Backup

Backup is a keyword ability introduced in March of the Machine.
==Description==
When a card with Backup enters the battlefield, players may put a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature equal to the Backup number. If another target creature is chosen, that creature also temporarily gains all abilities printed after the Backup ability. The mechanic was designed to represent the forces of each plane defending their homes from New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse together.
To avoid the confusion of ability granting and self-referential text, Backup creatures use the technically more accurate "this creature" phrasing for abilities intended to be granted. While using their own name would work rules-wise, this form of ability copying has often been confusing.
==Rules==
==Rulings==
*Only abilities that are printed after Backup are granted to the target creature. Abilities printed before Backup are not granted to the target creature.
*If a player gives additional abilities to a creature in response to its Backup ability, those abilities are added before the printed Backup ability and are therefore not granted to the Backup target.
*If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won't gain additional abilities.
*If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities.
*If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained.
*Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects.
*The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won't change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves.
==Examples==
==Trivia==
*Backup was called "Boost" during design.
*The mechanic was originally designed by Ari Nieh.
*Backup's "printed below" clause could have some interesting applications regarding sharing only certain abilities, but it is merely used in conjunction with ability templating (hand or casting abilities above battlefield ones) to avoid granting extraneous non-battlefield abilities such as Flash (<c>Saiba Cryptomancer</c>) or Cycling (<c>Gloomfang Mauler</c>). Granting these would typically not have any impact, if not for <c>Mutual Destruction</c> and <c>Abandoned Sarcophagus</c> specifically.
==References==