Spinal Parasite

five generic mana Artifact Creature — InsectPower and toughness-1/-1

Sunburst (This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.)

Remove two +1/+1 counters from this creature: Remove a counter from target permanent.

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Showing Fifth Dawn#155

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0.12 $

Foil 0.36 $

8 printings

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Spinal Parasite rulings

2004-12-01
If Spinal Parasite is a 1/1 because it has two +1/+1 counters on it, you can remove both counters to pay for its activated ability.
2004-12-01
Any permanent is a legal target for Spinal Parasite’s ability, not just one with a counter on it. The player who controls Spinal Parasite chooses which counter to remove from the targeted permanent.
2004-12-01
Yes, this card’s base power/toughness is -1/-1. If it has five +1/+1 counters on it, it’s a 4/4 creature.

Spinal Parasite keyword rules

Sunburst Rule 702.44

Sunburst is a static ability that functions as an object is entering the battlefield. “Sunburst” means “If this object is entering as a creature, ignoring any type-changing effects that would affect it, it enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it. Otherwise, it enters with a charge counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.”

Sunburst adds counters only if the object with sunburst is entering the battlefield from the stack as a resolving spell and only if one or more colored mana was spent on its costs, including additional or alternative costs.

Sunburst can also be used to set a variable number for another ability. If the keyword is used in this way, it doesn’t matter whether the ability is on a creature spell or on a noncreature spell.

If an object has multiple instances of sunburst, each one works separately.