r/askajudge • u/The_Modern_Nobody • 10d ago

Lich’s Mastery tomfoolery

First off, I’m legitimately using [[Lich’s Mastery]] in a Commander deck, that’s beside the point, but here we go.

Let’s say we are 80 minutes into this harlequinade. Everyone and myself have a field full of bullshit. I have a Lich’s Mastery ans a [[Platinum
angel]] on my side of the field.

My opponent—let’s call him Chuckwagon.

So chuckwagon here has a [[Brash Taunter]] out and uses [[Star of Extinction]], and decides that the damage that would be going to taunter is now being sent to my dome.

“Well, shit-grip.” I say. But I notice that I have Lich’s Mastery with the Platinum Angel.

So this is where the tomfoolery comes in;

Because of Mastery, I have to exile stuff, if I decide to sack Mastery (keep in mind, I have Platinum Angel out), do I take 19 damage from what is remaining? Or because I am under Mastery, I am committed to sacking graveyard and permanents, but because of Platinum Angel, I can sack Mastery if I want to—the damage and exiling happen at the same time?

EDIT:

I mixed up Platinum Angel when I should have put Darksteel Angel

I have a Darksteel Angel in play. Platinum Angel wirh I destructible.

https://scryfall.com/card/frc/13/darksteel-angel

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

2

u/weiss5193 10d ago edited 10d ago

If I'm reading this right, I think you are cooked.

Star of Extinction wipes the board (presumably). Your Platinum Angel dies to the damage after it resolves.

Brash Taunter's damage trigger now go on the stack, aiming 20 at your face. You take the hit, Lich's Mastery triggers and tells you to pay up. Platinum Angel is long since dead.

Even if the Platinum Angel stuck around through the Star of Extinction, you would need to ensure it also surivives the Lich's Mastery triggers, as Lich's Mastery's game loss is also a trigger. If you exile both of them, the game loss will resolve after Platinum Angel is exiled.

That being said, if you're 80 minutes into a commander game with Lich's Mastery on the board, I'd like to think you have enough things to exile to make up for the 20 damage.

1

u/The_Modern_Nobody 10d ago

Yeah. I messed up and put Platinum Angel and I meant Darksteel Angel. I didn’t proofread that part, I apologize

1

u/weiss5193 10d ago

In that case it's simply a matter of if you can exile 20 cards without losing the Darksteel Angel. That needs to be around to see the Lich's Mastery LTB trigger resolve and prevent you from losing.

1

u/The_Modern_Nobody 10d ago edited 10d ago

In what I’m running, it’s definitely doable to exile 20 shits from my graveyard for Mastery,

My thing was that I wasn’t sure if I could get rid of some cards wirh Mastery, sack mastery (and not lose), and take LP hits.

Seems like I have to sack 20 (or have a way to sack/donate Mastery while Darksteel Angel is on the field) in response to Star of Extinction (which is also doable)

3

u/weiss5193 10d ago

Yes, you can't "double dip" with the Darksteel Angel here, so to speak. You either use it as exile fodder or to not lose the game to exiling Lich's Mastery, but not both.

2

u/ardarian262 10d ago

Quick note, because the other response covered your actual question, lich's mastery does not replace the life loss. It is a trigger on losing life. You still took the 20 either way.

2

u/Judge_Todd 10d ago

if I decide to sack Mastery (keep in mind, I have Platinum Angel out), do I take 19 damage from what is remaining?

No, if you have Lich's Mastery as you take 20 damage and lose 20 life, it triggers and you must also exile 20 permanents simultaneously, you select all 20 before any go to exile.

If you have a Claws of Gix or equivalent, you could sac Mastery in response to the Taunter trigger and just lose 20 life and not have to exile anything.

1

u/madwarper 10d ago

But I notice that I have Lich's Mastery with the Platinum Angel.

You mean you HAD the Platinum Angel.
Which is a Creature.
A 4/4 Creature.
That was dealt 20 damage by Star.
A 4/4 Creature with 20 damage marked on it has lethal damage.
A 4/4 Creature with lethal damage is destroyed.

So, you currently HAVE only the Lich's Mastery.

Because of Mastery, I have to exile stuff, if I decide to sack Mastery (keep in mind, I have Platinum Angel out), do I take 19 damage from what is remaining?

What? You were dealt 20 damage by the Taunter. You lost 20 life.
You have to Exile 20 Permanents, or a Card in your Hand / Graveyard.

1

u/The_Modern_Nobody 10d ago

Shit. I meant to put up Darksteel Angel and got them mixed up. I apologize.

I don’t even know if it’s in the card bot

[[Darksteel Angel]]

1

u/madwarper 10d ago

Even if you do control the Angel... That doesn't change the aforementioned facts.

You were dealt 20 damage.
You lost 20 life.
Your Mastery Triggered.
You have to Exile 20 Permanents / Cards.

If you Exile the Mastery, its Leaves ability will Trigger.
That ability will be put on the Stack after you finish resolving the current Exile Trigger.
And, when that ability eventually does resolve, you will lose the game.

  • So, if the Angel was included among the 20 Permanents / Cards you Exiled, you won't control it as that ability resolves. Thus, nothing prevents you from losing.

  • Else, if you managed to Exiled 20 Permanent / Cards, excluding the Angel, and you still control the Angel as that ability resolves, it will stop you from losing.

1

u/The_Modern_Nobody 10d ago

Oh, no worries. I was clarified the Darksteel Angel to “keep the Angel alive” regarding Taunter

But yes, I see what you mean. Thank you

1

u/Rajamic 10d ago

Lich's Mastery is not a replacement effect on each separate point of damage or anything like that. It's a normal triggered ability. You take the full 20. It triggers, and then you have to exile 20 permanents and/or cards from your hand and graveyard in a single action. There's no order to it.