Time counter

Time counters are counters that are usually removed during the upkeep step. If the last time counter on a card is removed, an effect will occur. They are especially associated with Time Spiral block and the Vanishing and Suspend abilities.
==Mechanics==
Two mechanics which use time counters were both introduced during the Time Spiral block.
*Vanishing
*Suspend
A suspend-inspired mechanic for permanents was featured in Duskmourn: House of Horror.
*Impending
Another mechanic is featured in the Universes Beyond set Doctor Who.
*Time travel
==Outside of Time Spiral block==
Before Time Spiral, only three cards used time counters.
*<c>Tourach's Gate</c> from Fallen Empires is the first enchantment aura to use time counters.
*<c>Infinite Hourglass</c> and <c>Time Bomb</c> from Ice Age are the first artifacts to use time counters.
Since Time Spiral block, various supplemental sets occasionally use the two keyword abilities, especially suspend. Prior to the release of Doctor Who, there were only two other cards to use time counters since that block:
*<c>As Foretold</c> from Amonkhet, which uses them as a simple increasing-power device much like the cards from Ice Age.
*<c>Alaundo the Seer</c> from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate creates a suspend-like effect on cards, except that Alaundo must be actively used to remove their time counters rather than doing so automatically. This ability also removes time counters from cards suspended via the keyword.
After Doctor Who, a few more time counter cards were printed:
*<c>Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch</c> uses it as a countdown on the back face of a creature.
*<c>The Millenium Calendar</c> counts upwards with a slow triggered ability and a faster activated ability, given the counters required.
*<c>Hourglass of the Lost</c> counts upwards with a mana ability.
*<c>Cursed Recording</c> counts upwards to a potentially self-destructive trigger, however the effect is not turn-based and can be halted if its controller stops casting instants or sorceries. This time counter card is unusual in that a player can't guarantee it gaining or losing a counter a turn.
===Doctor Who===
Time counters are also prominently featured in the Universes Beyond set Doctor Who, where they are associated with the Time travel mechanic. Several cards gain time counters as generic markers.
==Time counter interaction==
There are a few cards that can interact specifically with time counters.
*<c>Jhoira's Timebug</c> puts a time counter on or removes a time counter from a permanent you control or a suspended card you own.
*<c>Fury Charm</c> removes two time counters from a permanent or suspended card.
*<c>Timebender</c> puts two time counters on or removes two time counters from a permanent with a time counter on it or a suspended card.
*<c>Timecrafting</c> puts X time counters on or removes X time counters from a permanent with a time counter on it or a suspended card.
*<c>Dust of Moments</c> puts two time counters on or removes two time counters from each permanent with a time counter on it and each suspended card.
*<c>Rift Elemental</c> removes two time counters from a permanent you control or a suspended card you own.
*<c>Shivan Sand-Mage</c> puts two time counters on or removes two time counters from a permanent with a time counter on it or a suspended card.
*<c>Alaundo the Seer</c> removes a time counter from each exiled cards you control, including suspended cards as well as cards exiled with his own ability.
Additionally, any card that interacts with counters in general may affect permanents with time counters, such as <c>Doubling Season</c>, <c>Price of Betrayal</c>, <c>Vorel of the Hull Clade</c>, and cards with Proliferate. Such cards cannot affect time counters on suspended spells since those spells are in exile.
==Trivia==
*In Magic Online, the counter is colored blue as its considered a neutral effect and shares its icon with Age, Depletion, Delay, Eon, Fade, Hour, Hourglass, and Isolation counters.
*<c>Midnight Clock</c> and <c>Midnight Oil</c> both use hour counters instead, despite the time theming.
==See also==
*Fade counter - played a similar role for the Fading mechanic, a precursor to Vanishing
==References==