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Rules guide · Legendary Creature

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the RootHow it works & interactions with other cards

By the ManaCount desk· 6 min read· Strixhaven: School of Mages· April 23, 2021
Carte Magic Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root 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.

01

Official card text

Menace, lifelink If a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die, exile it instead. When you do, you may pay {2}. If you do, create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this token dies, you gain 1 life." Whenever you gain life, you may pay {1}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and those creatures gain trample until end of turn.

How it works : Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

  1. #1· Wizards of the Coast

    If a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die, and both Valentin and another effect are trying to exile it instead, that opponent chooses which effect to apply. If Valentin’s effect ends up not applying because of this choice, the triggered ability that allows you to pay {2} won’t trigger, even if the creature card ends up in exile.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  2. #2· Wizards of the Coast

    If you gain life at the same time a creature you control is dealt lethal damage, that creature dies before Lisette’s ability can put a +1/+1 counter on it.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  3. #3· Wizards of the Coast

    An ability that triggers “whenever you gain life” triggers just once for each life-gaining event, no matter how much life you gain.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  4. #4· Wizards of the Coast

    You may only pay {1} once for each life gain event.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  5. #5· Wizards of the Coast

    Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, a “whenever you gain life” ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  6. #6· Wizards of the Coast

    If you gain an amount of life “for each” of something, that life is gained as one event and the ability will trigger only once.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

02

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

Basking Broodscale
+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Essence Warden
#1

Basking Broodscale + Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Essence Warden

Infinite creature LTBInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggers
  1. 1Cast Basking Broodscale by paying {1}{G}.
  2. 2When Basking Broodscale enters the battlefield, Essence Warden triggers, causing you to gain 1 life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  5. 5When the Eldrazi Spawn enters the battlefield, Essence Warden triggers.
  6. 6Holding priority, activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {C}.
  7. 7Resolve the Essence Warden trigger, causing you to gain 1 life.
  8. 8Repeat from step 3.
Basking Broodscale
+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Prosperous Innkeeper
#2

Basking Broodscale + Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Prosperous Innkeeper

Infinite creature LTBInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggers
  1. 1Cast Basking Broodscale by paying {1}{G}.
  2. 2When Basking Broodscale enters the battlefield, Prosperous Innkeeper triggers, causing you to gain 1 life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  5. 5When the Eldrazi Spawn enters the battlefield, Prosperous Innkeeper triggers.
  6. 6Holding priority, activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {C}.
  7. 7Resolve the Prosperous Innkeeper trigger, causing you to gain 1 life.
  8. 8Repeat from step 3.
Basking Broodscale
+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Bogwater Lumaret
#3

Basking Broodscale + Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Bogwater Lumaret

Infinite +1/+1 counters on creatures you controlInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite death triggers
  1. 1Cast Basking Broodscale by paying {1}{G}.
  2. 2When Basking Broodscale enters the battlefield, Bogwater Lumaret triggers, causing you to gain 1 life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  5. 5When the Eldrazi Spawn enters the battlefield, Bogwater Lumaret triggers.
  6. 6Holding priority, activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {C}.
  7. 7Resolve the Bogwater Lumaret trigger, causing you to gain 1 life.
  8. 8Repeat from step 3.
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Spike Feeder
+Basking Broodscale
#4

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Spike Feeder + Basking Broodscale

Infinite +1/+1 counters on most creatures you controlInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite death triggers
  1. 1Activate Spike Feeder's last ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, causing you to gain 2 life.
  2. 2Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  3. 3Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  4. 4Activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {1}.
  5. 5Repeat.
Basking Broodscale
+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Virulent Emissary
#5

Basking Broodscale + Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Virulent Emissary

Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain
  1. 1Cast Basking Broodscale by paying {1}{G}.
  2. 2When Basking Broodscale enters the battlefield, Virulent Emissary triggers, causing you to gain 1 life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  5. 5When the Eldrazi Spawn enters the battlefield, Virulent Emissary triggers.
  6. 6Holding priority, activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {C}.
  7. 7Resolve the Virulent Emissary trigger, causing you to gain 1 life.
  8. 8Repeat from step 3.
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Spike Feeder
+Devoted Druid
#6

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Spike Feeder + Devoted Druid

Infinite +1/+1 counters on most creatures you controlInfinite lifegainInfinite lifegain triggers
  1. 1Activate Devoted Druid's first ability by tapping it, adding {G}.
  2. 2Activate Spike Feeder's second ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, causing you to gain two life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Activate Devoted Druid's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
  5. 5Repeat.
Basking Broodscale
+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Social Climber
#7

Basking Broodscale + Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Social Climber

Infinite creature LTBInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggers
  1. 1Cast Basking Broodscale by paying {1}{G}.
  2. 2When Basking Broodscale enters the battlefield, Social Climber triggers, causing you to gain 1 life.
  3. 3Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  4. 4Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
  5. 5When the Eldrazi Spawn enters the battlefield, Social Climber triggers.
  6. 6Holding priority, activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding {C}.
  7. 7Resolve the Social Climber trigger, causing you to gain 1 life.
  8. 8Repeat from step 3.
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
+Spike Feeder
+Crystalline Crawler
#8

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root + Spike Feeder + Crystalline Crawler

Infinite +1/+1 counters on most creatures you controlInfinite lifegainInfinite lifegain triggers
  1. 1Activate Spike Feeder's second ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, causing you to gain two life.
  2. 2Lisette triggers, causing you to pay {1} to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
  3. 3Activate Crystalline Crawler's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding {1}.
  4. 4Repeat.
03

Legal formats

historictimelessgladiatorpioneermodernlegacyvintagepennycommanderoathbreakerbrawlcompetitivebrawlduel
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Meta decks with Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root

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Official source