En-kor and Daru Spiritualist

[Cavius The Great]

Can you target Daru Spirtualist infinite times with a Warrior En-Kor then sac it to Diamond Valley for infinite life? The arguement my friend had was that it can target without being dealt damage because the card reads the "NEXT" damage dealt. Is he right?

[Matt]

Yes, this is the basis of a fairly well-known Extended combo called Life. This also works with Task Force and that angel from Tempest with the same ability.

From the Oracle:

Nomads en-Kor

Creature -- Soldier
1/1
: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to Nomads en-Kor this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

[Jebus]

The activated ability must be played before damage is actually dealt, otherwise, the Spiritualist would be dead.

The ability sets up replacement effects that replace the damage event the next time it would happen.  There doesn't have to be any damage anywhere to actually set up the replacement, the replacement just sits around until that event occurs or until the turn ends.