a situation that didn't arise but nearly did

[ross miles]

my opponent has that black specter dude who gets +3 +3 if you have no cards in hand.  i have no cards in hand but i do have a welkin tern and reckless scholar.  if i block the specter with the tern doing two damage, let the damage resolve, then activate my scholar does the specter die - do i ever actually have a card in my hand during the 'draw and discard' process?

[Gary Lynch]

No you don't.

Basically state based effects are not checked during the draw and discard ability. When they are checked after you still have no cards.

[ross miles]

thank you