Aetherflux Reservoir + Phyrexian Unlife
Asked by SmugLookingBarrel 7 years ago
Phyrexian Unlife makes you not lose the game for being at 0 or less life, and its infect clause only triggers from taking damage, not paying life. So let's say I have 20 life with both these cards in play: can I pay 50 to Aetherflux Reservoir, go down to -30 but not die thanks to Phyrexian Unlife and shoot my opponent for 50?
No, you have to have at least as much life as you're trying to pay; Phyrexian Unlife would allow you to go from 50 life to 0 and not die but it won't let you activate the ability if you have less than 50 life. The relevant rule is:
118.4. If a cost or effect allows a player to pay an amount of life greater than 0, the player may do so only if his or her life total is greater than or equal to the amount of the payment. If a player pays life, the payment is subtracted from his or her life total; in other words, the player loses that much life. (Players can always pay 0 life.)
September 23, 2016 2:33 p.m.
You cannot because you can't pay life that you don't have. You have to have at least 50 life to pay for Aetherflux Reservoir's ability.
September 23, 2016 2:35 p.m.
If you want to do something fun with Phyrexian Unlife try Ad Nauseam (though Angel's Grace is easier).
Raging_Squiggle says... #1
No. losing life is not the same as paying life.
You cannot pay life you don't have. If you're at 20 life the most you can pay for anything is 20 life.
On the other hand, you can lose life you don't have have and continue going to negative life.
September 23, 2016 2:33 p.m.