Backup Agent
Creature — Human Citizen
When this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Streets of New Capenna
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #20131
Backup Agent drops a +1/+1 counter on any creature when it enters — and if it targets another creature, that creature gains the backup ability itself until end of turn, threatening a counter chain if more creatures follow. It's a niche role-player: useful in dedicated +1/+1 counter synergy shells, irrelevant outside them.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Backup Agent earns a slot only in dedicated counter-proliferation decks where every +1/+1 counter trigger compounds — think Atraxa, Praetors' Voice or Hamza, Guardian of Arashin shells where the counter chain actually matters. In Pauper it's a common-legal body with marginal use in go-wide counter builds, though better counter enablers exist at the same cost. Legacy, Vintage, Modern, and Pioneer have no competitive shell where Backup Agent does enough — it's outclassed in every powered environment. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander in that it works only when the planeswalker and signature spell actively reward counter stacking.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Backup Agent is deep bulk — you'll find it in common bins or as throw-in filler. Bulk commons at this price point don't appreciate unless a new combo or mechanic pushes them into demand, and nothing on the horizon does that here.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.