White Sun's Twilight — ruling 1

Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 2

Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 3

If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 4

Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 5

A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 6

Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply.

White Sun's Twilight — ruling 7

Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way.

White Sun's Twilight : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

White Sun's Twilight 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

You gain X life. Create X 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature tokens with toxic 1 and "This token can't block." If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures. (Players dealt combat damage by a creature with toxic 1 also get a poison counter.)

Complete guide

White Sun's Twilight is a versatile powerhouse from the Phyrexia: All Will Be One set, offering life gain, token generation, and a potential board wipe all in one card. Whether you need to stabilize against aggro or end the game with a swarm of Mites, this sorcery scales to fit your current needs. It is particularly effective in decks that can generate large amounts of mana to unlock its full destructive potential.

A Life-Giving Swarm

When you cast White Sun's Twilight, the primary effect is to gain X life and create X 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature tokens. These tokens are unique: they have Toxic 1, meaning they deal poison counters in addition to normal damage, but they carry the drawback of being unable to block. This makes them purely offensive tools designed to put your opponent on a short clock.

The Board Wipe Threshold

The most critical part of this spell is the conditional clause: 'If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures.' Note that the spell checks the value chosen for X as it resolves, not the total mana spent. If X is at least 5, every creature on the battlefield is destroyed except for the newly created Mite tokens. This allows you to clear a crowded board and immediately replace it with your own untapped army.

Resolution Step by Step

First, you gain X life, which happens immediately as the spell begins to resolve. Second, you place X Phyrexian Mite tokens onto the battlefield. Third, the game checks if X is 5 or more; if it is, all other creatures currently on the battlefield are destroyed. Because the tokens are created before the destruction effect happens, and the effect says 'destroy all OTHER creatures,' your new Mites are safe from your own spell.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that the Mites cannot block; don't count on them to protect your life total on the following turn! Additionally, remember that Toxic 1 does not change how much damage the creatures deal. A Mite deals 1 physical damage and gives 1 poison counter. If you increase their power with equipment or spells, they still only give 1 poison counter unless you grant them additional instances of Toxic.

Interaction examples

Creating a Poisonous Army

Phyrexian Mite

You cast White Sun's Twilight with X=3, paying 3WW. You gain 3 life and create 3 Phyrexian Mite tokens. Since X is less than 5, no creatures are destroyed. You now have three 1/1 attackers that will each give the opponent a poison counter if they connect next turn.

The Ultimate Reset

Poison Counter

The board is full of your opponent's creatures. You cast White Sun's Twilight with X=5, paying 5WW. You gain 5 life and create 5 Phyrexian Mite tokens. Because X is 5, the spell destroys all other creatures on the board. You are left with a clean slate and 5 Mites ready to start applying Poison Counters.

Mana Efficiency and Recovery

Sevinne's Reclamation

If your opponent counters your White Sun's Twilight, it ends up in the graveyard. While you cannot use Sevinne's Reclamation to return it (as it is not a permanent card), knowing your graveyard options is key in white decks. If you cast Twilight for X=5 and your Mites are later destroyed, you could use Sevinne's Reclamation to bring back a different small permanent to help rebuild.

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

How it works : White Sun's Twilight

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters.
Card named in this ruling
Poison Counter
#2February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter.
Card named in this ruling
Poison Counter
#3February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters.
Card named in this ruling
Poison Counter
#4February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life.
Card named in this ruling
Poison Counter
#6February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7February 4, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way.
No other card is named in this ruling.