MTG Salvation

Sower of Discord

Assuming it's 1v1 and Sower chooses me and my only opponent. I presume if I deal enough damage to defeat opponent, Sower's second ability never had the chance to trigger?

Assuming that this is a two-player game or that you and your opponent are the only players still in the game:

In fact the ability will trigger, but the opponent will lose the game as a state-based action, even before that ability can go on the stack, let alone get to resolve (C.R. 117.5, 704.5a, 603.2). If exactly one player remains in the game after the loss, the last player remaining will win the game and the game will end (C.R. 104.2a, 104.1). See also this thread. Compare Sower of Discord with Eye for an Eye.

Note, however, that if you and your opponent are dealt enough damage to reach 0 or less life at the same time, then you and that opponent will both lose the game at the same time, so that the game is a draw in this scenario (C.R. 117.5, 704.5a, 104.4a).

EDIT: Add assumption after comment 4 was posted.
EDIT (Dec. 1, 2021): Correctness edit.

Thank you.

Quote from peteroupc »

Note, however, that if you and your opponent are dealt enough damage to reach 0 or less life at the same time, then you and that opponent will both lose the game at the same time, so that the game is a draw in this scenario (C.R. 117.5, 704.5a, 104.4a).

Such as in a situation where there's a third player attacking both of us?

Quote from cyberium_neo »

Thank you.

Quote from peteroupc »

Note, however, that if you and your opponent are dealt enough damage to reach 0 or less life at the same time, then you and that opponent will both lose the game at the same time, so that the game is a draw in this scenario (C.R. 117.5, 704.5a, 104.4a).

Such as in a situation where there's a third player attacking both of us?

When I wrote that paragraph, it still assumed it's a two-player game or that you and your opponent are the only players still in the game. In a multiplayer game, if one or more players lose the game at the same time, the game may or may not end depending on the circumstances (C.R. 104.1, 104.2a, 104.2c, 104.4a). For example, in general, in a multiplayer Free-for-All game (under C.R. 806), if you and one of your opponents lose the game at the same time and—

• only one player remains, that player wins the game and the game will end (C.R. 104.2a, 104.1).
• two or more players are still in the game, you and your opponent will leave the game (as further detailed in C.R. 800.4) (C.R. 104.5) and the game will go on with just the remaining players.
• no player remains, the game ends in a draw (C.R. 104.4a, 104.1).