Oracle text
First strike
Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
"Their guards are soft, ready to welcome a sharp dagger."
Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov
Released on June 6, 2014
Tags
Legality
- Commander
- Standard
- Modern
- Legacy
- 1v1 Commander
- Alchemy
- Standard Brawl
- Pioneer
- Pauper
- Historic
- Vintage
- Timeless
- Brawl
- Competitive Brawl
- Future
- Gladiator
- Oathbreaker
- Old School
- Pauper Commander
- Penny Dreadful
- PreDH
- Premodern
- Tiny Leaders: Reborn
LegalNot legalBanned / restrictedUnknown
Rulings
Dethrone doesn't trigger if the creature attacks a planeswalker, even if its controller has the most life. The same is true if the creature attacks a battle, even if its protector has the most life.
The +1/+1 counter is put on the creature before blockers are declared.
In a Two-Headed Giant game, dethrone will trigger if the creature attacks either player on the team with the most life or tied for the most life.
Once dethrone triggers, it doesn't matter what happens to the players' life totals before the ability resolves. You'll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature even if the defending player doesn't have the most life as the ability resolves.