Can Kozilek stop an Infa-Mill Combo?
Asked by entheogeneral 6 years ago
So let's say someone does the Duskmantle Guildmage+Mind Crank(?, I forgot its real name) combo and they begin to mill me to death. Ignoring the fact that the loss of life might kill me anyway, what would happen if they milled me like this and got my Kozilek, Butcher of Truth into my graveyard, which would immediately be shuffled back into my library along with the rest of my graveyard? I'm thinking that it triggers after the combo happens but can someone explain this to me?
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2
Mindcrank (you were close)
The Duskmantle Guildmage + Mindcrank combo is based on two abilities that trigger each other. Let's say your opponent starts the combo (either by making you lose life, thus triggering Mindcrank's ability, or by making you mill, thus triggering the ability created when Duskmantle Guildmage's first ability resolves).
The combo continues to proceed, with each ability triggering, resolving, and triggering the other ability.
When Kozilek, Butcher of Truth is milled, its ability triggers. Because you're milling, the special triggered ability set up by Duskmantle Guildmage also triggers.
When multiple abilities have triggered since the last time a player received priority, they're put onto the stack in turn order.
If it's your turn, Kozilek's ability will be put onto the stack first, then the Guildmage's separate ability will be put onto the stack above it. This means the combo will continue executing until you die, have no more cards to mill, or stop it from continuing. After the combo ends, Kozilek's ability will resolve.
If it's your opponent's turn, the opposite will happen and Kozilek's ability will resolve first, then the combo will continue. If nothing prevents the combo from continuing indefinitely, then you'll end the game in a draw.
April 26, 2017 12:56 p.m.
So if you have a large amount of life, it happening on your turn won't end the game, but will result in you losing life equal to your library size and your grave and library shuffling to form your new library. If it happens on your opponent's turn, you lose.
If you cannot lose the game, it happening on your turn results in you losing life equal to your library size, probably putting your life negative and your grave and library shuffling to form your new library. If it happens on your opponent's turn, the game is a draw.
An alternative would be something like Darksteel Colossus or Legacy Weapon which is revealed and shuffled instead of put into your graveyard. Although it doesn't completely refill your library like Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, it also never hits your graveyard so you don't lose life and the Mindcrank doesn't trigger, ending the combo then and there.
April 26, 2017 1:39 p.m.
entheogeneral says... #4
Thank you, everyone. All so very helpful. Very interesting interaction indeed. I'll alert my league.
April 26, 2017 6:12 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
Please select an answer to remove this question from the active queue.
Raging_Squiggle says... #1
It depends on who's turn it is.
Your turn:
Kozilek and Duskmantle trigger at the same time. Kozilek goes on the stack first, then the Duskmantle. The Duskmantle resolves first, triggering Mindcrank, resuming the combo until you have 0 cards in your library. At that time, Kozilek's trigger resolves and you shuffle all cards back into your library. The combo is finished and your opponent has to re-initiate it.
If it's the opponent's turn:
Kozilek and Duskmantle trigger at the same time. Duskmantle goes on the stack first, then Kozilek. Kozilek resolves first, shuffling your graveyard back in. Then Duskmantle resolves, triggering mindcrank. The combo resumes until you mill Kozilek again, which repeats the interaction: shuffle graveyard in, and resume the combo. If we are ignoring the life loss from Duskmantle Guildmage, this turns into a mandatory infinite combo, which results in the game being a draw.
April 26, 2017 12:52 p.m.