Fractal Tender

three generic mana one green mana one blue mana Creature — Elf WizardPower and toughness3/3

Ward two generic mana

Increment (Whenever you cast a spell, if the amount of mana you spent is greater than this creature's power or toughness, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)

At the beginning of each end step, if you put a counter on this creature this turn, create a 0/0 green and blue Fractal creature token and put three +1/+1 counters on it.

Add to list

Showing Secrets of Strixhaven#190

Price

0.21 $

Foil 0.26 $

6 printings

Daily estimate from Scryfall, not a shop quote.

View onScryfall EDHREC

Buy this printingTCGplayer Cardmarket Cardhoarder

Fractal Tender rulings

2026-03-20
The increment ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack.
2026-03-20
When comparing the mana spent to the creature's stats as the increment ability resolves, it's possible that the stat that is less than the mana spent changes from power to toughness or vice versa. For example, say you control a 1/3 creature with increment and you pay two mana to cast a spell. Since the amount of mana you spent is greater than the creature's power, increment will trigger. While the increment ability is on the stack, an effect gives the creature with increment +2/-2, making it a 3/1. When the increment ability resolves, the creature will still get a +1/+1 counter since the amount of mana you spent is greater than that creature's toughness.
2026-03-20
If increment triggers, the comparison will happen again when the ability tries to resolve. If the amount of mana spent to cast that spell isn't greater than either of that creature's stats anymore, the ability will do nothing.
2026-03-20
Fractal Tender's last ability will check as each end step starts to see if you put a counter on Fractal Tender this turn. If you didn't, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to put a counter on Fractal Tender during an end step in time to have the ability trigger.
2026-03-20
An increment ability will only trigger if the permanent it's on is a creature. Similarly, if the permanent is no longer a creature when its increment ability resolves, the ability won't do anything.
2026-03-20
Whenever you cast a spell, check the amount of mana you spent to cast it against the power and toughness of the creature with increment. If the amount of mana you spent isn't greater than either of that creature's stats, increment won't trigger at all.

Fractal Tender keyword rules

Ward Rule 702.21

Ward is a triggered ability. Ward [cost] means “Whenever this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless that player pays [cost].”

Some ward abilities include an X in their cost and state what X is equal to. This value is determined at the time the ability resolves, not locked in as the ability triggers.