Soul of Eternity — ruling 1

If an effect stops a token from attacking a specific player, that token can attack any player, planeswalker, or battle, or not attack at all. If the effect stops the token from attacking a specific player unless a cost is paid, you don't have to pay that cost unless you want to attack that player.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 2

Exiling the card with encore is a cost to activate the ability. Once you announce that you're activating it, no player may take actions until you've finished. They can't try to remove the card from your graveyard to stop you from paying the cost.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 3

Opponents who have left the game aren't counted when determining how many tokens to create.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 4

The tokens copy only what's on the original card. Effects that modified that creature when it was previously on the battlefield won't be copied.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 5

The ability that defines Soul of Eternity's power and toughness functions in all zones, not just the battlefield.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 6

If one of the tokens can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, you aren't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 7

If one of the tokens somehow is under another player's control as the delayed triggered ability resolves, you can't sacrifice that token. It remains on the battlefield indefinitely, even if you regain control of it later.

Soul of Eternity — ruling 8

Each token must attack the appropriate player if able.

Soul of Eternity : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Soul of Eternity 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

Soul of Eternity's power and toughness are each equal to your life total. Encore (, Exile this card from your graveyard: For each opponent, create a token copy that attacks that opponent this turn if able. They gain haste. Sacrifice them at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only as a sorcery.)

Complete guide

Soul of Eternity is a massive Avatar that reflects your current vitality directly onto the battlefield. Its strength scales with your life total, making it a terrifying threat in the late game or a resilient finisher when brought back from the grave.

A Living Reflection of Life

Soul of Eternity features a characteristic-defining ability that sets its power and toughness equal to your current life total. This ability functions in all zones, meaning the card has that power and toughness while in your hand, your library, and your graveyard. If your life total changes, the Avatar's stats change immediately to match.

Mastering the Encore

The Encore keyword allows you to exile Soul of Eternity from your graveyard to create token copies for each opponent you have. Each token gains haste and is forced to attack a specific opponent if able. The cost to activate Encore includes exiling the card, so opponents cannot remove it from your graveyard in response to the activation once you have started the process.

Timing and Restrictions

Encore can only be activated as a sorcery, meaning during your main phase when the stack is empty. At the beginning of the next end step, the tokens created by Encore are sacrificed. If a token is somehow under another player's control when that sacrifice trigger resolves, it will not be sacrificed and remains on the battlefield indefinitely.

Common Combat Mistakes

While the tokens must attack their assigned opponent 'if able,' they are subject to standard combat rules. If a token is tapped or restricted by an effect, it does not attack. You are never forced to pay a mana cost (like those from Propaganda-style effects) to satisfy the requirement to attack with an Encore token.

Interaction examples

Scaling Power

Soul of Eternity

If you have 40 life, Soul of Eternity is a 40/40 creature. If an opponent hits you for 10 damage, its power and toughness immediately drop to 30/30 without any other abilities needing to trigger.

Encore in Multiplayer

Soul of Eternity Copy

Copy

In a four-player game, you exile Soul of Eternity for its Encore cost. You create three Copy tokens, each representing a Soul of Eternity. Each Copy token targets a different opponent and must attack them during your combat phase. At the end of the turn, all three Copy tokens are sacrificed.

Survival of the Tokens

Soul of Eternity

Avacyn, Angel of Hope

Even if you control Avacyn, Angel of Hope, the Encore tokens will still be sacrificed at the end step. The Encore ability says 'sacrifice,' which is an effect that ignores the Indestructible keyword provided by Avacyn.

Graveyard Interactions

Sun Titan

Soul of Eternity

If your life total is 3 or less, Soul of Eternity has a mana value of 7 but its power is 3 or less. However, Sun Titan looks for a permanent card with a 'mana value' of 3 or less, not power. Because Soul of Eternity always has a mana value of 7, Sun Titan cannot return it to the battlefield regardless of your life total.

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

How it works : Soul of Eternity

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 28, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect stops a token from attacking a specific player, that token can attack any player, planeswalker, or battle, or not attack at all. If the effect stops the token from attacking a specific player unless a cost is paid, you don't have to pay that cost unless you want to attack that player.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Exiling the card with encore is a cost to activate the ability. Once you announce that you're activating it, no player may take actions until you've finished. They can't try to remove the card from your graveyard to stop you from paying the cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Opponents who have left the game aren't counted when determining how many tokens to create.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The tokens copy only what's on the original card. Effects that modified that creature when it was previously on the battlefield won't be copied.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#5November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The ability that defines Soul of Eternity's power and toughness functions in all zones, not just the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If one of the tokens can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, you aren't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If one of the tokens somehow is under another player's control as the delayed triggered ability resolves, you can't sacrifice that token. It remains on the battlefield indefinitely, even if you regain control of it later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Each token must attack the appropriate player if able.
No other card is named in this ruling.