What happens to curses when enchanted player dies?

What Happens to Curses When Enchanted Player Dies?

When an enchanted player dies, their existence on the battlefield comes to an end. This leaves many questions about the status of curses and other abilities attached to the player or their creatures. In this article, we’ll dive into the rules and conventions surrounding curses and enchanted creatures when the player dies.

Accepted Answer

First, let’s start with the rules excerpt from section 303.4c of the Magic: The Gathering game:

If an Aura is enchanting an illegal object or player as defined by its enchant ability and other applicable effects, the object it was attached to no longer exists, or the player it was attached to has left the game, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard.

In simple terms, this rule states that when an enchantment (such as a curse) is attached to a player or an object that no longer exists (like when a player dies), the enchantment goes to its owner’s graveyard.

What Happens to Curses When Player Dies?

Now that we have the rule stated, let’s get into the meat of the issue. When a player enchanted with a curse dies, the curse is discarded along with any other attachments the player had. The death of the player removes any effects, including the curse, that were affecting their creatures or other game components.

Here’s a brief summary:

• The cursed player’s existence is no longer relevant, so all attachments (including the curse) are discarded.
• The curse is put into its owner’s graveyard as per the rules.

Stack Memory and Cursing

Stack memory in Magic: The Gathering refers to the Last In, First Out (LIFO) data structure that removes the most recently added items first. This concept may seem unrelated to curses at first glance, but understanding stack memory is crucial to understanding how cursing works when a player dies.

Consider the following scenario:

1. Player A is under a curse that makes all their creatures unblockable.
2. Player A dies.
3. Another player (Player B) tries to cast a removal spell that targets the remaining creature.
4. Before the removal spell resolves, the cursed player (A) is removed from the game.

In this situation, the curse would indeed be discarded, and any effects that relied on its presence (like unblockability) would be canceled. This is because stack memory follows the LIFO principle, removing the curse (last added) and any attached effects (next in line) first.

Exile, Shields, and Indestructible

Curses are one of many types of cards that can affect a game state. Exile is another powerful mechanic that has implications when a player dies. In Magic: The Gathering, exile refers to the process of moving an object to a zone from which it can no longer affect the game. For instance, if a player under a curse dies, and the curse is exiled, the curse will cease to have any effects and will not be re-playable.

Shield counters offer another layer of complexity in cursing scenarios. Shields represent a mechanism to prevent cards from dealing damage. This mechanic becomes crucial when understanding how cursing affects shields. Here’s an excerpt from Magic: The Gathering’s official rules:

• Shield counters don’t prevent players from sacrificing permanents.
• Indestructible doesn’t stop you from being forced to sacrifice a permanent.

Understanding these two points highlights a crucial distinction between sacrifice (which includes curses) and destruction. While a sacrificed creature can’t be killed by any means (in this case, the indestructible effect), this doesn’t protect it from effects like curse removal or discarding. Curses specifically target players, so indestructibility won’t block their removal.

Implications and Considerations

Cursed Creatures:

When a cursed player dies, any attached creature effects are discarded along with the curse. The dying player can’t target itself with a spell or ability, but their opponent could potentially take advantage of their demise by casting spells.

Gameplay Implications:

1. When a player under a curse dies, their remaining effects (including the curse) are discarded.
2. The cursed player can no longer target itself with spells or abilities.
3. Exiled curses can’t re-enter the game or influence the outcome.

TL;DR

In Magic: The Gathering, a cursed player’s death sends the curse to its owner’s graveyard. This concept is further complicated by mechanisms like stack memory, shields, and indestructible. By understanding these aspects, you’ll gain insights into the intricate workings of cursing and the dynamics of gameplay when a player dies under a curse.