MTGNexus

Does soul-scar mage work well with or nonbo with torbran, thane of red fell?

Torbran and soul scar on the field. Then cast a goblin chainwhirler.

Does soul scar make the chainwhiler place one -1/-1 counter on opponents creatures or does torbran up it to three and then soul scar place three -1 counters

They're obviously both replacement effects but soul scar says 'instead'. Does that mean it prevents the damage which means torbran doesn't replace and up it to three damage?

both effect replaces the damage resolution, the order is important as:

• if SSM applies its replacement before Torbran damage becomes -1/-1 counters then Torbran does nothing as there is no damage to replace
• if Torbran applies first the 1 damage becomes 3 then SSM transform it in 3 -1/-1 counters

the player whose item are effected choose the order of replacements effect to be applied:

616.1. If two or more replacement and/or prevention effects are attempting to modify the way an event affects an object or player, the affected object's controller (or its owner if it has no controller) or the affected player chooses one to apply, following the steps listed below. If two or more players have to make these choices at the same time, choices are made in APNAP order (see rule 101.4).