Losing vs winning
Asked by Shane 12 years ago
If i have a card that says, "you cant lose the game" and my opponent plays a card that says, "you win the game" do i lose?
metalmagic says... #2
Epoch is correct. In nearly all situations (I can't think of any exceptions), "can't" effects trump other effects that directly contradict them.
September 24, 2012 1:21 a.m.
But technically im not losing, my opponent is just winning.
September 24, 2012 2:04 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #4
For your opponent to win, you need to lose. Since you can't lose, the game continues.
101.2. When a rule or effect allows or directs something to happen, and another effect states that it can't happen, the "can't" effect takes precedence.
September 24, 2012 2:14 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
In a two player game, there is a winner and a loser (ties aside). You can't have a winner and a neutral party that hasn't lost.
September 24, 2012 2:15 a.m.
metalmagic is correct about the "can't" effect priority. I played with Platinum Angel for a while and I've been running Door to Nothingness recently. I talked to a judge friend of mine then and again more recently about what exactly is the difference between losing and not winning, and it essentially comes down to card effect and the definition in the rules. In a 2-player game, if one player wins the game it causes the game to end. If the game ends and you have not won, you have lost. Therefore, if one layer wins the game, the other loses by default. Draws count as both players losing. Multiplayer rulings may be a little different depending on what cards are out, but it's essentially the same. So in short, if you have a card effect that says "You cannot lose the game," you can neither end in a draw nor with your opponent declaring a win unless the card in question is destroyed or exiled.
September 24, 2012 2:26 a.m.
"Draws count as both players losing". Hmm. The only way to have a draw in Magic is for time to run out. So if you have a Platinum Angel in play, and time runs out...you win?
What if both players have a platinum angel in play when time runs out?
September 24, 2012 3:56 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #9
Draws do not count as both players losing, although both players losing simultaneously would constitute a draw.
Also, there are many ways to draw in Magic. Players can agree to draw, an infinite loop of mandatory actions can occur, an effect can simultaneously kill all players, etc.
September 24, 2012 9:10 a.m.
What if everybody wins, and the world is made of rainbows, but I have Platinum Rainbow on the battlefield? Does that make Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded a good card or is he always bad?
Epochalyptik says... #1
No. You can't lose the game means exactly that. Your opponent's effect does nothing.
September 24, 2012 12:55 a.m.