I've still never known the correct ruling. Does the text to steal only need to be played once ever? Or does it have to be the thing that causes the minion steal.
The final counter needs to have the "burn to take control blah blah blah" text. So you want the final counter to come from something like Corruption or Cave of Apples, not Sarrasine or Nefertiti. Earlier counters can come from any source.
How counters work is a little confusing, because a number of other sources of counters
don't work in the same way as Corruption counters. For example:
- Vampiric Disease never goes in play and grants counters that have an effect and can be burned, even without the card being in play
- Sabbat Threat similarly
- Tegyrius's allegiance counters continue have an effect, even if Tegyrius leaves play
It's never been clear to me - textually - why Vampiric Disease counters, put in play by a transient card, work one way with an effect and burn clause persisting beyond resolution, but Corruption counters, also put in play by a transient card, work the other way, with the effect and burn clause being usable only during resolution.
However, whether from fiat or designer intent or something else, the line of rulings on Corruption counters has always been clear - you must have the activating text on the card or effect you're using to put the last Corruption counter in play.
Adv Sarrasine Corruption counters & take control
