Streetwise Negotiator
Backup 1 (When this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.)
This creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Like the laws, the rules of engagement always seem to bend in the Brokers' favor.
Illustrated by Brent Hollowell
This printing
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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.
If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities.
Streetwise Negotiator’s ability doesn’t actually change any creature’s power. It changes only the amount of combat damage the creature assigns. All other rules and effects that check power or toughness use the real values, even if they cause damage “equal to a creature’s power” to be dealt. Notably, if Streetwise Negotiator (or the creature that gains its ability) fights, it uses its actual power to determine how much damage it deals.
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.
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.
If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities.
