Phyrexia vs the Multiverse: Basic Rules

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Mechanics | Cockatrice Setup | Build a Deck | Basic Rules | 1: The Hole in the Sky | Interlude: The Gatewatch | 2: Heart Breaker | 3: Vault of Mirrors | Interlude: The Relic | 4: Gate to Phyrexia | 5: Ex Machina | Epilogue | FAQ

How to play against the Challenge Decks

• Basic rules are here
• I have a question about a specific rule interaction.
• I'm done, let's start Mission 1.

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Basic Rules

All missions are 1v1 MTG games

• You "The player" always take the first turn (do not draw), then alternate with your opponent "Phyrexia".
• Phyrexia has a normal turn structure (untap, upkeep, draw...)

Phyrexia just casts everything without mana

• During Phyrexia's first main phase, it casts all cards in hand, one at a time, until its hand is empty or it can't cast any more.
• Cards it can't cast or cards it draws in later phases stay in hand. It will try to cast them next turn.
• Example: Phyrexia holds a creature card and "enchant creature" aura, and the battlefield is empty. It can't cast the aura, so it casts the creature. Now Phyrexia can cast the aura, so it does.

The cards tell Phyrexia what to do

• Phyrexia's creatures don't attack or block unless an effect specifically tells them to.
• You (The player) make all other choices for Phyrexia, including the order it casts cards.

Phyrexia uses its library as its life

• Whenever Phyrexia would lose life, instead put that many cards from the top of its library to its graveyard.
• Phyrexia plays on even if its library is empty.

You can directly attack Phyrexia's creatures, but they fight back

• Multiple creatures can attack the same creature.
• Whenever an unblocked creature deals damage this way, the attacked creature deals revenge damage equal to its power to each of the creatures attacking it.
• Example: Your 2/2 Wolf and 1/3 Soldier directly attack a 2/3 Phyrexian Minion. Your creatures deal 2 + 1 = 3 damage to the Minion, destroying it. The Minion deals 2 revenge damage to both of those creatures; your Wolf dies and your Soldier survives.

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Detailed FAQ: Don't need to know this until necessary

• There are many rules interactions that aren't covered by the basic rules above.
• The golden rule is pretty much 'do what makes sense to keep a sense of challenge'.

Phyrexia's actions

• Phyrexia is considered a player for the purposes of Flame Slash and Kami of the Crescent Moon, even though cards specifically refer to "Phyrexia" and "The Player".
• Phyrexia has infinite mana and pays costs if able (e.g. Mana Leak).
• If phyrexia has multiple cards in hand, you choose the order that it casts. It casts them in one at a time, waiting for one to resolve before casting the other.
• Ignore effects that would cause Phyrexia to do impossible actions.
• If Phyrexia gains control of one of your creatures with an activated ability (Dimir Guildmage), It won't use any of that abilities for itself, but it probably also shouldn't use its ability to help the player.

Phyrexia's Cards

• Phyrexia's permanents are normal spells. They can be countered.
• Phyrexia's cards are all colorless and have converted mana cost of 0.
• Phyrexia's cards are not tokens.

Phyrexia's Library

• If phyrexia would gain life, I suppose you can shuffle that many cards randomly from its graveyard into its library.

Directly attacking creatures

• Direct damage and 'revenge damage' counts as combat damage.
• The source of 'revenge damage' is still the creature, so abilites like deathtouch will still kill your guy.
• 'Revenge damage' isn't a triggered ability, it's simultaneous. First strike won't help you. -