In a multiplayer game, does an 'each opponent' trigger fire once for each opponent or once total?

When a triggered ability uses the phrase "each opponent," it creates a single trigger that resolves once. However, upon resolution, the effect is applied to every opponent simultaneously. This is different from an ability that says "for each opponent" as a counting mechanism, but the trigger itself is still singular.

This matters because effects that care about the number of times a trigger fires (like proliferate or trigger-doubling effects) only see one trigger, not one per opponent. Per CR 614.12 and general rules on how "each" works in targeting, the single instance of the ability handles all opponents during resolution.

It's important to distinguish this from abilities that say "for each opponent, do X" versus an ability that triggers separately for each opponent. The phrasing "each opponent" without a per-player trigger clause means one event, resolved once, touching all opponents.

Example: If you control a permanent that says "At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses 1 life," in a 4-player game you have 3 opponents. At your upkeep, one trigger goes on the stack. When it resolves, all 3 opponents each lose 1 life simultaneously — the trigger did not fire three separate times.

Under CR 700.4, the word "each" means the effect applies to all objects or players matching the description at the time the ability resolves, all as part of that single resolution. No additional triggers are created per opponent.