MTG : Venerated Rotpriest : Toxic

Poison counters

Poison counters are a mechanic that has existed in MTG for quite some time. In skilled hands, they can provide a quick way to win, as giving your opponent just 10 poison counters (15 for a team in 2HG) will secure your victory. Additionally, removing poison counters is nearly impossible; only a few cards can do this, and even then, with conditions: Leeches, Suncleanser, and Karn Liberated. However, piling on poison counters is not difficult at all:

Infect, along with the ability Poisonous, which is printed on only two cards, and other non-keyword abilities, allows you to swiftly inflict a lethal amount of poison counters on your opponent.

Этого Визардам показалось мало и они досыпали toxic. Давайте разбираться, что это за способность и чем она отличается от уже известных.

Toxic

702.164a. Toxic is a static ability. It is written "toxic N," where N is a number.

702.164b. Some rules and effects refer to a creature's "total toxic value." A creature's total toxic value is the sum of all N values of toxic abilities that creature has.

Example: If a creature with toxic 2 gains toxic 1 due to another effect, its total toxic value is 3.

702.164c. Combat damage dealt to a player by a creature with toxic causes that creature's controller to give the player a number of poison counters equal to that creature's total toxic value, in addition to the damage's other results. See rule 120.3.

Venerated Rotpriest has toxic 1. This means that if it deals any amount of combat damage to an opponent, in addition to losing life from the damage, the opponent will also receive a poison counter.

Total Toxic Value

Slaughter Singer has the ability toxic 2. If it receives toxic 1 from the ability of Skrelv, Defector Mite, the total toxic value of Slaughter Singer will be 3. This means that when it deals combat damage to a player, the controller of Slaughter Singer will place 3 poison counters on that player.

NB: I remind you that if a creature's power is less than or equal to zero, it does not deal combat damage, which means no poison counters will be placed from its toxicity.

If a cunning opponent playedUrza's Command with the first mode, then Venerated Rotpriest will not deal any damage. The opponent will not receive any poison counters.

For the ability of Virulent Sliver, the fact of dealing combat damage is also important. If no combat damage was dealt, the Poisonous will not trigger.

For the ability of Crypt Cobra, it does not matter whether it dealt damage or not. Its ability triggers when it is unblocked.

Toxic and Redirecting damage

Using damage redirection from a creature with toxic can indeed surprise your opponent, as the effect of redirection does not change the source of the damage or its characteristics. When redirecting combat damage, it remains combat damage.

Phyrexian Vindicator does not redirect damage; it prevents the damage and then deals it itself. This damage is never considered combat damage, so even if Phyrexian Vindicator has toxic, the player receiving this damage will not receive any poison counters.

What is the difference between toxic and Poisonous?

It's important to remember that toxic is a static ability. It doesn't require the stack to produce its effect. The player receives poison counters along with the damage. This is similar to how Lifelink works. This is fundamentally different from the aforementioned Poisonous, whose trigger can be canceled, or you could respond to it with Phyrexian Unlife.

Static ability.

Does not use the stack, produces the effect immediately.

Triggered ability.

Uses the stack. Must resolve to produce the effect.

What is the difference between toxic and Infect?

A creature with toxic typically deals damage to the creatures it fights, as well as to the players and Planeswalkers it attacks. As a result of this damage:

Players lose life equal to the creature's power and receive a number of poison counters equal to the creature's total toxic value.
Loyalty counters are removed from the Planeswalker.
Damage marked on creatures is removed during the cleanup step.

Toxic does not affect non-combat damage. However, the effect of toxic will apply if combat damage is redirected to a player.

Only combat damage dealt to a player is important.
The player loses life equal to the amount of damage dealt.
The player receives a number of poison counters equal to the creature's total toxic value.
Creatures receive normal damage, which is removed during the cleanup step.

Any damage dealt to a player results in them receiving a poison counter.
The player does not lose life.
The player receives a number of poison counters equal to the amount of damage dealt.
Creatures receive damage in the form of -1/-1 counters, which are not removed during the cleanup step.

How does toxic interact with other effects?

Since the amount of combat damage dealt by the attacking creature does not affect toxic, any effects that increase or decrease this number do not interact with it as long as the damage is being dealt.

However, effects that influence the number of counters placed determine the final count of poison counters you will place on a player who has been dealt combat damage by a creature with toxic.

The first ability of Vorinclex doubles the poison counters you place on a player. The second ability halves the number of poison counters a cunning opponent must place on a player.

The player controlling Melira, Sylvok Outcast can relax. They can only take damage from opponent's creatures with toxic; poison counters cannot be placed on them.

Solemnity is not friendly with any kind of counters. Neither toxic, nor Infect, nor Poisonous, nor Proliferate will work.

⇑ Oracle Text of Crypt Cobra: Whenever Crypt Cobra attacks and isn’t blocked, defending player gets a poison counter.

Translated by ChatGPT

Venerated Rotpriest

Oracle Text: