the cards imply.

[magicjudge]

I have a Hardened scales question again! Let's assume I have two creatures with graft and a Hardened Scales in play. So, I cast Hangarback Walker for 2 and I use the graft ability of both creatures. Does each resolve separately, and I get an additional +1 counter for each graft and the Walkers X cost, or do they all simultaneously happen when it ETBs, resulting in only one additional counter?

When Hangarback Walker enters the battlefied (with an extra counter from Hardened Scales), the Graft ability of each creature with graft will trigger separately. When each of those triggers resolves, if you move a counter from the graft creature, Hardened Scales will add a second counter to the creature that the counter is moving onto. This is because moving a counter really just means removing the counter from where it is and adding a counter of that type to the other permanent.

In this situation, you’ll wind up with 6 counters on your Hangarback Walker if you opt to use both graft abilities.