Soulcage FiendHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Death Throes of a Demon

Soulcage Fiend features a single triggered ability that triggers specifically when it moves from the battlefield to the graveyard. When this happens, the ability goes on the stack and, upon resolution, causes each player to lose 3 life simultaneously. Because it says 'each player,' this includes you, your teammates, and all your opponents.

Symmetrical Life Loss

It is important to note that this is life loss, not damage. Effects that prevent damage will not stop Soulcage Fiend from reducing life totals. Furthermore, since all players lose life at the same time, it is possible for a game to end in a draw if the life loss causes all remaining players to reach 0 or less life simultaneously during the state-based actions check.

Timing and Strategy

You should play Soulcage Fiend when you have a higher life total than your opponents or when you need to bypass traditional combat defenses. Since it triggers on death, you can use it as a deterrent against board wipes or as a finisher by sacrificing it to another effect when your opponent is at 3 or less life.

Interaction examples

Double the Demonic Toll

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Demon' chosen as the creature type, Soulcage Fiend's death ability will trigger an additional time. When Soulcage Fiend dies, two separate instances of the ability go on the stack. Each player will lose 3 life twice, for a total of 6 life lost.

Simultaneous Triggers

Solemn Simulacrum

If a single board wipe destroys both Soulcage Fiend and Solemn Simulacrum, both 'dies' abilities trigger at the same time. As the active player, you choose the order in which they are placed on the stack. You can choose to have each player lose 3 life first, or draw a card from the Golem first, depending on which outcome you need to resolve first.