Certain Death

[Fish]

I'm new to this, but here goes...

Original Text

Certain Death
1BB
Enchantment
During each player's upkeep, they  lose 2 life for each nonland permanent they control.
Players may sacrifice any permanents they control at any time.
Cumilitive Upkeep: Pay 3 Life. This loss of life can't be prevented

Correct me if I'm wrong but you have at most two upkeeps before this kills you...

First upkeep 3 life + atleast 2 for certain death = 5 life loss
Second upkeep 6 life + atleast 2 for certain death = 13 life loss
Third upkeep 9 life + atleast 2 for certain death = 24 life loss

If you have control even one other permanent, you lose 17 life by your second upkeep so it may only be worthwhile to keep it for one upkeep.

It's low casting cost is balanced by the fact that if you cast this early, it does very little damage to your opponent as they will have very few permanents in play.

But if you still think it's unbalanced, we can reduce the effect to only costing one life per permanent. Even then, the card would kill you by upkeep three.

I just think this card would make for a very interesting effect. I could see it being used in the sideboard to deal with artifact decks or something.

Revised Text

Certain Death
1BB
Enchantment
During each player's upkeep, they lose 2 life for each nonland permanent they control.
Players may sacrifice any permanents they control any time they could play a sorcery except the turn that Certain Death comes into play.
Cumilitive Upkeep: Pay 3 Life. This loss of life can't be prevented.


The revised text is even better. It can lead to great mental games. If your opponents choose to sacrifice any permanents, they know that you'll almost certainly choose to sacrifice certain death during your turn or else you'll have to take heavy almost lethal damage during your turn.

If you believe that the card is too powerful, I'm considering revising it to read cumilative upkeep: pay 4 life.  Then you'll take 16 damage your second upkeep, probably enough to kill you if you were attacked even once. And it would be suicide to have even one other permanent is play.

[Jacob Orlove]

Can't you just play this, and then sac it to itself after their upkeep?

[Fish]

I didn't catch that.

I edited in a fix, does it seem fair now?

[Upinthe]

You don't need to say that life loss can't be prevented. It isn't damage so it can't be prevented at all anyway.

[Jacob Orlove]

This is hideously overcomplicated and confusing.

Why not just something like this:

Certain Death
1BB
Enchantment
During each player's upkeep, they lose 1 life for each nonland permanent they control.