Cosmos Elixir 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
At the beginning of your end step, draw a card if your life total is greater than your starting life total. Otherwise, you gain 2 life.
Complete guide
Cosmos Elixir is a versatile artifact that rewards players for maintaining a high life total or helps them recover when they are behind. Whether you are hunting for extra card draw or needing a vital life buffer, this colorless engine fits into any deck strategy.
Understanding the End Step Trigger
Cosmos Elixir features a single triggered ability that triggers at the beginning of your end step. Unlike some 'intervening if' clauses, this ability triggers regardless of your life total; the condition is only checked during resolution. This means you do not need to have more than your starting life total for the ability to go on the stack, but your life total at the moment of resolution determines the outcome.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When your end step begins, the ability is placed on the stack. As it resolves, the game performs a check: is your current life total strictly greater than your starting life total (usually 20 or 40)? If the answer is yes, you draw a card. If the answer is no, you gain 2 life. Because of the 'otherwise' wording, these two effects are mutually exclusive; you will either draw a card or gain life, never both from a single resolution.
Common Pitfalls
The most common mistake is assuming the life total is checked when the turn ends. Because it is a triggered ability, players can respond to it. If an opponent reduces your life total in response to the trigger so that it is no longer higher than your starting total, you will gain 2 life instead of drawing the card you expected. Always ensure you can protect your life total until the ability fully resolves.
Strategic Timing
Since this triggers every one of your end steps, it provides consistent value. If you are playing a control deck, the 2 life per turn can stabilize you against aggressive strategies. Once you have stabilized and crossed your starting life threshold, it shifts gears automatically to provide the card advantage needed to close out the game.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumSuppose your starting life total is 40 and you are currently at 38. You cast Solemn Simulacrum to ramp and block. During your end step, Cosmos Elixir triggers. Upon resolution, it sees your life is 38 (not greater than 40), so you gain 2 life, bringing you back to 40. Next turn, if you take no damage, the Elixir will still result in life gain because 40 is not strictly greater than 40.
Commander's SphereYou are at 42 life with a starting total of 40. At the beginning of your end step, the Elixir triggers. While the trigger is on the stack, you sacrifice Commander's Sphere to draw a card. Then, the Elixir ability resolves. It checks your life (42), confirms it is higher than 40, and allows you to draw a second card for the turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cosmos Elixir
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You compare your current life total to your starting life total as Cosmos Elixir’s ability resolves to determine whether you draw a card or gain 2 life. There are no situations in which you’ll do both.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Cosmos Elixir
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.