Removing counters

[Oldschoolmtgnoob]

After many epic battles, my {unbreathing hoard} has lost all his +1/+1 counters. Fortunately, I have a {paragon of open graves} still paragoning it up for him. Now since there's no counters to remove to prevent damage, does he lose toughness as normal, or do I just prevent damage for free as long as he gets the buff?

[Ekann1]

Free damage prevention! Funsies!

He'll live through anything, since the ability prevents the damage and tries to remove a counter, but can't, but still prevents the damage.

[Oldschoolmtgnoob]

You guys are just...just the best...look at that, two minute response! Just the best. Around. Nothing's gonna ever keep ya down.

[Ekann1]

It's more fun to answer rules questions than do homework, so here I am for a 2 min response time

[rarehuntertay]

Similar to back in the day when I played  {Phantom Centaur} and  {Mirari's Wake}