Gul Dukat, Colonial PrefectHow it works & interactions with other cards

Doubling Down on Despair

Gul Dukat, Colonial Prefect features a triggered ability that goes on the stack at the beginning of every end step. When it resolves, the game checks how much life each opponent lost during that specific turn. Note that this includes damage from combat, life lost to pay for costs, and life lost from other spells or abilities. Each opponent then loses that same amount of life again, and you gain life equal to the total amount lost this way.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, the turn proceeds to the end step, triggering Gul Dukat. Second, the game calculates the total life lost by each opponent from the start of the current turn until now. Third, each opponent loses that amount of life simultaneously. Finally, you gain the sum of all life lost during this specific resolution. Because this happens in the end step, any life lost after this ability resolves will not be counted until the next turn's end step.

Menace and Evasion

Beyond his life-draining ability, Gul Dukat is a formidable attacker thanks to Menace. He cannot be blocked except by two or more creatures. This makes it much easier to push through his 6 power, which effectively becomes 12 damage once his end-step ability resolves, provided the opponent doesn't gain life back before then.

Strategic Timing

Since Gul Dukat triggers on each end step, including your opponents', he pair perfectly with cards that force life loss during other players' turns. You don't need to be the one attacking to benefit; any source of life loss will trigger his doubling effect, making him a central piece for attrition-based strategies.

Interaction examples

The Massacre Combo

Massacre Wurm

If you play Massacre Wurm while Gul Dukat is on the battlefield and your opponent loses 4 creatures, Massacre Wurm deals 8 life loss to that opponent. At the beginning of your end step, Gul Dukat's ability triggers, sees the 8 life lost, and forces the opponent to lose another 8 life, resulting in a total of 16 life lost that turn.

Upkeep Pressure

Sheoldred, Whispering One

During an opponent's upkeep, Sheoldred, Whispering One forces them to sacrifice a creature. If that opponent takes combat damage later in their own turn, Gul Dukat will trigger at the beginning of their end step. He will count all life lost by that player during their own turn and double it, keeping the pressure on even when it isn't your turn.

Solo Menace Attack

Gul Dukat attacks an opponent and is not blocked due to Menace. He deals 6 damage. At the beginning of the end step, his ability triggers. The game identifies the opponent lost 6 life this turn. The opponent loses an additional 6 life, and you gain 6 life. A single unblocked attack resulted in a 12-point life swing.