What happens to objects after a player dies?

800.4a When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end . Then, if that player controlled any objects on the stack not represented by cards, those objects cease to exist. Then, if there are any objects still controlled by that player, those objects are exiled . This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time they left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game. 🔗

  • All objects that player owns cease to exist.
    • creatures, tokens, spells, copies of spells, everything.
  • All control-change effects giving that player control of any objects end. The affected objects immediately become controlled by another player as appropriate (usually the previous controller).
    • e.g., Blatant Thievery , Sudden Substitution , Agent of Treachery
  • All objects that player still controls (because they obtained control of the object without the use of a control-change effect) are exiled.
    • e.g., by using a reanimation spell like Rise of the Dark Realms

What does a dying object see?

603.2c An ability triggers only once each time its trigger event occurs. However, it can trigger repeatedly if one event contains multiple occurrences. đź”—

603.6c example Two creatures are on the battlefield along with an artifact that has the ability “Whenever a creature dies, you gain 1 life.” Someone plays a spell that destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments. The artifact’s ability triggers twice, even though the artifact goes to its owner’s graveyard at the same time as the creatures.

Creatures that die simultaneously (e.g., boardwiped) see themselves and each other die and will trigger effects accordingly. (eg, Syr Konrad, the Grim)

What happens if the monarch dies?

720.4 If the monarch leaves the game, the active player becomes the monarch at the same time as that player leaves the game. If the active player is leaving the game or if there is no active player, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch. đź”—

Monarch Ruling Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward

  • If the monarch leaves the game, then
    • the turn player becomes the new monarch.
  • Else if the turn player was the monarch, then
    • the next player in turn order becomes the new monarch.
  • Else if the turn player is unable to become the monarch, then
    • the behaviour is undefined (presumably no player is the monarch but the ruling requires exactly one monarch).
    • e.g., due to Jared Carthalion, True Heir

When do conditional triggers need to be satisfied?

603.4. A triggered ability may read "When/Whenever/At [trigger event], if [condition], [effect]." When the trigger event occurs, the ability checks whether the stated condition is true. The ability triggers only if it is; otherwise it does nothing. If the ability triggers, it checks the stated condition again as it resolves. If the condition isn't true at that time, the ability is removed from the stack and does nothing. Note that this mirrors the check for legal targets. This rule is referred to as the "intervening 'if' clause" rule. (The word "if" has only its normal English meaning anywhere else in the text of a card; this rule only applies to an "if" that immediately follows a trigger condition.) đź”—

This means that a triggered ability cannot satisfy the conditions of another ability with the same trigger event.

e.g., Regna, the Redeemer Ruling If your team didn’t gain life during the turn before the end step begins, Regna’s last ability won’t trigger at all. Gaining life during the end step won’t cause the ability to trigger.

Does ETBing attacking induce on-attack triggers?

No. Although the creature you put onto the battlefield is an attacking creature, it was never declared as an attacking creature. This means that abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won't trigger when it enters the battlefield attacking.

Any effects that say that the new creature can’t attack (such as that of Propaganda, or if you get a creature with defender) affect only the declaration of attackers. They won’t stop the creature you find from entering the battlefield attacking.

e.g., if you attack with Shadowfax, Lord of Horses and put Motivated Pony onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, your attacking creatures will not get +1/+1 (at least not during that combat phase).