| Quest counter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Counter | |
| Use | Quests, Ascensions, Expeditions, Legendary Creatures |
| Placed on | Enchantments, Artifacts, Creatures |
| Introduced | Zendikar |
| Last used | Modern Horizons 3 |
| Statistics | |
|
28 counter creation cards  21.4%  14.3%  17.9%  17.9%  14.3%  3.6%  7.1%  3.6% | |
| Scryfall search | |
| oracle:"Quest counter" | |
- Not to be confused with Quest.
Quest counters are used for multiple cycles of enchantments from Zendikar block and returned in both Universes Beyond: Fallout and Modern Horizons 3.
Cycles
Zendikar
Three cycles in Zendikar use quest counters: quests, ascensions, and expeditions.
The "ascension" cycle flavorfully represents an adventurer's quest to find their true calling.[1] These cards gain quest counters from triggered abilities, and have a second set of abilities that become active or usable once a threshold is reached.
The "quest" cycle was originally conceived as maps,[2] and portray the search for treasure in Zendikar's wilderness.[3] Mechanically, the quest cycle is similar to the ascension cycle, except that the eventual activation requires that the enchantment be sacrificed.
The "expedition" cycle, like the quest cycle, is sacrificed upon completion, and has a similar flavor,[4] but accrues quest counters via landfall.
Worldwake
Worldwake revisited the theme with another cycle of quests:
- Quest for Ula's Temple ()
- Quest for the Nihil Stone ()
- Quest for the Goblin Lord ()
- Quest for Renewal ()
However, the cycle is incomplete. Instead of a white quest, Terra Eternal was printed instead.
Universes Beyond
Fallout
Quest counters returned in Fallout to represent both main and side quests from Fallout video games. Quest counters form a thematic tie-in with the mechanics of the Fallout series and Magic: The Gathering.[5]
Trivia
- In Magic Online, the counter is colored green as it's considered a positive effect and shares its icon with Filibuster, Landmark, Level, Lore, Page, Plot, Story, and Study counters.[6]
References
- ↑ Noel deCordova (October 15, 2009). "Ascension Pending". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 14, 2009). "Achieving Zendikar, Part II". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Kelly Digges (September 22, 2009). "Are You the Beastmaster?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Tom LaPille (September 18, 2009). "This Land Is Your Land". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Eric Levine (February 27, 2024). "Magic: The Gathering - Fallout Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Christopher Bellach (September 5, 2018). "Counter Development in Magic Online". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022.
