Can an Enchantment Have Lifelink? Unveiling the Rules of Lifelink in Magic: The Gathering
Yes, an enchantment can absolutely have lifelink! This typically occurs in one of two ways: the enchantment itself is a creature (often an Enchantment Creature) and inherently possesses lifelink, or the enchantment grants lifelink to another permanent, such as a creature or, in specific cases, an Equipment. Understanding how lifelink interacts with enchantments requires a deeper dive into the rules of Magic: The Gathering.
Enchantments with Lifelink: The Specifics
The key here lies in how the enchantment functions. If the enchantment itself is a creature, the rules are straightforward. The enchantment, now acting as a creature, will grant its controller life equal to the amount of damage it deals. This includes combat damage, damage from activated abilities, or even damage from “fight” effects.
However, it is important to note that the rules text on the Enchantment is key. For example, Lifelink reads “Damage dealt by this source causes its controller to gain that much life.” If an Enchantment doesn’t have a way to deal damage, then Lifelink does nothing.
Enchantment Auras and Equipment
If the enchantment is an Aura that enchants a creature or a piece of Equipment, the interaction depends on the text of the Aura. Certain Auras will state that the enchanted permanent gains lifelink. In the case of an Equipment, this is written “Equipped creature has lifelink.” In both of these cases, the rules are the same; all damage dealt by the permanent grants life to the controller.
Understanding the Lifelink Mechanic
Lifelink is a static ability that modifies the result of damage dealt by a source. It doesn’t trigger; it simply happens as damage is dealt. When a permanent with lifelink deals damage, its controller (or owner, if it has no controller) gains life equal to the damage dealt, in addition to any other effects of that damage.
This seemingly simple ability has numerous implications. It can turn the tide of a game, providing crucial life gain in response to aggressive plays. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of lifelink is crucial for strategic gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lifelink and Enchantments
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules surrounding lifelink and its interactions within Magic: The Gathering:
1. Can an Enchantment Aura grant Lifelink to a Planeswalker?
No, an Enchantment Aura cannot directly grant lifelink to a Planeswalker. Lifelink functions by granting life based on damage dealt. Planeswalkers do not deal damage.
2. Does Lifelink stack? If I have two sources of Lifelink on one creature, do I gain double life?
No, lifelink does not stack. Having multiple instances of lifelink on a single source is redundant. You only gain life equal to the damage dealt once, regardless of how many instances of lifelink are present.
3. If a creature with Lifelink blocks a creature with Deathtouch, how much life do I gain?
You gain life equal to the damage your creature with lifelink deals. If your creature deals 1 damage before being destroyed by deathtouch, you gain 1 life.
4. Can my opponent prevent Lifelink?
Certain effects can prevent lifelink from triggering. For example, if damage is prevented by a shield counter, the lifelink ability will not activate.
5. Does Lifelink work with triggered abilities?
No. Lifelink is a static ability, not a triggered ability. It modifies how damage is dealt. Triggered abilities use the words “When,” “Whenever,” or “At.”
6. Does Infect interact differently with Lifelink?
No, infect does not interact differently with lifelink. If a creature with infect and lifelink deals damage, that damage is still dealt, and its controller gains life as normal. The damage is just dealt in the form of poison counters to players, or -1/-1 counters to creatures.
7. If I give my opponent’s creature Lifelink, who gains the life?
The controller of the source of the damage gains the life. So, if you give your opponent’s creature lifelink, they gain life when their creature deals damage.
8. Can a Lifelink Enchantment still trigger when a creature has a regeneration shield?
Yes. The regeneration shield replaces the destruction of the creature, but doesn’t prevent damage from being dealt in the first place. The controller of the lifelink source still gains life.
9. If a creature has First Strike and Lifelink, how does combat work?
The creature with first strike and lifelink deals its damage first. The controller of the lifelink source gains life equal to the damage dealt during the first strike combat damage step. Then, the second strike damage step proceeds.
10. Does Lifelink work when attacking a Planeswalker?
Yes! Any damage dealt by a source with lifelink, whether to a creature, player, or Planeswalker, grants the controller life equal to the damage dealt.
11. What happens if a creature with Lifelink deals damage to an Indestructible creature?
The controller of the lifelink source gains life equal to the damage dealt, even though the indestructible creature is not destroyed. Damage is still damage, regardless of its effect on the target.
12. Does Armadillo Cloak stack with Lifelink?
Armadillo Cloak is an Aura with a lifelink ability; so no, Armadillo Cloak doesn’t stack with Lifelink.
13. If a creature has deathtouch and indestructible does lifelink still work?
Yes, lifelink still works. Deathtouch doesn’t change the amount of damage dealt; it just means that any amount of damage is considered lethal. The controller of the lifelink source gains life equal to the damage dealt.
14. Does Fog prevent Lifelink?
If a fog effect prevents combat damage, then Lifelink will not trigger. Lifelink triggers when damage is dealt, and if Fog prevents damage from being dealt then no life is gained.
15. Can an instant spell have Lifelink?
An Instant Spell that deals damage can have Lifelink. In this case, the controller of the spell will gain life equal to the damage dealt by the spell.
Mastering Lifelink: A Strategic Advantage
Understanding the rules of lifelink, especially in relation to enchantments, is vital for any Magic: The Gathering player. It is important to remember that this is just one small part of the overall gameplay and card design. It’s clear that the game continues to evolve with time, and keeping up is key.
You can continue to master your card skills at educational organizations like the Games Learning Society, which explores the intersection of games, learning, and design. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to discover more.