Not enough cards in my library
Asked by ulysses2009 6 years ago
What happens if i attempt to play something like Aminatou's Augury with less than 8 cards in my library? Does it fizzle? Can i even cast it?
And what happens if i have exactly the number of cards in my libary and an opponent has me draw a card in response to playing it?
In general MTG rules, you have to fulfill as many obligations as possible without breaking any rules. In the case of Aminatou's Augury, since the exile 8 is not an additional cost, you are obliged to fulfill it as best as possible by exiling all the cards in library if you have less than 8.
For the second scenario, the answer is very similar to the first. You have eight cards left, you cast Augury. In response, an effect or card makes you draw a card, so before Augury resolves, you now have 7 cards left. You exile all of them and proceed with your turn.
Remember, you only lose when you have to draw from an empty library. So, a cunning opponent would let you resolve augury and then make you draw a card to make you lose the game.
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #1
If a card or effect would have you remove more cards from you library than are currently in your library, you instead remove the remainder of your library. So in your Aminatou's Augury example, if you have 8 or fewer cards in your library when it resolves, you exile the rest of your library. It is perfectly legal to cast, and it won't fizzle. Importantly, this won't cause you to lose the game. You will lose the game the next time you try to draw from your now empty library (unless you can put card back into it).
Hope this helps!!
April 30, 2020 9:10 a.m.