Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of Emrakul 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
This artifact enters tapped.: Add one mana of any color. Each player loses 1 life. At the beginning of your upkeep, if each player has 10 or less life, transform this artifact. Flying, deathtouch Whenever this creature attacks, each opponent loses 3 life.
Complete guide
Cryptolith Fragment is a multifaceted artifact that acts as both a mana fixer and a ticking clock for your opponents. Once the game reaches a critical point where everyone's health is low, it transforms into the terrifying Aurora of Emrakul to finish the job.
Dual-Purpose Mana Generation
Cryptolith Fragment enters the battlefield tapped, meaning you typically cannot use it the turn you play it. When you tap it for mana, you get one mana of any color, but there is a price: every player, including yourself, loses 1 life. Because this is a mana ability, it does not use the stack and players cannot respond to the life loss or the mana production.
The Transformation Process
The artifact features an 'intervening if' clause for its transformation. At the start of your upkeep, the game checks if every single player has 10 or less life. If even one player has 11 or more life, the ability does not trigger at all. Furthermore, the condition is checked again upon resolution; if a player gains life in response to the trigger and goes above 10, the Fragment will not transform.
Aurora of Emrakul's Reign
Once transformed, it becomes a 3/4 Eldrazi Reflection with Flying and Deathtouch. Beyond its keyworded defenses, it has a powerful attack trigger: whenever it attacks, each opponent loses 3 life. This life loss is independent of combat damage, ensuring you pressure your opponents even if they have flying blockers.
Common Mistakes
A common error is forgetting that the upkeep trigger checks all players. In a four-player game, if you and two opponents are at 5 life but one opponent is at 12, Cryptolith Fragment will stay in its artifact form. Additionally, remember that in Two-Headed Giant, the mana ability causes each player to lose 1 life, meaning your team loses a total of 2 life per tap.
Interaction examples
Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of EmrakulYou cast Cryptolith Fragment on turn three. It enters the battlefield tapped. On turn four, you tap it to add one Black mana to your pool. Immediately, you and your opponent both lose 1 life. You then use that mana to help pay for another spell.
Roaming ThroneWith Aurora of Emrakul on the battlefield, you cast Roaming Throne and choose 'Eldrazi' as the creature type. When you declare an attack with Aurora of Emrakul, its ability triggers. Because of Roaming Throne, the ability triggers an additional time. Each opponent will lose a total of 6 life before blockers are even declared.
Solemn SimulacrumYou control Cryptolith Fragment and cast Solemn Simulacrum. You use the Fragment to help pay for the Golem, losing 1 life in the process. The land fetched by the Golem and the Fragment itself both help accelerate your mana toward high-cost spells while slowly lowering life totals to meet the transformation requirement.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of Emrakul
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Cryptolith Fragment’s second ability is a mana ability. Players can’t respond to it or to the loss of life it causes.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If any player has 11 or more life as your upkeep begins, Cryptolith Fragment’s last ability doesn’t trigger. If any player has 11 or more life as the ability resolves, the ability has no effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Cryptolith Fragment’s mana ability causes each player to lose 1 life, so each team loses 2 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Cryptolith Fragment’s last ability checks whether each team’s life total is 10 or less.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Aurora of Emrakul’s last ability causes each opponent to lose 3 life, so the opposing team loses a total of 6 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of Emrakul
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.