Agate Instigator

You can pay an offspring cost only once as you cast a spell with offspring. You can't try to pay it multiple times to get more token copies.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

If the spell is countered, the offspring ability will not trigger, and no token will be created.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

If the spell resolves but the creature with offspring leaves the battlefield before the offspring ability resolves, you'll still create a token copy of it.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else, except it's a 1/1 (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its types, color, or so on.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

In the rare case where the original creature is copying something else when the offspring ability resolves, the token enters as whatever that creature copied, except it's a 1/1.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

Many creatures with offspring abilities have other abilities that refer to them as "this creature" rather than referring to them by name. This difference is for clarity purposes and does not change the function of any of these abilities.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

Any "enters" abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters. Any "as [this creature] enters" or "[this creature] enters with" abilities of the copied creature will also work.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

The token created by the offspring ability isn't "cast", so abilities that trigger when a creature spell is cast won't trigger for the copy.

Wotc — July 26, 2024

In the rare case where the creature doesn't have the offspring ability when it enters, the ability won't trigger even if you paid the offspring cost.

Wotc — July 26, 2024