Archetype of FinalityHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

For {4}{B}{B}, you get an enchantment creature that gives every creature you control deathtouch—including itself. Any nonzero amount of damage a source with deathtouch deals to a creature is enough to destroy that creature when state-based actions are checked, unless something such as indestructible prevents that destruction. Meanwhile, creatures your opponents control lose deathtouch and cannot have or gain it. This applies regardless of when those creatures entered the battlefield or whether their own text normally gives them deathtouch. Your creatures benefit immediately, and newly arriving opposing creatures are subject to the restriction immediately.

How It Works, Step by Step

1. You cast Archetype of Finality. While it is a spell on the stack, its abilities do not affect creatures on the battlefield. 2. If it resolves, it enters as an enchantment creature. Both static abilities begin applying immediately; they do not trigger or use the stack. 3. When a creature you control deals damage to a creature, deathtouch matters even if that damage is not combat damage. It does not increase the amount dealt. 4. If Archetype of Finality leaves the battlefield, its effects end immediately. Example 1 — Combat with Gray Merchant of Asphodel: You control both creatures, and Gray Merchant of Asphodel blocks an opposing creature without first strike, double strike, or indestructible. First, combat damage is dealt normally. If Gray Merchant of Asphodel deals at least 1 damage to that creature, deathtouch causes the damaged creature to be destroyed when state-based actions are checked. Gray Merchant of Asphodel can still die from the damage it receives; deathtouch does not protect it.

Common Mistakes and Important Limits

Deathtouch does not turn life loss into damage, does not make damage to players automatically lethal, and does not allow a creature to destroy an indestructible creature merely by damaging it. Example 2 — Syr Konrad, the Grim: You control Syr Konrad, the Grim and Archetype of Finality. First, another creature dies, triggering Syr Konrad's ability. When that trigger resolves, Syr Konrad deals 1 damage to each opponent. Although Syr Konrad has deathtouch, those opponents simply take 1 damage each: deathtouch's destruction rule applies to creatures, not players. The restriction also distinguishes between resolved effects and static abilities. While Archetype of Finality is present, an effect generated by a resolving spell or ability that would grant deathtouch to an opponent's creatures is not created. Removing Archetype of Finality later does not restore that uncreated effect, though other effects of that spell or ability apply normally. By contrast, a static ability granting deathtouch can resume applying once Archetype of Finality leaves. If you and an opponent each control Archetype of Finality, no creature controlled by any player has deathtouch. Each restriction overrides the opposing grant.

When to Play It

Archetype of Finality is useful before combat when you want your creatures to threaten opposing creatures with even small amounts of damage. It also removes opposing deathtouch immediately, though it does not prevent their creatures from dealing ordinary combat damage. Without an effect allowing otherwise, you cast it during your main phase while the stack is empty. Example 3 — Setting up Gray Merchant of Asphodel: First, resolve Archetype of Finality. Then cast and resolve Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Gray Merchant enters with deathtouch, and its enters ability triggers. When that trigger resolves, count your devotion to black: Archetype of Finality contributes two from its {B}{B}, and Gray Merchant of Asphodel contributes another two. If these are your only permanents with black mana symbols in their mana costs, each opponent loses 4 life, and you gain the total life lost this way. This is life loss, not damage, so deathtouch does not modify it.

Interaction examples

Archetype of Finality and Gray Merchant of Asphodel

Gray Merchant of Asphodel

With both cards on the battlefield, Gray Merchant of Asphodel's ability will cause each opponent to lose life equal to your devotion to black, which includes the two black mana symbols from Archetype of Finality. This synergy can lead to a significant life swing in your favor.

Archetype of Finality and Syr Konrad, the Grim

Syr Konrad, the Grim

Syr Konrad, the Grim's ability triggers whenever another creature dies, a creature card is put into a graveyard from anywhere other than the battlefield, or a creature card leaves your graveyard. Archetype of Finality can contribute to this by giving your creatures deathtouch, making it more likely for them to destroy opposing creatures in combat, which in turn triggers Syr Konrad's ability.