Necropotence — ruling 1

You can't look at the cards exiled by the last ability while they're face down.

Necropotence — ruling 2

If a discarded card isn't put into your graveyard (due to an effect such as that of Obstinate Baloth) or leaves your graveyard (perhaps because another effect returned it to your hand), it won't be exiled.

Necropotence — ruling 3

If you discard a card with madness and wish to cast it, Necropotence's ability won't exile that card. If you don't wish to cast it, you choose whether it ends up exiled or in your graveyard.

Necropotence — ruling 4

Necropotence's last ability creates a delayed triggered ability that will put the exiled card into your hand. That ability still triggers even if Necropotence is removed from the battlefield before your end step.

Necropotence : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Necropotence 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

Skip your draw step. Whenever you discard a card, exile that card from your graveyard. Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library face down. Put that card into your hand at the beginning of your next end step.

Complete guide

Necropotence is one of the most powerful enchantments in Magic history, offering unparalleled card advantage at the cost of your life. This iconic black enchantment completely changes how you interact with your library and graveyard, trading your traditional draw step for a potent life-for-cards engine. Understanding its timing and triggers is essential for mastering the art of dark power.

Trading Life for Knowledge

Necropotence replaces your draw step entirely, meaning you will not draw a card at the start of your turn. Instead, you can pay 1 life as many times as you like to exile the top card of your library face down. These cards do not go directly into your hand; instead, they are held in exile and move to your hand at the beginning of your next end step. Because you cannot look at these cards while they are face down, you must wait until the end step to see what you have acquired.

The Exile Trigger

The second ability of Necropotence ensures that your graveyard remains empty of discarded cards. Whenever you discard a card, it briefly hits the graveyard, which triggers Necropotence to exile it. However, if an effect prevents the card from hitting the graveyard (such as a replacement effect) or if you use the Madness mechanic to cast the card, Necropotence will not exile it. This is a triggered ability, so your opponents can respond to the exile trigger before the card is removed from the graveyard.

Timing and Strategy

You should generally activate Necropotence during your main phase or your end step. If you activate it during your own end step, the 'beginning of your next end step' will be the end step of the following turn. This delay is important for balancing your hand size, as you will need to discard down to seven cards if you acquire too many. Remember that once the ability is activated, removing Necropotence from the battlefield will not stop the cards from being added to your hand during the end step.

Interaction examples

Stacking Card Draw Effects

Phyrexian Arena

With both cards on the battlefield, your turn begins. Necropotence forces you to skip your draw step, but Phyrexian Arena triggers during your upkeep. You will lose 1 life and draw a card during your upkeep, effectively bypassing the draw step restriction while still using Necropotence to refill your hand later.

Managing Resources

Black Market Connections

During your first main phase, Black Market Connections triggers. You can choose to draw a card and lose 2 life. Later in the same turn, you can pay life to Necropotence to exile several cards. At the beginning of your end step, you will receive the cards from Necropotence. If you now have more than seven cards, you must discard. When you discard, Necropotence triggers to exile those specific cards from your graveyard.

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

How it works : Necropotence

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
You can't look at the cards exiled by the last ability while they're face down.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 17, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If a discarded card isn't put into your graveyard (due to an effect such as that of Obstinate Baloth) or leaves your graveyard (perhaps because another effect returned it to your hand), it won't be exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 17, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If you discard a card with madness and wish to cast it, Necropotence's ability won't exile that card. If you don't wish to cast it, you choose whether it ends up exiled or in your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 17, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Necropotence's last ability creates a delayed triggered ability that will put the exiled card into your hand. That ability still triggers even if Necropotence is removed from the battlefield before your end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.