Vraska's FallHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

When you cast Vraska's Fall, you force each of your opponents to choose a permanent they control that is either a creature or a planeswalker and sacrifice it. Simultaneously, each opponent receives one poison counter, regardless of whether they successfully sacrificed a permanent or not.

How It Resolves

As the spell resolves, the current player (usually you) first checks for any response. If it resolves, each opponent, in turn order starting from the active player, chooses a creature or planeswalker they control. Then, all chosen permanents are sacrificed at the same time. Finally, each opponent is given one poison counter.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that an opponent who controls no creatures or planeswalkers is exempt from the effect. However, the instruction to get a poison counter is not contingent on the sacrifice; even if an opponent has nothing to sacrifice, they still receive the poison counter. Additionally, because the spell does not target, cards that grant Hexproof to creatures will not protect them from being chosen for sacrifice.

When to Play It

This spell is best utilized when your opponents have invested in a single, powerful threat that might have protection against targeting. Since it forces a sacrifice, it bypasses Indestructible and Ward. It is also a key piece for decks aiming to win through poison counters, as it provides a guaranteed tick toward the ten-counter limit.

Interaction examples

Dealing with Indestructible Threats

If your opponent controls a creature with Indestructible, you cannot destroy it with normal damage or 'destroy' effects. By casting Vraska's Fall, the opponent is forced to sacrifice that creature, which ignores Indestructible and sends it directly to the graveyard.

Bypassing Targeted Removal Restrictions

Deadly Rollick

If your opponent has a creature with Protection from Black, you cannot target it with Deadly Rollick. However, because Vraska's Fall says 'Each opponent sacrifices,' it does not target the creature or the player. The opponent must choose and sacrifice the protected creature themselves.

Advancing the Poison Clock

Poison Counter

If an opponent already has nine poison counters, casting Vraska's Fall will give them their tenth Poison Counter. According to the game rules, a player with ten or more poison counters loses the game immediately as a state-based action, even if they had no creatures to sacrifice.

Timing Your Responses

Deadly Dispute

If you cast Vraska's Fall, your opponent might respond by casting Deadly Dispute to sacrifice their only creature for value. If they do, they will have no creatures left when Vraska's Fall resolves. They won't sacrifice anything, but they will still receive a poison counter from the spell's resolution.