0

If a 6 might Stormbringer moves to a battlefield where a 6 might unit with Master Yi Legend (alone) is located, does it kill the Yi unit?

verified
FAQ #1957·asked by 147634557561077760·December 31, 2025·Rules v1.4·Asked before Vendetta
Answer

Ruling: Yes, the Stormbringer kills the Yi unit. The unit dies to the marked damage before a combat can be staged and initiated, so Master Yi's passive (which requires the defender designation from an initiated combat) never comes into effect.

Sequence:

  • Stormbringer deals 6 damage to the Yi unit during the move action
  • In cleanup (322.4), the Yi unit dies from the marked damage
  • This happens before a combat can be staged and initiated (322.10 and 322.14)
  • Since combat never initiates, the Yi unit never gets the defender designation
  • Without the defender designation, Master Yi's passive never activates

Nuances:

  • If the Stormbringer had 5 might instead, it would deal 5 damage, move to the battlefield, and then in cleanup the Yi unit would survive. A combat would be staged and initiated, giving the Yi unit the defender designation and activating Master Yi's passive (making it 8 might with 5 damage marked)
  • This interaction creates a rules hangup (contested battlefield controlled by a player with no units where neither showdown nor combat can be staged) that wasn't fixed in the Spiritforged rules update
Comments (0)

No comments yet.

Log in to comment.

Open Proposals (0)

No pending proposals.

Log in to propose edits.