Fortune ThiefHow it works & interactions with other cards

Staying at One Life

The primary function of Fortune Thief is to prevent damage from bringing your life total below 1. If an source would deal enough damage to make your life total 0 or a negative number, Fortune Thief intervenes and sets your life total to exactly 1 instead. It is important to note that this only applies to damage, not other forms of life loss or paying life as a cost.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, an opponent attacks or casts a spell that deals damage to you. Second, if the damage is lethal, Fortune Thief's static ability applies immediately as a replacement effect. Third, your life total is adjusted to 1, regardless of how much damage was actually dealt. Finally, state-based actions check the board; since your life total is 1, you do not lose the game from having zero life.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that Fortune Thief prevents you from losing the game entirely. This is false. If your life total is already at 0 or less (perhaps through a life-loss effect) and you have not lost the game yet due to another effect, Fortune Thief will not help you if you take further damage. Additionally, since this is not a prevention effect, it works even against damage that 'can't be prevented.'

When to Play It

Fortune Thief is best utilized using its Morph cost. By casting it face down for three generic mana, you hide your protection. When an opponent commits to an all-out attack that would be lethal, you can pay two Red mana to turn it face up, surprising them and staying in the game at 1 life.

Interaction examples

Surviving the Alpha Strike

Solemn Simulacrum

If your opponent attacks with a Solemn Simulacrum and several other creatures while you are at 5 life, and the total damage coming your way is 10, you can flip your face-down Fortune Thief. Even though 10 damage is dealt, your life total simply moves from 5 to 1. The damage is still considered 'dealt' for abilities like lifelink, but your total won't drop below 1.

The Morph Surprise

Morph

You cast Fortune Thief face down using the Morph mechanic. Your opponent, seeing only a 2/2 creature, casts a spell to deal 20 damage to you. Before the damage resolves, you pay two Red mana to turn the Morph face up. The 20 damage now reduces your life to 1 instead of -15, keeping you in the match.

Interaction with Double Triggers

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Human' or 'Rogue', it is important to note that Fortune Thief's life-saving ability is a static replacement effect, not a triggered ability. Therefore, Roaming Throne will not cause Fortune Thief to trigger an additional time, as there is no 'Whenever' or 'At' in the ability text.