Doubling Season

This rare enchantment from Guilds of Ravnica ($60.76 USD foil) is a game-changer for token-based strategies, amplifying the impact of effects that create tokens or add counters to permanents.

• Power level: High
• Main use cases:
  • Token generators like Viscera Seer and Fervent Charge get an instant boost.
  • Creatures with abilities that add +1/+1 counters, such as Avenger of Zendikar, become more formidable.
• Most popular formats:
  • Commander decks often include Doubling Season to supercharge their token engines.
  • Modern and Pauper metagames may see this card in combination with other powerful enchantments like Tolaria West.

Doubling Season

As an Enchantment, Doubling Season is a permanent that doesn't have any power or toughness. Its mana cost is {4}{G}, which means it requires 4 colorless and 1 green mana to cast.

Keyword Abilities

Doubling Season has no keyword abilities, but its Oracle Text outlines two effects:

• If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead.
• If an effect would put one or more counters on a permanent you control, it puts twice that many of those counters on that permanent instead.

Functioning on the Stack and Battlefield

When Doubling Season is cast and resolves, it starts affecting all effects that would create tokens or add counters to permanents under your control. This means any ability, spell, or triggered effect that would normally generate tokens or add counters will now do so in doubled quantity.

For example:

• Token Generation: If you have an ability that says "Create a 2/2 Token" and Doubling Season is on the battlefield, it will instead create two 2/2 Tokens.
• Counter Magic: If you have an ability that puts +1/+1 counters on a permanent and Doubling Season is on the battlefield, it will put +2/+2 counters on that permanent.

Edge Cases

There are some edge cases to consider:

• Tokens with abilities: When Doubling Season doubles tokens, their abilities also scale accordingly. For example, if an ability on a 1/1 Token normally triggers at 5 loyalty, the doubled token's ability will trigger at 10 loyalty.
• Counters with effects: If an effect would put counters on a permanent and that permanent has abilities that trigger off of those counters (e.g., Evolving Wilds), Doubling Season will double both the number of counters and the number of times these abilities trigger.

Unusual Rules Interactions

Doubling Season can interact with various effects in interesting ways:

• Commander Tax: If an effect would put a Commander Tax counter on your Commander, Doubling Season will double that counter. This can lead to absurd numbers of Commander Tax counters quickly.
• Overlays: If you have Overlays on a permanent and an effect would add more Overlays, Doubling Season will double those overlays.

Commander-Specific Quirks

As a rare card, Doubbing Season is eligible for Commander formats. Its effects can significantly impact gameplay:

• Token Generation: Doubling Season amplifies token generation from abilities, spells, or artifacts.
• Counter Magic: It also doubles the number of counters on your permanents, which can have significant effects on their abilities and interactions with other cards.

Overall, Doubling Season is a versatile card that offers incredible value in token-heavy and counter-based decks.

Doubling Season is a powerful and versatile enchantment that amplifies the effects of token generation and counter placement. Its ability to double the number of tokens created or counters placed makes it an attractive addition to several Commander strategies, color identities, and archetypes.

Token Generation Strategies

• Merfolk Tribal: Doubling Season pairs well with Merfolk decks, which rely on generating 1/1 creature tokens. Cards like Merrow Reejerey and Estrid, the Masked create an abundance of tokens that Doubling Season can amplify.
• Token Generation Stacks: Decks featuring cards like Vraska's Contempt, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, and Savvy Sentinel rely on generating a large number of tokens. Doubling Season can be used to double these tokens, creating a formidable force on the battlefield.
• Token Swarms: Some decks, such as those featuring Sage of Epityr or Estrid's Invocation, generate numerous 1/1 creatures. Doubling Season can be used to accelerate this process, overwhelming opponents with an unmanageable number of tokens.

Counter Placement Strategies

• Counter-Abuse Stacks: Decks like those featuring Vivien, Arkbow Guardian or Kolaghan's Command rely on placing counters on permanents. Doubling Season can be used to double these counters, making it easier to trigger abilities and maintain board control.
• Life Gain: Some decks, such as those featuring Waxcylinder or Purify, focus on generating life gain through counter placement. Doubling Season can be used to accelerate this process, granting the player a significant advantage in terms of life total.

Competitive and Casual Builds

Doubling Season is commonly included in competitive and casual builds that rely on token generation and counter placement. Its versatility makes it an attractive addition to various archetypes, from aggressive Merfolk decks to defensive Life Gain strategies.

Doubling Season: A Token and Counter Multiplier

This rare enchantment from the Guilds of Ravnica set offers a simple yet potent ability that can dramatically shift the balance in favor of the player controlling it. Its effects on token generation and counter placement make it an excellent addition to token-heavy or value-oriented decks.

Token Generation Synergies

• Throne of Eldraine's Raffuse Manticore**: With Doubling Season, Raffuse Manticore's ability creates two 4/4 creatures with trample and lifelink instead of one. This leads to a massive increase in creature count and potential for board control.
• Ikoria's Mwonvuli Acid-Moss**: Doubling Season allows Mwonvuli Acid-Moss to put double the amount of +1/+1 counters on creatures, enabling them to attack more frequently and with increased damage output.

Counter Placement Synergies

• Guilds of Ravnica's Atraxa, Praetors' Voice**: Doubling Season enables Atraxa to place double the number of loyalty counters on itself, allowing it to cast its abilities multiple times per turn.
• Dominaria's Serra Avenger**: With Doubling Season, Serra Avenger can put double the amount of +1/+1 counters on creatures, increasing their power and toughness.

Rules Tricks

• Counter-Counting: If an opponent attempts to remove a counter from a permanent under your control with an effect that would normally reduce the number of counters by one (e.g., Path to Exile), Doubling Season will multiply the original number of counters, negating the removal effect.
• Token-Timing: Consider playing Doubling Season on the same turn as a token-creating spell or ability. This allows you to generate more tokens and take advantage of the doubling effect.

By including Doubling Season in your deck, you can amplify the effects of your token-generating spells and abilities, as well as increase the number of counters on permanents under your control. Be mindful of the potential interactions with other cards in your deck and adapt your strategy accordingly to maximize the impact of this enchantment.

Timing Issues with Doubling Season

One common mistake players make when playing Doubling Season is not accounting for its timing. Since it's an enchantment, it triggers at the beginning of your upkeep, after any other enchantments have triggered. This means that if you have a spell or ability that creates tokens or puts counters on permanents during their own timed triggers (e.g., Fungal Infection or Vines of Vastwood), Doubling Season won't affect those instances.

Misunderstood Rules

Another common mistake is misunderstanding how Doubling Season interacts with certain effects. For example, if you have an effect that says "create 2/2 green Beast token," Doubling Season will create 4 tokens instead of the usual 2. However, if an effect says "destroy target creature" and there are two creatures on the battlefield, Doubling Season won't double the number of destroyed creatures.

Poor Synergies

Players often overlook or misjudge the synergy potential between Doubling Season and other cards. For instance:

• Token generation: Cards like Sylvan Caryatid or Llanowar Elves that create tokens can get doubled by Doubling Season, but it's essential to ensure you have enough mana to support the increased number of tokens.
• Counter accumulation: Permanents like Elvish Mystic or Golgari Findbroker that gain counters from multiple sources can benefit greatly from Doubling Season. However, keep in mind that doubling the counters means doubling the potential for opponent interactions and combos against you.

To get the most out of Doubling Season, it's crucial to carefully evaluate the timing, rules, and synergies involved when combining this card with others.

Doubling Season is a rare enchantment from the Guilds of Ravnica set, released in 2018. Its ability to double token generation and counter effects has made it a staple in many competitive decks.

Key Effects:

• Token Doubling: When an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many tokens instead.
• Counter Amplification: If an effect would put one or more counters on a permanent you control, it puts twice that many counters on that permanent instead.

Strategic Applications:

1. Swarm Decks: Doubling Season is particularly effective in swarm decks, which rely on creating large numbers of tokens to overwhelm opponents.
2. Combo Decks: This enchantment also shines in combo decks, where it amplifies the potency of counterspells and other effects.
3. Aggro Decks: While less relevant against aggressive decks, Doubling Season can still be beneficial when combined with other cards that create tokens or apply counters.

Notable Cards:

• Mirrodin's Core: A rare enchantment from Mirrodin (2003) that doubles token generation and counter application.
• Doubling Festival: An uncommon enchantment from Guilds of Ravnica (2018), which has a similar effect but only works for tokens created by creatures.
• Banshee's Cry: A common enchantment from Urza's Saga (1998) that halves the mana cost of spells played under its influence, effectively creating two copies of each spell.

Budget-Friendliness:

While Doubling Season is a rare and relatively expensive card, there are more affordable options available:

• Similar Effects: Cards like Mirrodin's Core and Doubling Festival offer similar effects at lower price points.
• Alternative Solutions: Players can consider alternative solutions, such as using multiple copies of the same spell or relying on other enchantments that create tokens or apply counters.

Doubling Season is a powerful card with a wide range of strategic applications. Its ability to double token generation and counter effects makes it an attractive addition to many competitive decks. While its price may be prohibitive for some players, there are more affordable options available, and alternative solutions can be used to achieve similar effects.

Doubling Season is a versatile enchantment that can amplify various effects in a deck, making it an excellent addition to certain Commander and color identities.

Commanders:

• Griselbrand: A classic choice for token-based strategies, Griselbrand pairs well with Doubling Season. The extra tokens generated by the enchantment will help Griselbrand's life gain ability.
• Kari Zev, Skyship Raider: This commander thrives on generating swarms of creatures and counters, which Doubling Season can amplify significantly.
• Estrid, the Masked: Estrid's token generation and abilities can be greatly boosted by Doubling Season.

Color Identities:

• Jund: With a focus on red, black, and green, Jund is an excellent color identity for Doubling Season. It allows for aggressive creature strategies with added depth from the enchantment.
• Naya: A Naya deck can take advantage of Doubling Season's effects to generate tokens and amplify counter-based strategies.

Themes:

• Token Generation: Doubling Season is a staple in token-heavy decks, as it can exponentially increase the number of tokens generated by various effects.
• Counter Amplification: The enchantment also amplifies counter-based effects, making it an excellent addition to decks focused on generating counters for various purposes.

Synergy Cards:

Some notable synergy cards that pair well with Doubling Season include:

Combo Notes:

When paired with cards like Karn, Scourge of Gods or Estrid's Invocation, Doubling Season can amplify their effects significantly, creating large swarms of tokens or counters in a short amount of time.

Overall, Doubling Season is an excellent addition to any deck focused on token generation and counter amplification, providing significant synergies with various Commander and color identities.

Doubling Season's Impact in Commander and Other Formats

In Commander, Doubling Season is a highly sought-after card for its ability to amplify the effects of token-generating spells and counters. With a CMC of 5, it requires some investment but can have a significant impact on gameplay.

• Token Generation: Cards like Trostani's Summoner or Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca create tokens that would normally be created once. Doubling Season doubles the number of tokens generated, allowing for rapid expansion and pressure.
• Counters: Spells like Nebelgast or Serra Avenger put counters on permanents, which are then doubled by Doubling Season. This can lead to a quick accumulation of advantage.

However, Doubling Season's impact is also felt in other formats, such as Modern and Legacy.

• Modern: In Modern, cards like Liliana of the Veil or Grasp of Darkness rely on creating tokens and counters. Doubling Season can be particularly effective with these combos.
• Legacy: Legacy decks focusing on token generation and counter accumulation, like those featuring Tarmogoyf, benefit from Doubling Season's effects.

Despite its power level, Doubling Season is not banned in Commander and remains a competitive card due to its versatility. Its high price point may deter casual players, but experienced commanders are willing to invest in this game-changer.

Doubling Season

In a Commander game, Doubling Season's effects can be game-changing when combined with token-generating spells or abilities. For example:

• Token swarms: Play Doubling Season on turn 4 and follow up with a creature like Krenko, Mob Boss (2GG) or Throne of the God-Pharaoh. Krenko's ability will create 2-3 tokens, but thanks to Doubling Season, you'll get 4-6 tokens instead. This can quickly overwhelm your opponents and put you in a strong position.
• Counterspells: With Doubling Season in play, a counterspell like Mystical Tutor (1U) or Sulfur Falls (2W) will remove twice as many threats from the battlefield. This can be particularly effective against combo decks that rely on specific cards to function.

However, Doubling Season's effects are less impactful when facing opponents with a strong board presence or aggressive strategies:

• Token-dense boards: If an opponent has already established a large token army, Doubling Season won't make a significant difference. Your tokens will be swamped by theirs, and you'll struggle to gain traction.
• Aggro decks: Against aggressive decks like Eldrazi Displacer or Boros Legion Loyalist, Doubling Season's effects are less relevant. These decks often rely on dealing direct damage to win the game quickly, so your token count won't matter as much.

In multiplayer games, the politics of the table can greatly affect Doubling Season's value:

• Multiple opponents: If you're playing in a multi-player format and all opponents have access to Mystical Tutor or other counterspells, Doubling Season may become less relevant. You'll need to find ways to interact with the board and disrupt your opponents' plans.
• Combo-heavy decks: In multiplayer games with combo-heavy players, Doubling Season can still shine by allowing you to create more tokens and disrupt their combos.

Overall, Doubling Season excels in Commander formats where token generation and counterspells are prevalent. Its effects can be devastating when combined with the right spells or abilities, but its impact diminishes against aggressive decks and opponents with strong board presence.

History of Doubling Season

Doubling Season, a rare enchantment from the G11 set, has had a significant impact on Magic: The Gathering gameplay since its release. This card's unique ability to double token and counter effects has made it a staple in many competitive decks.

Printings and Reprints

Doubling Season was first printed in the original version of Ravnica block, specifically in the Guildpact set (G11) in 2005. It has been reprinted several times since then, including in various Masters Edition sets and in Modern Horizons 2. The card's foil price can range from $35.86 EUR to $60.76 USD.

Tournament Presence

Doubling Season has seen play in many high-profile tournaments, including the Pro Tour and Grand Prix events. Its ability to amplify token generation and counter effects makes it an attractive addition to various strategies, particularly those focused on swarm and combo plays.

EDHREC Stats

As of the last data update, Doubling Season holds a moderate EDHREC rank of 225, indicating its popularity in casual and competitive formats alike. While not as ubiquitous as some other cards, it remains a sought-after addition to many EDH decks.

Iconic Decks

Doubling Season has appeared in several iconic and influential decks throughout Magic's history. One notable example is the "Azorius Control" deck from the original Ravnica block, which leveraged Doubling Season to create an almost unstoppable swarm of tokens.

Another prominent deck featuring Doubling Season is the "Dauthi Zombie Master" deck from the Modern format, where it pairs with cards like Griselbrand and Tarmogoyf to create a formidable undead army.

In the verdant expanse of Dominaria, where the cycles of nature hold sway over the land, Doubling Season weaves its subtle magic. This rare enchantment, born from the lush canopy and fertile soil of the region, amplifies the potency of tokens and counters, imbuing them with an extra measure of vitality.

In the heart of the forest, ancient trees like Avacyn, Angel of Hope stand sentinel, their branches a testament to the enduring power of life. These sentinels often summon tokens to aid them in battle, and Doubling Season's presence would ensure that these tokens emerge in greater numbers, overwhelming their foes with sheer force.

Similarly, when Epic Experiment unleashes its swarm of 1/1 Gnome tokens, Doubling Season multiplies the horde, transforming a mere handful into a veritable army. The resulting chaos on the battlefield is a sight to behold as these tokens flood across the land, each one a tiny but formidable agent of destruction.

Doubling Season's influence also extends to counters, amplifying their presence on permanents like Llanowar Elves. When an effect would place 2 counters on Llanowar Elves, Doubling Season doubles this number to 4, granting the creature additional prowess in combat and further solidifying its dominance over the battlefield.

In a world where magic is intertwined with nature, Doubling Season embodies the cyclical forces that shape Dominaria. Its power serves as a reminder of the land's unyielding vitality and the intricate balance between life and death, growth and decay.