Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 1

Unlike previous planeswalkers, Sarkhan the Mad has no way to raise his loyalty.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 2

Once the first ability starts to resolve and you reveal the top card of your library (and see how much damage Sarkhan the Mad deals to himself), it's too late to respond.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 3

The first ability causes Sarkhan to deal damage directly to himself, resulting in that many loyalty counters being removed from him. The damage would never have been dealt to you, so prevention effects that would prevent damage from being dealt to you won't affect it.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 4

If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the second ability resolves, the ability doesn't resolve. The player won't get a Dragon token.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 5

If the targeted creature is a legal target by the time the second ability resolves but its controller can't sacrifice it (due to Tajuru Preserver, perhaps), the ability continues to resolve. That player gets a Dragon token.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 6

You choose a single target as you activate the third ability. All your Dragons deal damage to that player.

Sarkhan the Mad — ruling 7

If you target an opponent with the third ability, you choose separately for each Dragon creature you control whether or not to redirect the damage dealt by that Dragon to a planeswalker that player controls.

Sarkhan the Mad : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Sarkhan the Mad 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

0: Reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. Sarkhan deals damage to himself equal to that card's mana value. −2: Target creature's controller sacrifices it, then that player creates a 5/5 red Dragon creature token with flying. −4: Each Dragon creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target player or planeswalker.

How it works : Sarkhan the Mad

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
Unlike previous planeswalkers, Sarkhan the Mad has no way to raise his loyalty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
Once the first ability starts to resolve and you reveal the top card of your library (and see how much damage Sarkhan the Mad deals to himself), it's too late to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
The first ability causes Sarkhan to deal damage directly to himself, resulting in that many loyalty counters being removed from him. The damage would never have been dealt to you, so prevention effects that would prevent damage from being dealt to you won't affect it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the second ability resolves, the ability doesn't resolve. The player won't get a Dragon token.
Card named in this ruling
Dragon
#5June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted creature is a legal target by the time the second ability resolves but its controller can't sacrifice it (due to Tajuru Preserver, perhaps), the ability continues to resolve. That player gets a Dragon token.
Card named in this ruling
Dragon
#6June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
You choose a single target as you activate the third ability. All your Dragons deal damage to that player.
Card named in this ruling
Dragon
#7June 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If you target an opponent with the third ability, you choose separately for each Dragon creature you control whether or not to redirect the damage dealt by that Dragon to a planeswalker that player controls.
Card named in this ruling
Dragon