If a creature's maximum life is exceeded due to counters, what occurs?

When a creature's toughness is raised beyond its maximum due to counters, the game rules dictate that excess toughness from those counters is automatically adjusted. Specifically, state-based actions are checked to ensure that any creature's toughness does not exceed its maximum value. If it does, those excess counters are removed.

In the context of the game, when a creature has more toughness than its maximum allows, it cannot function in that state. Therefore, the game actively prevents that situation by removing the counters that exceed the maximum; this is a direct application of the state-based action rule. This ensures that all creatures conform to the limits set by their printed characteristics and conditions on the battlefield.

Other options present various actions that do not align with the game’s rules regarding life counters and toughness management. However, it’s important to understand that exceeding a creature’s maximum toughness doesn’t lead to destruction or resetting of statistics, but rather a tidy removal of excess counters to maintain game balance.