Gift of Immortality + Black Sun's Zenith

Asked by SykeUnsent 9 years ago

If I have Gift of Immortality on a creature say It That Betrays, and then cast Black Sun's Zenith for 11+ to destroy every creautre on the field. Would the creature come back after Black Sun's Zenith resolves back to it's normal state or does it stay dead regardless?

It was a combo I "nearly" pulled off today. One of my friends thinks the creature would stay dead but i'm not convinced because it does hit the graveyard.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1

Black Sun's Zenith can't destroy creatures. If a creature has 0 or less toughness, it is put into its owner's graveyard as a state-based action, but this isn't a destroy effect.

The creature will return. I'm not sure why your friend thinks otherwise. The creature dies, so it triggers Gift of Immortality's ability.

January 24, 2015 8:03 p.m.

ShamaLamaDingDong says... #2

When something says "dies", and if it isn't exiled, than Gift of Immortality should trigger. Just my opinion.

January 24, 2015 8:04 p.m.

SykeUnsent says... #3

Epochalyptik I was using the word "destroy" in a general sence that every creature dies rather than the technical rule book definition.

It That Betrays was the biggest creature on the field (and unfortunatly my only creature). Againt the field i was facing which included a large field of about 15 2/2 Zombie tokens I figured Black Sun's Zenith for 11 was my best option. (i was also a couple of mana short at the time to play both in the same turn but that's not the point)

The case my friend made was that the -1/-1 counters would stay on the creature so it would stay dead. I think it's a matter of a timing issue with hitting the graveyard and the -1/-1 counters fall off before or after Gift of Immortality returns/summons it back to the field.

January 24, 2015 8:20 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #4

Except for Skullbriar, the Walking Grave who has an ability stating otherwise counters do not remain on a permanent when it changes zones. As soon as It That Betrays leaves the battlefield there are no longer any counters on him.

January 24, 2015 9:26 p.m.

TheGrayMerchant says... #5

Whenever a permanent leaves the battlefield, all counters are removed, and since Black Sun's Zenith is a one-time event, it will not put any counters on It That Betrays once it returns to the battlefield.

January 24, 2015 10:29 p.m.