Solution to 7: How to Save a Life

Normally it’s not too difficult to deal damage to yourself, but getting from 13 life to 1 life on an opponent’s turn is somewhat harder. The task is made harder by the fact that you don’t have a lot of mana available right now. You’ll have to lean on the Hissing Iguanar for most of the damage, make sure you don’t accidentally kill yourself in the process, then find a way to get around the Reliquary Monk’s ability (which might end up destroying your Near-Death Experience if you’re not careful).

  1. Tap the Fireslinger to deal 1 damage to your Bogardan Firefiend. Fireslinger deals 1 damage to you. You are now at 12 life.
  2. Bogardan Firefiend dies, and Hissing Iguanar deals 1 damage to you. You are now at 11 life.
  3. Bogardan Firefiend’s ability triggers. Choose to have the Firefiend deal 2 damage to your Su-Chi.
  4. Tap Goblin Artillery to deal 2 damage to your Su-Chi. Goblin Artillery deals 3 damage to you. You are now at 8 life.
  5. Su-Chi dies, and Hissing Iguanar deals 1 damage to you. You are now at 7 life.
  6. Su-Chi’s ability triggers, and you add to your mana pool.
  7. Tap a mountain and a plains to add to your mana pool.
  8. Spend to cast Parapet.
  9. Spend to cast Lightning Blast on Magma Phoenix.
  10. Magma Phoenix dies, and Hissing Iguanar deals 1 damage to you. You are now at 6 life.
  11. Magma Phoenix’s ability triggers and deals 3 damage to each creature and each player. You are now at 3 life. Cedric is now at 38 life.
  12. Fireslinger, Onulet, Reliquary Monk, Hissing Iguanar, and Cedric’s Soltari Visionary all die. Goblin Artillery survives, as it is a 1/4 creature due to Parapet. Hissing Iguanar deals 4 damage to you, but you gain 2 life due to Onulet. You are now at 1 life.
  13. Reliquary Monk’s ability triggers. Choose to have the Monk destroy the Parapet.
  14. Goblin Artillery dies, as it is now a 1/3 creature with 3 damage.
  15. Allow Cedric’s turn to end and your turn to begin. At the beginning of your upkeep, since you are at 1 life, Near-Death Experience triggers and you win the game.