Does giving a 1/1 creature -1/-1 count as that creature 'dying'?

Asked by iNovalite 9 years ago

The scenario was Ob Nixilis, Unshackled was on the field when Doomwake Giant 's constellation ability was activated. I had a 1/1 spirit token on the battlefield, would the -1/-1 given to my 1/1 spirit count as 'dying' and trigger Ob Nixilis, Unshackled 's ability? Same question for cards that 'destroy' creatures (EX. Spiteful Blow .) Thanks!

Drilnoth says... Accepted answer #1

Yes, that is dying. "Die" in Magic means "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield." Having negative toughness and "destroy" effects both send creatures to the graveyard, so they "die" and Ob Nixilis gets counters.

Note that when a token dies, it goes to the graveyard and then ceases to exist as a state-based action. So "dies" triggers still happen even though the token doesn't sit around in the graveyard for very long.

August 20, 2014 5:53 a.m.

Colten_Lee says... #2

Is there a siting in the rules about tokens hitting the graveyard, bc my friend argued with me for about an hour. I was playing a populate deck that gained me life anytime a creature entered the battlefield or was put into a graveyard. He said the tokens wouldn't gain me life when they died and I disagreed.

August 20, 2014 3:23 p.m.

Drilnoth says... #3

@Colten_Lee: The following is from the comprehensive rules (emphasis mine):

110.5f: A token that's phased out, or that's in a zone other than the battlefield, ceases to exist. This is a state-based action; see rule 704. (Note that if a token changes zones, applicable triggered abilities will trigger before the token ceases to exist.)

So, basically, the token leaves the battlefield just like another other permanent does (which can include moving to the graveyard and, therefore, "dying"), it just can never come back and it ceases to exist entirely shortly thereafter.

August 20, 2014 5:45 p.m.

Colten_Lee says... #4

Thank you so much

August 20, 2014 7:45 p.m.

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