Enduring Scalelord infinite combo query
Asked by Ash960 8 years ago
If I have two Enduring Scalelords on the battlefield and I put a counter on one of them, the second will get a counter. But will that then trigger the first one again?
Raging_Squiggle says... #2
Note: because Enduring Scalelord says you may put a +1/+1 counter on it, you can stop the combo at any time. This is important because if it did not say you may do it, you would automatically lose the game because it's an infinite combo you can't stop. (Assuming you or anyone else didn't have a response to stop it).
November 26, 2015 2:59 p.m.
Raging_Squiggle You would not lose the game. In case of an infinite loop that no one can (or is willing) to stop the game is a draw.
November 27, 2015 12:46 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #4
Hm. Thought I read a ruling somewhere that if one player controlled all components of the infinite loop, that player lost. If two or more players had a piece in the infinite combo, it was then a draw. Perhaps they changed it, or perhaps I'm just starting to lose my mind.
November 27, 2015 2:18 a.m.
I'm pretty sure that that concerns only multiplayer games. In multiplayer the whole game is not a draw in case of infinite combo but instead all of the players participating in that combo lose.
At least that's my latest recollection on the matter.
November 27, 2015 3:01 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
To clear up the misinformation:
When the game enters a loop of mandatory actions, then the game is a draw unless a player chooses to break the loop somehow. Players are not forced to break the loop, though. Note that a loop of optional actions, or a loop that involves a choice (such as targeting one particular object out of a set of legal targets) will eventually end on its own because the player who is responsible for that choice must eventually choose an option that breaks the loop.
In multiplayer, the game is still a draw unless you are playing with the limited range of influence (LRI) option. In LRI, players may only affect other players within N seats to their left and right, where N is the range of influence. If the game enters a loop of mandatory actions, then all players who control an object involved in that loop, as well as all players within N seats of any of those players, draw and leave the game.
104.4b If a game thats not using the limited range of influence option (including a two-player game) somehow enters a "loop" of mandatory actions, repeating a sequence of events with no way to stop, the game is a draw. Loops that contain an optional action don't result in a draw.
801.16. If the game somehow enters a "loop" of mandatory actions, repeating a sequence of events with no way to stop, the game is a draw for each player who controls an object thats involved in that loop, as well as for each player within the range of influence of any of those players. They leave the game. All remaining players continue to play the game.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
Yes. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are placed on one of the Enduring Scalelords, the other's ability will trigger. When that ability resolves, the second Enduring Scalelord will get a counter and the first's ability will trigger. You may repeat this loop any finite number of times.
This works because both abilities are triggered abilities rather than replacement effects (replacement effects do not continuously invoke one another).
November 26, 2015 10:51 a.m.