Shriveling RotHow it works & interactions with other cards

Lethal Wounds and Rotting Remains

The first mode of Shriveling Rot creates a delayed trigger for the rest of the turn: if a creature takes even one point of damage, it is destroyed. The second mode sets up a different trigger: whenever a creature dies, its controller loses life equal to its toughness as it existed on the battlefield.

Resolving the Entwine

If you pay the Entwine cost, both effects are active. Note that the effects happen in the order written. If a creature is dealt damage, the first effect triggers and destroys it. That destruction then triggers the second effect, causing life loss based on its toughness.

Toughness and State-Based Actions

Common mistakes involve timing. The life loss looks at the creature's toughness just before it left the battlefield. If a creature's toughness is reduced to 0 by effects like -N/-N, it dies due to state-based actions, not damage, so the first mode won't trigger, but the second mode will still cause life loss of 0.

When to Cast

This card is best used during the combat phase after blockers are declared. Even the smallest 1/1 token can destroy a massive creature if it deals damage, and with Entwine, that massive creature's death will likely result in a significant loss of life for its controller.

Interaction examples

Indirect Removal Interaction

Fell the Profane // Fell Mire

If you choose the second mode of Shriveling Rot and then cast Fell the Profane to destroy a creature, the creature's controller will lose life equal to its toughness. Because Fell the Profane destroys the target without dealing damage, the first mode of Shriveling Rot would not have triggered here.

Exile vs. Destruction

Deadly Rollick

If you use Deadly Rollick to exile a creature while Shriveling Rot's effects are active, neither mode will trigger. The first mode requires damage, and the second mode specifically requires the creature to die (be put into the graveyard from the battlefield). Exile prevents the 'dies' trigger.

Combat Damage Chain

In a scenario where you cast Shriveling Rot with Entwine before combat damage, a 1/1 squirrel blocking a 10/10 behemoth will cause the behemoth to be destroyed due to taking 1 damage. Then, the second mode triggers, causing the behemoth's controller to lose 10 life.