If you control no artifacts as Phylactery Lich enters the battlefield, its first ability won’t do anything. As soon as it enters the battlefield, its last ability will trigger (unless you control some other permanent with a phylactery counter on it) and you’ll have to sacrifice it.
If Phylactery Lich and an artifact are entering the battlefield under your control at the same time, you can’t put a phylactery counter on that artifact. You must choose an artifact you control that’s already on the battlefield.
Phylactery Lich’s last ability is a “state trigger.” Once a state trigger triggers, it won’t trigger again as long as the ability is on the stack. If the ability is countered and the trigger condition is still true, it will immediately trigger again.
Last observed on Scryfall 2 months ago at $0.57. Over the trailing 90 days the price moved between $0.02 and $0.57 across 54 observations. Cross-checked across TCGplayer, eBay sold, Cardmarket EU, and Star City.
This printing is one of 3 catalogued treatments from M13 — the lineup includes Foil and Nonfoil alongside the standard finish. Across our catalog the Rarix library tracks every variant in the same family so collectors can compare price, scarcity and demand inside a single lineage.
Card #104 of *Magic 2013*, the set that shipped alongside the July 2012 Magic 2013 release.
Card type: Creature — Zombie, color identity black, printed at rare. Rares occupy the bottom-of-pack rare slot in standard boosters. Mana cost: {B}{B}{B} (3 converted). Keyword abilities: Indestructible.
Legal across the major constructed formats — Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Commander — plus Standard rotation play.
EDHrec ranks this card #16,882 in Commander, putting it in the fringe-play tier of the format's playable pool.
Illustrated by Michael Komarck. Rarix catalogs 262 other cards credited to this artist.
Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Michael Komarck
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.
Phylactery Lich’s first ability doesn’t target the artifact. No player may take actions between the time you choose an artifact and the time you put a phylactery counter on it.
Phylactery Lich’s last ability checks your permanents for any phylactery counters, not just the specific one that it caused you to put on an artifact. For example, if you control two Phylactery Liches and two different artifacts with phylactery counters, neither Phylactery Lich will be sacrificed if one of those artifacts leaves the battlefield.
