Countering the Magister Sphinx’s ability?
Me and my friends sometimes play cube drafts with cards we don’t use and old cards that we like…anyway. We got in a heated argument about Samite Ministration (Prevent all damage that would be dealt by a source of your choice to you this turn. Whenever damage from a black or red source is prevented this way, you gain life equal to that damage.).
I was saying that the ability that target players life total becomes 10 is a form of damage just not stated as much.
So i was hoping that someone out there could tell us if the damage could be prevented and possibly life gains if Samite Ministration was played in response to a Magister Sphinx being summoned.
Thanks in advance. 
Look at the card. on the card does it say anywhere that it is dealing damage? Magic isnt that vague when making cards. it will either say this card does damage or this card makes your opponent lose life (which is not damage and cannot be prevented by abilities that prevent damage) in this case it says neither. It simply says that the targets life total becomes 10. its not dealing any damage or making anyone lose life. look at cards like incinerate and you will see what i mean. (plus sometimes you can use the card on yourself when you are lower than 10 which will actually gain life with out ever gaining life so cards like everlasting torment wont have any effect on it)
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:22 am
Look at the card. on the card does it say anywhere that it is dealing damage? Magic isnt that vague when making cards. it will either say this card does damage or this card makes your opponent lose life (which is not damage and cannot be prevented by abilities that prevent damage) in this case it says neither. It simply says that the targets life total becomes 10. its not dealing any damage or making anyone lose life. look at cards like incinerate and you will see what i mean. (plus sometimes you can use the card on yourself when you are lower than 10 which will actually gain life with out ever gaining life so cards like everlasting torment wont have any effect on it)
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