State-Based Actions

Just before a player gets priority, there is a state-based action check (SBA).

SBAs include:

  • Players lose the game if they have:
    • ≤0 life
    • ≥10 poison counters
    • taken ≥21 points of damage from a single commander
    • tried to draw from an empty deck since the last SBA check
  • Creatures are destroyed if they have:
    • taken damage ≥ their toughness
    • taken one point of damage from a creature with deathtouch
    • had their toughness reduced to ≤0
  • Planeswalkers go to owner’s graveyard if they have 0 loyalty.
  • Sagas are sacrificed if they have lore counters ≥ to the number of chapters they have (eg: a three-chapter is sacrificed just after its third ability resolves).
  • Legends rule checks (player chooses which to keep).
  • Aura enchantments no longer attached to a creature go to graveyards.
  • If a creature has a +1/+1 and a -1/-1 counter on it, both are removed. Repeat until only one type remains.
  • If a commander has been put into graveyard or exile since the last SBA check, its owner may put it in the command zone. Commanders still touch the graveyard / exile zones, so triggers still trigger.
  • Note: Commanders going to hand and library work differently. The choice is instant, and neither zone is touched if player chooses command zone (no triggers).

This is not an exhaustive list, but highlights some that may come up routinely.

A comprehensive list can be found here.

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