Start your engines!Start your engines! is a static ability. If a player controls a permanent with start your engines! and that player has no speed, their speed becomes 1. This is a state-based action. See rule 704.
Players do not have speed until a rule or effect sets their speed to a specific value.
If a player has no speed and they are instructed to increase their speed by a certain value, their speed becomes that value.
There is an inherent triggered ability associated with a player having 1 or more speed. This ability has no source and is controlled by that player. That ability is “Whenever one or more opponents lose life during your turn, if your speed is less than 4, your speed increases by 1. This ability triggers only once each turn.”
Rules and effects may refer to whether a player has “max speed.” A player has max speed if their speed is 4.
Some effects refer to a player’s speed. If that player has no speed, their speed is 0 for the purpose of an effect that refers to speed. (CR 702.179) (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life.
Max speedA max speed ability is a static ability. “Max speed — [Ability]” means “As long as your speed is 4, this object has ‘[Ability].’” See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
If an ability granted by a max speed ability states which zones it functions from, the max speed ability that grants that ability functions from those zones. (See rule 113.6c.) (CR 702.178) is 4.)
When this artifact enters,
exileTo exile an object, move it to the exile zone from wherever it is. See rule 406, “Exile.” (CR 701.13) target nonland permanent an opponent controls until this artifact leaves the battlefield.
Max speedA max speed ability is a static ability. “Max speed — [Ability]” means “As long as your speed is 4, this object has ‘[Ability].’” See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
If an ability granted by a max speed ability states which zones it functions from, the max speed ability that grants that ability functions from those zones. (See rule 113.6c.) (CR 702.178) —
: Put a +1/+1
counterTo counter a spell or ability is to cancel it: remove it from the stack without resolving it. A counter on an object or player is instead a marker that changes characteristics or interacts with rules or abilities; for example, a +1/+1 counter modifies a creature’s power and toughness. (CR 701.6; 122.1) on target creature or Vehicle you control.
ActivateTo activate an activated ability is to put it onto the stack and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Only an object’s controller (or its owner, if it doesn’t have a controller) can activate its activated ability unless the object specifically says otherwise. A player may activate an ability if they have priority. See rule 602, “Activating Activated Abilities.” (CR 701.2) only as a sorcery.