What Happens to Permanents When a Player Dies in Magic: The Gathering?
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When a player’s life total drops to zero or they are otherwise eliminated from a game of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a cascade of events occurs, particularly concerning their permanents. The fundamental rule is this: all permanents owned by the player who leaves the game are removed from the game. This includes, but is not limited to, creatures, enchantments, artifacts, planeswalkers, lands, and even battles they own. This removal is immediate, and it’s crucial to understand what happens to various types of permanents, especially those that might be under the control of other players or interact with the dying player in some way.
Immediate Effects of Player Death
The moment a player loses the game, several things occur simultaneously:
- Owned Permanents Leave the Game: All permanents that the player owned, regardless of who currently controlled them, cease to exist on the battlefield and are removed from the game. This includes cards that are normally in the graveyard, like lands.
- Control Effects End: Any effects that granted the dying player control of permanents owned by other players immediately cease. These permanents revert to the control of their original owners.
- Auras and Equipment Revert: If a player who dies had an Aura or Equipment attached to another player’s permanent, these cards are not transferred with their original owners. Since they are owned by the dying player they are removed from the game, and the associated permanent loses the effect provided by it.
- Exiled Cards Remain Exiled: Cards exiled by the dying player remain in exile. They do not return to any zone. This is true even if another player would now become the controller of the exiled cards through some control effect.
- State-Based Actions: These are checked immediately after a player dies, which may include additional effects, like removing permanents if auras are attached to illegal targets
These actions happen instantaneously and don’t wait for the game to reach any particular state. It’s a clean break, ensuring the game proceeds smoothly without being burdened by the dead player’s lingering presence.
Understanding Ownership vs. Control
It’s crucial to distinguish between ownership and control in MTG. Ownership refers to who possesses the physical card (or the virtual equivalent). Control, on the other hand, refers to who currently has the authority to use a permanent. A player can control a permanent owned by another player, but upon the controlling player’s death, the permanent returns to its original owner.
For instance, if Player A controls a creature owned by Player B using a spell like Mind Control, and Player A loses the game, the creature will return to Player B’s control. Player A’s removal from the game removes all effects and control over any cards they do not own, regardless of who the control was over.
Battles and Player Elimination
Battles, a newer card type in MTG, also follow these rules. If a player who was defending a battle dies, the battle’s controller gets to choose a new defender. If a battle is owned by a player who dies it will immediately leave the battlefield, and is removed from the game entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions that delve deeper into the specifics of permanents and player death:
What happens to enchantments when a player dies?
Enchantments owned by the dying player, whether they are Auras or other types of enchantments, leave the game. Specifically, if an Aura is attached to a permanent or player that remains in the game, the Aura goes to the graveyard. Since all permanents the player owns leave the game this action causes a state-based action to be performed.
Do stolen permanents return to their original owner when the thief dies?
Yes, stolen permanents immediately revert to their original owner when the player controlling them dies. The effects that gave the dying player control end, and the ownership of the permanent is never changed.
If a creature I own is enchanted by an Aura owned by an opponent, what happens when that opponent dies?
The Aura owned by your opponent is removed from the game upon their death. The enchantment effect is removed entirely.
If I control a permanent owned by another player with an emblem’s control effect, what happens when I die?
The permanent reverts to its original owner. The emblem’s control effect ceases when the player controlling the emblem dies. The emblem is also removed from the game as it is owned by the player who is eliminated.
Are permanents still considered permanents when they’re in the graveyard?
No. When a card is moved to the graveyard or any zone other than the battlefield, it stops being a permanent.
Can I sacrifice a permanent I own but don’t control?
No. You can only sacrifice permanents you control. Ownership is irrelevant for sacrifice purposes; it’s about control.
Does gaining shroud remove enchantments?
No, gaining shroud won’t remove any existing enchantments. However, a creature with shroud cannot be targeted by new spells or abilities, and no additional enchantments can be placed on it.
Can I sacrifice a battle if I control it?
Yes, you can sacrifice a battle that you own and control. Sacrifice rules only care about who is the controller of the permanent.
If a creature I control dies due to damage from another player, and I also have a deathtouch creature blocking it, do they both die?
Yes, deathtouch can not counter deathtouch. If two creatures deal damage to each other and either has deathtouch, both creatures will be destroyed regardless of the fact the other creature has deathtouch. If both have lethal damage applied to them they will be sent to the graveyard.
If a player leaves the game and controls a battle another player is trying to attack, what happens to the battle?
Since the player controlling the battle leaves the game, the battle goes with them. If the player who attacks the battle was the controller, that battle is also removed from the game. The player who was attacking the battle and has their creatures attacking the now removed battle will no longer have a target to attack, and they are left unblocked.
If everyone dies simultaneously, who wins the game?
If all remaining players lose the game at the same time, the game ends in a draw.
Does loss of life count as damage?
No, loss of life is not considered damage. Cards that react to damage being dealt won’t trigger off of loss of life.
Can you deal zero damage in MTG?
You can attempt to deal zero damage with a source, but if a source would deal zero damage, it doesn’t deal damage at all. Abilities that would trigger from damage being dealt won’t activate.
Where does my commander go when it dies?
A player may choose to move their commander to the command zone instead of the graveyard after it has been sent to the graveyard due to state-based actions.
What is “Rule 0” in Magic: The Gathering?
Rule 0 refers to the concept of house rules, where players can agree to modify the official rules of MTG. If all players agree to these changes they are considered a legal way to play the game.
Conclusion
Understanding what happens to permanents when a player dies is essential for playing Magic: The Gathering effectively, particularly in multiplayer formats. The game’s rules are clear and designed to ensure a clean transition when a player is eliminated. Remember that all owned permanents leave the game, control effects end, and ownership is what matters in the end. Knowing these rules will help you navigate the complexities of the game, even when faced with sudden player eliminations.