What does a continuous effect imply when applied to permanents?

A continuous effect, when applied to permanents, implies that it changes their type and characteristics upon entering the battlefield or while they are in play. Continuous effects can alter a permanent's attributes such as its power, toughness, color, type, or other characteristics without requiring any additional actions or activations.

For example, if a spell or ability grants a creature +1/+1, that effect continuously applies and modifies the creature's power and toughness as long as the effect remains in place. The key point here is that once a permanent is affected by a continuous effect, its new characteristics and types become part of its game state until the effect ends.

This understanding helps in grasping how various effects interact with permanents throughout the game, especially in scenarios where multiple effects may be layering over each other. It is crucial to recognize that these effects operate in a persistent manner rather than being transient or requiring further activation for their application.

The other options do not accurately describe the nature of continuous effects in relation to permanents. Continuous effects clearly alter permanent characteristics, which is not captured in the descriptions provided in the other choices.