If I have 7 runes and play siphoning strike on a vex apathetic in the battlefield, how much damage will it deal?
For Siphoning Strike, the amount of damage it deals and number of runes you control gets checked on resolution.
Paying for Deflect (mandatory) might drop you below the 7 rune threshold.
If you have a different way to pay the 1 Power for Vex' Deflect: 7 damage. Siphoning Strike deals 4, but "if you control 7 or more runes, deal 7 to it instead" — and that check is evaluated at resolution, so with 7 runes it hits Vex for 7 (FAQ #11663).
If you do not have a different way to pay the 1 Power for Vex' Deflect: 4 damage.
In either case, the second effect part will be active: 'When it dies this turn, channel 1 rune exhausted.'
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Correction History (1)
August 30, 2026 · reviewed by 121679855233400832
CorrectionIncomplete ruling due to Deflect.
For Siphoning Strike, the amount of damage it deals and number of runes you control gets checked on resolution. Paying for Deflect (mandatory) might drop you below the 7 rune threshold. If you have a different way to pay the 1 Power for Vex' Deflect: 7 damage. Siphoning Strike deals 4, but "if you control 7 or more runes, deal 7 to it instead" — and that check is evaluated at resolution, so with 7 runes it hits Vex for 7 (FAQ #11663). If you do not have a different way to pay the 1 Power for Vex' Deflect: 4 damage. In either case, the second effect part will be active: 'When it dies this turn, channel 1 rune exhausted.'
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