MoroiiHow it works & interactions with other cards

High Stats, Small Price

Moroii is a 4/4 creature with Flying for only four mana, which puts it well above the average power curve for its cost. The trade-off is a triggered ability that occurs during your upkeep. Every turn that Moroii remains on the battlefield under your control, you will lose 1 life. This is not damage, but life loss, meaning it cannot be prevented by effects that prevent damage.

Step-by-Step Resolution

The process begins as your upkeep starts. 1. The 'At the beginning of your upkeep' ability triggers and is put onto the stack. 2. Players may respond with instants or activated abilities. 3. If the ability resolves, you lose 1 life. Note that if you control multiple copies of Moroii, each one triggers separately, and you will lose 1 life for each resolution.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is forgetting the trigger during a busy turn. Since it is a mandatory triggered ability, it must be acknowledged. Another mistake is trying to use 'damage prevention' shields to stop the life loss; because the card text specifically says 'lose 1 life' rather than 'deals 1 damage', those shields are ineffective.

When to Play It

Moroii is best suited for aggressive or mid-range decks that intend to end the game quickly. The 1 life lost per turn is negligible if you are dealing 4 damage in the air each combat. However, in long, drawn-out control mirrors, the cumulative life loss can eventually put you within reach of your opponent's burn spells or finishers.

Interaction examples

Ramping into the Vampire

Solemn Simulacrum

You play Solemn Simulacrum on turn four to fetch a basic land, ensuring you have the mana to cast Moroii while also providing a blocker. Even if the life loss from Moroii starts to add up, the land advantage and the card draw from Solemn Simulacrum when it dies help you find answers or more threats to finish the game before the upkeep cost becomes fatal.

Doubling the Blood Tax

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Vampire' as the creature type, Moroii's upkeep ability will trigger an additional time because it is a triggered ability of a creature you control of the chosen type. This means at the start of each upkeep, you will lose a total of 2 life instead of 1. While this accelerates your clock, it also doubles the pressure on your own life total.

Solo Flight

On its own, Moroii serves as a reliable four-turn clock against an opponent with no flyers. You simply cast it for 2UB, and starting from your next upkeep, you lose 1 life and then attack for 4 damage. In five turns, you will have lost 5 life, but your opponent will have taken 20 damage, winning you the game.