Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 1

As the end step begins, Sygg’s ability checks whether a player who is currently your opponent, or a player who was your opponent at the time they left the game, has lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn. If so, the ability will trigger. If not, it won’t.

Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 2

It doesn’t matter how the opponent lost life or who caused it, as long as the total loss of life is 3 or more.

Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 3

Sygg’s ability checks only whether life was lost. It doesn’t care whether life was also gained. For example, if an opponent lost 4 life and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with — but Sygg’s ability will trigger anyway.

Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 4

You don’t specify an opponent when the ability triggers. If multiple opponents have lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn, the ability will trigger only once.

Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 5

Sygg’s ability will trigger even if Sygg wasn’t on the battlefield at the time some or all of the life was lost.

Sygg, River Cutthroat — ruling 6

Sygg’s ability checks to see if it triggers at the end of every turn. It doesn’t have to be your turn, and it doesn’t have to be the turn of the opponent that lost life.

Sygg, River Cutthroat : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Sygg, River Cutthroat 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

At the beginning of each end step, if an opponent lost 3 or more life this turn, you may draw a card. (Damage causes loss of life.)

How it works : Sygg, River Cutthroat

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
As the end step begins, Sygg’s ability checks whether a player who is currently your opponent, or a player who was your opponent at the time they left the game, has lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn. If so, the ability will trigger. If not, it won’t.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
It doesn’t matter how the opponent lost life or who caused it, as long as the total loss of life is 3 or more.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
Sygg’s ability checks only whether life was lost. It doesn’t care whether life was also gained. For example, if an opponent lost 4 life and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with — but Sygg’s ability will trigger anyway.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
You don’t specify an opponent when the ability triggers. If multiple opponents have lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn, the ability will trigger only once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
Sygg’s ability will trigger even if Sygg wasn’t on the battlefield at the time some or all of the life was lost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
Sygg’s ability checks to see if it triggers at the end of every turn. It doesn’t have to be your turn, and it doesn’t have to be the turn of the opponent that lost life.
No other card is named in this ruling.