Does Subtracting a Negative = A Postive?
Asked by Serendipitous_Hummingbird 8 years ago
Okay so obviously it does in math, but what about MTG? Here's the scenario: I activate the ability of Hyalopterous Lemure 100 times to give it a P/T of -96/3, then sac it to Call for Blood which we cast targeting a Tormented Soul. This should give the Tormented Soul +96/+96 since you are subtracting a negative, but I can't find any rulings to confirm that you can do this in magic. Can any rules expert help me out here?
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #2
Tormented Soul gets big. You can find the relevant rule in Section 107 of the CR, "Numbers and Symbols":
107.1b Most of the time, the Magic game uses only positive numbers and zero. You can't choose a negative number, deal negative damage, gain negative life, and so on. However, it's possible for a game value, such as a creature's power, to be less than zero. If a calculation or comparison needs to use a negative value, it does so. If a calculation that would determine the result of an effect yields a negative number, zero is used instead, unless that effect sets a player's life total to a specific value, doubles a player's life total, sets a creature's power or toughness to a specific value, or otherwise modifies a creature's power or toughness.
See the Rulings Notes for Death's Shadow for another example of a negative number being able to make a creature bigger.
January 28, 2016 2:49 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #3
Thanks man! Really helpful.
Now off to brew the jankiest deck ever
greyninja says... #1
I think anything that would take it below 0 would make it 0 instead. Crazy idea tho. I'd love to hear other theories
January 28, 2016 2:48 p.m.