Random MTG Talk: Precursor Golem with a kicked Rite of Replication

Precursor Golem is really cool. However, it gets really messy even if you have two on the battlefield.

What's a better way to explain Precursor Golem than blowing it to an extreme?

Let's used a kicked Rite of Replication! Dive right in, shall we?

Case 1: 1 Precursor Golem, 2 Golem tokens.

Our process is going to be keeping things organized. First, we'll state what it is we're starting with. Then, we'll figure out how many copies are made. Finally, we'll add everything together.

When Precursor Golem (or any other Golem) is targeted by a kicked Rite of Replication, Precursor Golem's ability triggers and creates a copy for each other Golem in play. We'll go over this again when we have more Precursor Golems on the battlefield.

We start with 1 Precursor Golem and 2 Golem tokens. Let's figure out how many copies we're making.

1 Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
2 Golem tokens x5 = 10 Golem token copies

The 5 new Precursor Golems each trigger 2 Golem tokens, so that's 10 more Golem tokens. Adding up what we started with and the copies made, we now have 6 Precursor Golems and 22 Golem tokens. Not too shabby! Let's make things more complicated.

Case 2: 2 Precursor Golems, 4 Golem tokens.

Before we get into Rite of Replication, let's focus on a simpler example. We'll replace Rite of Replication with Giant Growth.

So, we'll target one of the Precursor Golems with Giant Growth. Both of the Precursor Golems' abilities trigger. For the targeted Precursor Golem, it creates a copy for each other Golem. For the nontargeted Precursor Golem, it also creates a copy for each Golem except the original targeted one. Let's analyze the amount of copies.

Targeted Precursor Golem x1 Giant Growth
Nontargeted Precursor Golem x2 Giant Growth
4 Golem tokens x2 Giant Growth each

This leads to an interesting finding that I did not expect. While it makes no difference in this example, if you cast Giant Growth on a Golem token, then both Precursor Golems would get 2 copies of Giant Growth. This makes a significant difference with Rite of Replication.

Back to the kicked Rite of Replication. We'll first focus on targeting a Precursor Golem.

Targeted Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
Nontargeted Precursor Golem x5 x2 = 10 Precursor Golem copies
4 Golem tokens x5 x2 = 40 Golem token copies

Each copy of Precursor Golem spits out 2 more Golem tokens, which comes to 30 more Golem tokens. To add everything up, we're at 17 Precursor Golems and 74 Golem tokens.

Now, let's check out what happens if we target a Golem token.

2 Precursor Golems x5 x2 = 20 Precursor Golem copies
Targeted Golem token x5 = 5 Golem token copies
3 nontargeted Golem tokens x5 x2 = 30 Golem token copies

20 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 40 Golem tokens

Total: 22 Precursor Golems, 79 Golem tokens.

Targeting a Golem token instead of Precursor Golem with a kicked Rite of Replication yields more copies.

Case 3: 3 Precursor Golems, 6 Golem tokens

Let's start with targeting a Precursor Golem.

Targeted Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
2 nontargeted Precursor Golems x5 x3 = 30 Precursor Golem copies
6 Golem tokens x5 x3 = 90 Golem token copies

35 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 70 Golem tokens

Total: 38 Precursor Golems, 166 Golem tokens.

And now targeting a Golem token.

3 Precursor Golems x5 x3 = 45 Precursor Golem copies
Targeted Golem token x5 = 5 Golem token copies
5 nontargeted Golem tokens x5 x3 = 75 Golem token copies

45 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 90 Golem tokens

Total: 48 Precursor Golems, 176 Golem tokens.

Case 4: 4 Precursor Golems, 8 Golem tokens

First, targeting a Precursor Golem.

Targeted Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
3 nontargeted Precursor Golems x5 x4 = 60 Precursor Golem copies
8 Golem tokens x5 x4 = 160 Golem token copies

65 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 130 Golem tokens

Total: 69 Precursor Golems, 298 Golem tokens.

Lastly, targeting a Golem token.

4 Precursor Golems x5 x4 = 80 Precursor Golem copies
Targeted Golem token x5 = 5 Golem token copies
7 nontargeted Golem tokens x5 x4 = 140 Golem token copies

80 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 160 Golem tokens

Total: 84 Precursor Golems, 313 Golem tokens.

Bonus: A second kicked Rite of Replication targeting a Precursor Golem after a kicked Rite of Replication targeting a Precursor Golem resolves.

Starting: 69 Precursor Golems, 298 Golem tokens

Targeted Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
68 nontargeted Precursor Golems x5 x69 = 23460 Precursor Golem copies
298 Golem tokens x5 x69 = 102810 Golem token copies

23465 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 46930 Golem tokens

Total: 23534 Precursor Golems, 150038 Golem tokens.

Quick reference wrap up:
1 Precursor and 2 tokens = 6 Precursors and 22 tokens
2 Precursors and 4 tokens = 17 Precursors and 74 tokens or 22 Precursors and 79 tokens
3 Precursors and 6 tokens = 38 Precursors and 166 tokens or 48 Precursors and 176 tokens
4 Precursors and 8 tokens = 69 Precursors and 298 tokens or 84 Precursors and 313 tokens

I hope everyone had fun reading this, because I had fun writing it! Enjoy!