The Battlefield

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed

$21.86

Triskelion

$0.28

AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Triskelion

Overview

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed gives Triskelion undying and a continuous +1/+1 power/toughness boost, but undying only triggers if the creature had no +1/+1 counters on it when it was put into a graveyard . Triskelion enters with three +1/+1 counters, so it will not return from undying unless its +1/+1 counters are removed before it dies. Activating Triskelion’s “remove a +1/+1 counter” ability to remove all counters and then causing it to die will cause the undying trigger to return it with a single +1/+1 counter ; note timing issues during combat when damage is assigned and dealt .

Step 1

Start position: Mikaeus, the Unhallowed is on the battlefield and Triskelion is on the battlefield. Triskelion entered with three +1/+1 counters on it (its oracle text). Mikaeus’s static effect gives Triskelion +1/+1 to its P/T and grants it undying, but that granted +1/+1 is not a counter and does not affect undying’s counter check .

Step 2

If you want Triskelion’s undying to be able to return it when it dies, remove all of Triskelion’s +1/+1 counters before it goes to the graveyard. You can do this by activating Triskelion’s ability “Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature: It deals 1 damage to any target” repeatedly until there are no +1/+1 counters left. This is necessary because undying only triggers if the creature had no +1/+1 counters when put into a graveyard .

Step 3

After Triskelion has no +1/+1 counters, cause it to die (sacrifice, destroy, lethal damage, etc.). When it is put into the graveyard from the battlefield and had no +1/+1 counters, undying triggered by Mikaeus will trigger to return it to the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter .

Step 4

When the undying trigger resolves, Triskelion returns to the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter on it. Mikaeus continues to grant the static +1/+1 boost and undying while it remains on the battlefield; that boost is not a counter and does not prevent undying from seeing that it returned with a +1/+1 counter.

Step 5

If you wish to repeat the process, you must remove the +1/+1 counter again (by activating Triskelion’s ability) and cause it to die again to re-trigger undying. To repeatedly get it to die and return, you need a way to cause it to die (for example, a sacrifice outlet) each time after you remove its counters.

Resolution

Triskelion gains undying from Mikaeus, but undying will trigger only if Triskelion has no +1/+1 counters on it when it’s put into a graveyard . Because Triskelion normally enters with three +1/+1 counters, you must remove all of those counters (for example by activating its ability) before it dies if you want undying to trigger. If it dies without counters, undying returns it to the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter. Removing counters during combat can change damage assignment and you may need to remove counters before the combat damage step to avoid the creature being destroyed by damage before you can act .

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