Hollowborn Barghest — ruling 1

The first ability checks whether you have no cards in hand both when it triggers and when it resolves. If you have any cards in your hand at the beginning of your upkeep, it won’t trigger at all. If you have any cards in your hand when the ability resolves, it does nothing.

Hollowborn Barghest — ruling 2

The second ability behaves the same way, except that it’s checking your opponent instead of you.

Hollowborn Barghest : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hollowborn Barghest 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 upkeep, if you have no cards in hand, each opponent loses 2 life. At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if that player has no cards in hand, they lose 2 life.

How it works : Hollowborn Barghest

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
The first ability checks whether you have no cards in hand both when it triggers and when it resolves. If you have any cards in your hand at the beginning of your upkeep, it won’t trigger at all. If you have any cards in your hand when the ability resolves, it does nothing.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
The second ability behaves the same way, except that it’s checking your opponent instead of you.
No other card is named in this ruling.