Persist

Keywords · intermediate

Persist brings a creature back once after it dies. It reads "Persist."

How it works

• When a creature with persist dies, if it had no -1/-1 counter on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.
• The returned creature is a new object, smaller by 1/1.

Rules notes

• The second time it dies, it already has a -1/-1 counter, so persist does not trigger again.
• Persist is the mirror of undying, which returns the creature with a +1/+1 counter instead.
• Because the creature returns, its enters-the-battlefield abilities trigger again.

Rule reference

[702.79]