Death by VA (in General)

Play-by-play
Mercy Knight Deadman Walking
Essence found no valid targets on which to cast Antimagic Field
Essence cast Vampiric Aura on Mercy (?)
Deadstone Shrine cast Antimagic Field on Essence's familiar (0.84)
Deadstone Shrine cast Antimagic Field on Essence (0.96)
Deadstone Shrine found no valid targets on which to cast Vampiric Aura
enchantment effects that cannot be determined before combat are displayed as '?'
Ranged Combat
Mercy's shot ricocheted near Deadman Walking

Mercy's shot flew past Deadman Walking

Mercy's shot went wide of Deadman Walking

Mercy undershot Deadman Walking

Mercy's explosive shot hit Deadman Walking [399], Deadstone Shrine [119]
R.I.P. Deadstone Shrine

Melee Combat
Mercy tapped Deadman Walking [2139]
Mercy draws strength from his weapon! [-1241]
Essence's familiar takes damage from his own Shocking Grasp (280)!
Essence's familiar touches Deadman Walking [77]
Essence takes damage from his own Decay (154)!
Essence's Decay hit Deadman Walking [431]
R.I.P. Mercy

Mercy doesn't take any damage at any time yet still dies. Only thing that could do it is the VA. What is going on?

Your VA is too low compared to damage you are dealing. This causes you to take damage instead of getting HP.

What he said... from the wiki
"If your VA level is below base, due to penalties, it will damage your minion(s)."

It's been seen quite often, VA doing self damage for being too low.

bugger, that utterly sucks

Also, for some reason at low levels, even if your VA is above your damage, it does damage to you.

There is a reason it is the most expensive spell in the game.

At lower levels, it would be extremely buggy.

Just unlearn it and wait a bit to relearn it. Your fightlist at your level should not suffer.

Your on your first day of a NCB.

Yes, unlearn it, and relearn it sometime tomorrow. You should be at least 50k more MPR then.

Mercy draws strength from his weapon! [-1241]
Not very buggy it even displays the correct math.

"Not very buggy it even displays the correct math."

Not always, often at lower levels even if you VA is above your damage, you will receive negative HP.

Don't worry, its working fine now.