Spiny starfish

[Kaylesh]

To confirm the definition of regenerates.


{spiny starfish} says {U} to regenerate, if starfish regenerated put X 0/1 tokens on the field At eot, where X is the number of times fish regenerated.

Now I was thinking, what is being counted? The number of times the ability was activated, or the number of times it was actually saved from destruction.

Then I found this:

701.12c: Neither activating an ability that creates a regeneration shield nor casting a spell that creates a regeneration shield is the same as regenerating a permanent. Effects that say that a permanent can't be regenerated don't prevent such abilities from being activated or such spells from being cast; rather, they prevent regeneration shields from having any effect.

If I interpret this right, it counts the number of shields used. So no mana sinking for making many tokens without say {pestilence}.
Am I right?

[LinkCelestrial]

Yep. The actually act of regenerating is tapping, removing all damage and not dying.

[Kaylesh]

Tx for the confirmation.