Choice of Damnations — ruling 1

After the opponent chooses a number, Choice of Damnations’ controller may choose to make that opponent either lose that much life or make that opponent sacrifice permanents.

Choice of Damnations — ruling 2

If the opponent must sacrifice all but a number of permanents, that opponent chooses that many permanents and then sacrifices the rest. If the number chosen is greater than the number of permanents the opponent controls, the player sacrifices nothing.

Choice of Damnations : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Choice of Damnations is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Target opponent chooses a number. You may have that player lose that much life. If you don't, that player sacrifices all but that many permanents of their choice.

How it works : Choice of Damnations

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 1, 2005· Wizards of the Coast
After the opponent chooses a number, Choice of Damnations’ controller may choose to make that opponent either lose that much life or make that opponent sacrifice permanents.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 1, 2005· Wizards of the Coast
If the opponent must sacrifice all but a number of permanents, that opponent chooses that many permanents and then sacrifices the rest. If the number chosen is greater than the number of permanents the opponent controls, the player sacrifices nothing.
No other card is named in this ruling.