Rulings
Ashiok, Wicked Nightmare's first ability isn't optional. You can't choose to pay life instead of exiling cards from the top of your library while you control Ashiok, and you can't split the payment between life and cards.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
If you would pay life while you control Ashiok and your library does not have at least that many cards in it, you'll just pay life as normal.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
Ashiok's first ability doesn't allow you to attempt to pay an amount of life greater than your current life total.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
Rulings
Ashiok, Wicked Nightmare's first ability isn't optional. You can't choose to pay life instead of exiling cards from the top of your library while you control Ashiok, and you can't split the payment between life and cards.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
If you would pay life while you control Ashiok and your library does not have at least that many cards in it, you'll just pay life as normal.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
Ashiok's first ability doesn't allow you to attempt to pay an amount of life greater than your current life total.
(wotc • 2023-09-01)
