Judith, the Scourge Diva — ruling 1

Judith's last ability triggers when Judith dies if it's not a token.

Judith, the Scourge Diva — ruling 2

If Judith dies at the same time as one or more other nontoken creatures you control, Judith's ability triggers for each of them.

Judith, the Scourge Diva — ruling 3

If your life total is brought to 0 or less at the same time that nontoken creatures you control are dealt lethal damage, you lose the game before Judith's triggered ability goes on the stack.

Judith, the Scourge Diva : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Judith, the Scourge Diva 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

Other creatures you control get +1/+0. Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, Judith deals 1 damage to any target.

Complete guide

Judith, the Scourge Diva is a powerhouse for aggressive Rakdos decks, providing both a power boost to your army and a punishing effect when your forces fall. As a legendary Human Shaman, she turns every trade in combat into a potential source of direct damage. Understanding how her 'dies' trigger interacts with other permanents is key to dominating the battlefield.

What Judith Does

Judith, the Scourge Diva provides a static +1/+0 buff to all other creatures you control, making even small threats significant. Her most impactful feature is her triggered ability: whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, Judith deals 1 damage to any target. This includes Judith herself, provided she is not a token, because the ability looks back in time to see what was on the battlefield at the moment of death.

Resolving the Trigger Step by Step

When a nontoken creature you control is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, Judith's ability triggers. First, the creature is placed in the graveyard as a state-based action. Next, Judith's trigger is put onto the stack, and you choose a target—which can be a player, a planeswalker, or any creature. Finally, the ability resolves, and Judith deals 1 damage to that target. If Judith and other nontoken creatures die simultaneously (such as from a board wipe), she will see all of them die and trigger for each one, including herself.

Common Pitfalls

The most important restriction is that Judith only triggers for nontoken creatures; if a 1/1 Goblin token created by a spell dies, no damage is dealt. Additionally, if Judith is destroyed at the same time you lose the game due to your life total hitting zero, her abilities will never even reach the stack. Remember that the +1/+0 buff only applies to 'other' creatures, so Judith remains a base 2/2 unless other effects are present.

When to Play Judith

Judith is best played in decks that look to sacrifice their own creatures for value or in aggressive strategies where your opponent is forced to block. She effectively gives your nontoken creatures 'last strike' damage, allowing you to pick off weakened blockers or chip away at your opponent's life total directly.

Interaction examples

Double the Value

Solemn Simulacrum

When Solemn Simulacrum dies while you control Judith, the Scourge Diva, two separate triggered abilities go on the stack. You may draw a card from the Golem's own ability and choose a target for Judith to deal 1 damage. This makes every value creature in your deck a potential removal spell or source of reach.

The Throne's Resonance

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield and chose 'Human' or 'Shaman' as it entered, Judith's triggered ability will trigger an additional time whenever a nontoken creature dies. If another nontoken creature dies, Judith will deal 1 damage twice. Note that the Roaming Throne also receives the +1/+0 buff from Judith since it is another creature you control.

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

How it works : Judith, the Scourge Diva

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 25, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
Judith's last ability triggers when Judith dies if it's not a token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 25, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If Judith dies at the same time as one or more other nontoken creatures you control, Judith's ability triggers for each of them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 25, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If your life total is brought to 0 or less at the same time that nontoken creatures you control are dealt lethal damage, you lose the game before Judith's triggered ability goes on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.