Can you go to negative life at any point?

Asked by wbroomhead 8 years ago

So, I was playing modern yesterday with my RUG Twin list, against the burn/Goblin Guide deck. I'm at 3 life, and cast Huntmaster of the Fells  Flip, and in response he casts Boros Charm, targeting me for 4 points of damage. Do I proceed to -1 life and die with the Huntmaster still on the stack, or do I recover to 1 life (after being negative) and still continue playing?
Thanks!

pskinn01 says... #1

you will die to a state based action after the charm resolves. State based actions are checked after each spell/ability resolves. It doesn't wait till all spells and/or abilities resolve.

August 10, 2015 11:04 p.m. Edited.

Boza says... Accepted answer #2

you cannot go to zero life or lower without losing the game, no matter what is on the stack (it will not resolve for the reasons stated above). The only exception is when a card explicitly says you can ie Phyrexian Unlife.

August 11, 2015 2:57 a.m.

sonnet666 says... #3

While you two are both correct, I want to point out that there is a situation where this could happen and the player wouldn't lose: If a player's life total was reduced to less than zero and then raised back above zero during the resolution of the same spell or ability, then that player would not lose.

For instance: If a player was at 2 life and a (single) spell said, "Target player loses 3 life, target player gains 3 life," and the same player was chosen for both targets, then when state-based actions get checked their life total is back at 2 and everything's dandy because SBA's don't care about what happened when their backs were turned.

August 11, 2015 5:08 a.m.

BlueScope says... #4

In the same way, if an effect that prevents you from losing the game ends, but the reason you'd lose the game vanishes before state-based actions are checked, you will live; for example: You are at -1 life and control Phyrexian Unlife. An opponent casts Dromoka's Command, making you sacrifice your only enchantment, then has his Runeclaw Bear fight your Child of Night.

The same wouldn't work if instead you controlled a Frogmite that's enchanted with Spirit Link, because state-based actions are checked inbetween the creatures dealing damage, and you gaining life - which is essentially the same situation as in the question.

August 11, 2015 8:14 a.m.

wbroomhead says... #5

Thank you guys! I had never run across this issue before and wanted to make sure I made the right play (by scooping and going to game two).

August 11, 2015 11:54 a.m.

This discussion has been closed