The Battlefield

Gatta and Luzzu

$0.15

Hardened Scales

$1.91

Walking Ballista

$9.28

AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Gatta and Luzzu + Hardened Scales + Walking Ballista

Overview

When Gatta and Luzzu enters and you choose Walking Ballista, any damage that would be dealt to that Ballista this turn is prevented and you put that many +1/+1 counters on it; those counters are increased by Hardened Scales (each one adds +1 to the number that would be put) . If you use Walking Ballista’s activated ability to target itself, you remove a counter as a cost, then when the ability resolves the 1 damage it would deal to the Ballista is prevented and replaced by putting +1/+1 counters on it (increased by Hardened Scales), potentially netting you more counters than you removed . The official rulings that apply are Ruling [2025-06-06], Ruling [2023-09-01], and Ruling [2020-08-07].

Step 1

Have Walking Ballista on the battlefield with some number of +1/+1 counters (it entered with X counters per its Oracle text).

Step 2

Cast or otherwise cause Gatta and Luzzu to enter the battlefield. Its triggered ability resolves; you choose Walking Ballista as the target creature you control (the trigger was put on the stack per ).

Step 3

For the rest of the turn, whenever damage would be dealt to Walking Ballista, that damage is prevented and that many +1/+1 counters are put on it. Counters modify P/T immediately in layer 7d and are markers per .

Step 4

If Hardened Scales is in play under your control, each event that would put N +1/+1 counters on Walking Ballista instead puts N+1 (per Hardened Scales) and multiple Hardened Scales stack (Ruling [2023-09-01]).

Step 5

If you activate Walking Ballista’s ability targeting itself: removing a +1/+1 counter is a cost paid when activating; when the ability resolves it would deal 1 damage to the Ballista, but Gatta prevents that damage and you put 1 (modified by Hardened Scales) +1/+1 counters on it — potentially more than you removed, creating a net gain in counters.

Step 6

If at any point Walking Ballista has damage marked on it equal to or greater than its toughness, it is destroyed as a state-based action ; also note Ruling [2020-08-07] limiting repeated activations if damage or toughness reductions already exist.

Resolution

If Gatta and Luzzu’s effect is protecting Walking Ballista, damage that would be dealt to the Ballista is prevented and that many +1/+1 counters are put on it; Hardened Scales modifies that replacement/put-counter effect, adding +1 counter per Hardened Scales you control (Ruling [2023-09-01]). If damage couldn’t be prevented for some reason, you still put that many +1/+1 counters on it (Ruling [2025-06-06]). Using Ballista’s own "Remove a +1/+1 counter: It deals 1 damage to any target" ability on itself can therefore remove a counter as the activation cost and then, when the 1 damage would be dealt, Gatta prevents that damage and you receive the prevented-damage number of counters (boosted by Hardened Scales), which can result in a net gain of counters. However, be mindful of state-based actions: if Ballista has damage already marked or its toughness was reduced such that marked damage is now greater than or equal to its toughness, it will be destroyed as a state-based action before you can continue (see Ruling [2020-08-07] and ).

Feedback