Is there a command or something to stop an infinite combo? I'm fighting The Hydra of Shandalar and hit it with a Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Bloodthirsty Conqueror combo (which basically just keeps stacking damage infinitely because I gain life for the damage I inflict, and for the life I gain I inflict damage to my opponent), and because the Hydra has a trigger when it goes to 0 life, which isn't triggering, the combo will go on infinitely, because it has creatures on the board that it should be doing damage to, but isn't.
#Stop an infinite combo?
loud junco
robust rapids
There's always the concede button
loud junco
Yes but that doesn't beat the Hydra.
robust rapids
nor does your current combo
loud junco
Why not? It should do damage to it's own creatures when it reaches 0 life, as I understand it's ability.
robust rapids
it should be "Life loss". Life loss isn't damage, but damage causes life loss
loud junco
A mouse is confused.
robust rapids
the hydra is a special enemy. I'd vote it as the hardest.
loud junco
Yes I am aware of how hard it is. What obscure MtG rule am I missing out on that explains this interaction?
robust rapids
What's the hydra's text say? The one about not being able to lose the game
loud junco
I don't know because I accidentally opened another Forge and downloaded the update, which closed my other Forge and I can't see the battle anymore.
robust rapids
A mouse is confused.
In Magic: The Gathering, damage and life loss are distinct but related mechanics. Damage is a form of loss of life, but loss of life can also occur without damage. Damage is typically dealt by creatures in combat or by spells and abilities. Life loss can result from damage, but also from paying life as a cost or from effects that directly state a player loses life.
loud junco
So it has to take damage, but Vito causes loss of life?
robust rapids
correct
loud junco
A mouse sees.
robust rapids
to make your combo work, you'd have to remove all the hydra heads before making it happen. Then you win like normal
loud junco
So if I hit it with Serra Ascendant (for example since it's also in the deck) until it hit 0, and it killed the 6 hydra heads (or I exiled them with Swords to Plowshares or whateverto get them off the board) then it would work?
robust rapids
should do, yes
loud junco
Okies tyty.
I knew there had to be some obscure magic rule in play here. I mean I beat Vivianna with the deck (no mean feat by the way since you can only gain life to your maximum so I had to take damage on purpose to kill her 😆 🐭 ). Again thank you for the help adnd this amazing game.
robust rapids
The pain is just that you can't win as long as a hydra head is alive. Vito combo will lock the game up because they can lose life forever and you can gain life forever without the game progressing (because they can't lose the game, but can still lose life). The hydra heads may take "damage" when opponent is at 0 life, but vito only does "life loss" and not damage.