How does Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre work with mill decks?
Asked by 5D_Phantom 7 years ago
How does Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre's effect "When Ulamog is put into a graveyard from anywhere, its owner shuffles his or her graveyard into his or her library." work with mill decks? For example, let's say you play Thought Scour and your opponent has 1 card left in their library, that card being Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre. Is it impossible to mill them to death without first making them just draw Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, thereby preventing the graveyard effect from procing? Or does the instant speed work faster than Ulamog does? Thanks for the help!
You could, however, cast something like Comparative Analysis targeting that player in response to Ulamog's trigger. They would then attempt to draw from the empty library before the shuffle. You can also use something like Extirpate to get rid of the Titan. They would still shuffle they're graveyard into their library, so you'd have to mill them out again, but you wouldn't be relying on them drawing it to keep it from happening again.
November 8, 2016 4:18 p.m.
5D_Phantom says... #3
Ok, thanks so much. I knew there were ways around it, I just wasn't sure whether Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre or Thought Scour had priority. Thanks for clearing everything up.
November 8, 2016 10:30 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
This isn't a case of any one effect having "priority" over another, it's just that no one is trying to draw a card from an empty library in this situation. Even if there was no Ulamog, etc. in the deck and your opponent only had 1 card left when you Thought Scoured them, they wouldn't lose immediately.
November 9, 2016 12:48 p.m.
If they cast Thought Scour targeting themselves instead of you casting it they'd lose, because of the draw from the Thought Scour, However they'd also be really dumb.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1
A player doesn't lose the game immediately when there are 0 cards left in their library. Rather, they lose when they try to draw a card from an empty library (only the normal draw for the turn and effects that specifically say "draw" count as drawing a card). In your situation, Ulamog will trigger when it gets milled and your opponent will shuffle their graveyard back into their library.
November 8, 2016 4:07 p.m.