God-Eternal Bontu — ruling 1

If any abilities trigger as you sacrifice other permanents, those abilities won't be put onto the stack until after you've drawn cards.

God-Eternal Bontu — ruling 2

As Bontu's first triggered ability resolves, you may choose to sacrifice zero other permanents.

God-Eternal Bontu — ruling 3

If a second God-Eternal Bontu enters the battlefield under your control, you'll put one into your graveyard before you can sacrifice anything to the new Bontu's triggered ability.

God-Eternal Bontu : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

God-Eternal Bontu 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

Menace When God-Eternal Bontu enters, sacrifice any number of other permanents, then draw that many cards. When God-Eternal Bontu dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, you may put her into her owner's library third from the top.

Complete guide

God-Eternal Bontu is a formidable Legendary Zombie God that turns your board presence into raw card advantage. With a built-in recursion mechanic and the ability to cycle through your deck, she ensures that even your least valuable permanents serve a greater purpose.

Sacrifice for Knowledge

When God-Eternal Bontu enters the battlefield, her triggered ability allows you to sacrifice any number of other permanents. You choose these permanents as the ability resolves, not when it is put on the stack. For every permanent sacrificed this way, you draw one card. Because it says 'any number,' you can choose to sacrifice zero permanents if your board state doesn't allow for it, but you won't draw any cards.

The God-Eternal Cycle

If God-Eternal Bontu dies or is exiled from the battlefield, her second ability triggers. You may choose to put her back into your library, specifically third from the top. If there are fewer than two cards in your library, she simply goes to the bottom. Note that this is a triggered ability that goes on the stack; if Bontu is removed from your graveyard in response (like with graveyard hate), she will stay in that new zone.

Timing and Triggers

A common mistake involves the order of triggers. If you sacrifice a permanent that has a 'dies' trigger, that ability will not be put on the stack until after you have finished drawing cards from Bontu's ability. Additionally, if you control two copies of Bontu, the 'Legend Rule' applies immediately. You must move one to the graveyard before the enter-the-battlefield trigger even goes on the stack, meaning you cannot sacrifice the first Bontu to the second one's ability.

Interaction examples

Double the Harvest

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Zombie' chosen as its type, God-Eternal Bontu's entry ability triggers twice. As the first trigger resolves, you can sacrifice any number of permanents to draw cards. When the second trigger resolves, you can sacrifice even more permanents to draw more cards. This allows you to split your sacrifices or react to the cards you just drew.

Chaining Death Triggers

Solemn Simulacrum

With Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, you play God-Eternal Bontu. When her ability resolves, you choose to sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum. First, you draw a card for Bontu's effect. After that process is complete, the 'dies' trigger of Solemn Simulacrum is put on the stack, allowing you to draw a second card.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : God-Eternal Bontu

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If any abilities trigger as you sacrifice other permanents, those abilities won't be put onto the stack until after you've drawn cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
As Bontu's first triggered ability resolves, you may choose to sacrifice zero other permanents.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If a second God-Eternal Bontu enters the battlefield under your control, you'll put one into your graveyard before you can sacrifice anything to the new Bontu's triggered ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.