If I Soul Spike myself, did I lose life?
Asked by Tyrant-Thanatos 4 years ago
I'm fairly confident of the answer here, but just to be sure:
A card was spoiled for M20 that reads (in part): Whenever you lose life, draw that many cards.
And it got me thinking: If I cast something like Soul Spike targeting myself, it will trigger for 4, even though my life total didn't actually change, right?
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #2
Thanks Madcookie, that's what I thought. I just wanted to confirm before I went off brewing.
Madcookie says... Accepted answer #1
Life total always changes, but appears as if it didn't because since its part of the same resolution, state-based effects aren't checked. In this regard it is similar to having lethal damage unblocked but staying alive due to lifelinking attacker.
Say you are at 4 life and you Soul Spike yourself. The spell resolves and first you lose 4 life and go to 0 life, your draw 4 trigger is queued to be put on the stack but as of this time does nothing, then you gain 4 and go back to 4 total. Then since the spell has resolved, state-based effects are checked and since you are at 4 again it appears as if nothing happens. (Unlike another card game where if you Ultimate infestation yourself for 5 dmg while at 5 life, you still die despite gaining 5 armor from the same spell). Only after all this you will draw 4 cards from the m20 card (I forgot the name)
June 23, 2019 8:05 a.m.