Lifelink: Does More Equal More Life? Unpacking Magic’s Static Ability
Can you have multiple instances of Lifelink? No. Multiple instances of Lifelink on a single permanent are redundant. Lifelink is a static ability, and static abilities of the same kind don’t stack. Having two or more Lifelinks on a creature won’t grant you any additional life gain beyond what a single instance provides.
Let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of Lifelink in Magic: The Gathering, exploring why this is the case and clarifying common misconceptions about this popular keyword ability. Understanding how Lifelink interacts with other abilities and game mechanics is crucial for any Magic player, from beginner to seasoned veteran.
Understanding Lifelink: The Basics
Lifelink is a static ability that modifies the result of damage dealt by a source (typically a creature, but it can also be an instant, sorcery, or even a planeswalker ability) granting you life equal to the damage dealt. It doesn’t trigger, it doesn’t use the stack, and it simply modifies the outcome of damage. The precise wording in the comprehensive rules is:
702.15a Lifelink is a static ability. 702.15b Damage dealt by a source with lifelink causes that source’s controller, or its owner if it has no controller, to gain that much life (in addition to any other results that damage causes).
This means when a creature with Lifelink deals damage, you simultaneously gain life equal to the amount of damage dealt. This is a key concept that separates it from triggered abilities that grant life. Triggered abilities go on the stack and can be responded to. Lifelink is part of the damage dealing process.
Why Multiple Lifelinks Don’t Stack
The reason multiple instances of Lifelink don’t stack is because the ability itself isn’t additive. Imagine pouring water into a cup. Once the cup is full, pouring more water in doesn’t make it more full—it just overflows. Lifelink is similar. A single Lifelink ability ensures you gain life equal to the damage dealt. Adding more doesn’t change the amount of damage or the amount of life you gain as a consequence.
Furthermore, the comprehensive rules explicitly state:
702.15f Multiple instances of lifelink on the same object are redundant.
This rule clearly outlines that having more than one Lifelink ability provides no additional benefit. This principle extends to other static abilities like Trample, Flying, Deathtouch, Hexproof, Shroud, First Strike, and Double Strike. These abilities function as “on/off” switches; having them multiple times doesn’t amplify their effect.
When Lifegain Abilities Do Stack
It is critical to differentiate Lifelink, a static ability, from triggered abilities that cause lifegain. These do stack. If you have a creature with Lifelink that also triggers a separate lifegain ability when it deals damage, both the Lifelink effect and the triggered ability will resolve, leading to a higher life gain total.
For example, consider a creature with Lifelink equipped with Armadillo Cloak. The Lifelink will grant you life equal to the damage dealt by the creature. Separately, Armadillo Cloak has a triggered ability that causes you to gain life equal to the damage dealt by the equipped creature. In this scenario, you would gain life twice the amount of damage the equipped creature does.
FAQs: Lifelink Deep Dive
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of Lifelink:
1. Does Lifelink activate while defending?
Yes! Lifelink triggers anytime a source you control with the ability deals damage, whether it is attacking, blocking, or dealing damage through some other effect (like a spell). If your creature blocks and deals damage, you gain life equal to the damage it dealt.
2. Can you overheal with Lifelink? Is there a life total limit?
There is no limit to how high your life total can go! You can “overheal” as much as possible. The only limit is the upper bound of the game rules, which is an absurdly high number you’re unlikely to reach.
3. Does Deathtouch work with Lifelink?
Yes, Deathtouch and Lifelink work exceptionally well together. A creature with both abilities that deals damage will destroy the damaged creature (due to Deathtouch) and simultaneously grant you life equal to the damage dealt (due to Lifelink).
4. Do shield counters prevent Lifelink?
Yes and no. Shield counters prevent damage. If a creature with a shield counter is dealt damage, the damage is prevented and a shield counter is removed. Because no damage is dealt, the Lifelink does not trigger. If the damage is greater than the number of shield counters, Lifelink will trigger equal to the damage that is not prevented by the shield counter.
5. Does infect still trigger lifelink?
Absolutely! Infect changes how damage is dealt to creatures (in the form of -1/-1 counters) and players (in the form of poison counters), but it still deals damage. Therefore, if a creature with Infect and Lifelink deals damage to a player, the player receives poison counters, and you gain life equal to the damage dealt.
6. Does Lifelink work if combat damage is prevented?
No. Lifelink triggers when damage is dealt. If damage is prevented (by a spell like Fog, for example), then no damage is dealt, and therefore no life is gained.
7. Does protection negate lifelink?
Yes. Protection prevents damage, among other things. If a creature has protection from a source with Lifelink, the damage is prevented, and no life is gained. Protection is a powerful keyword that prevents damage from sources with the specified quality.
8. Does Lifelink trigger separately for each creature?
Yes. Each creature you control with Lifelink that deals combat damage triggers a separate life-gaining event. This is relevant for triggered abilities that care about life gain events. For example, if you control two creatures with Lifelink that deal damage simultaneously, abilities that trigger on life gain will trigger twice.
9. Can you Lifelink off of Planeswalkers?
Yes! Damage dealt to a planeswalker by a source with Lifelink will grant you life. Lifelink doesn’t care what is being damaged, only that damage is being dealt.
10. How much life do you get with Lifelink?
You gain life equal to the amount of damage dealt by the source with Lifelink. A 10/10 creature with Lifelink that deals 10 damage will grant you 10 life.
11. Does Armadillo Cloak stack with Lifelink?
Armadillo Cloak doesn’t stack with Lifelink in the sense of adding more Lifelink. However, the triggered life-gaining ability of Armadillo Cloak does stack with the Lifelink ability. You gain life from both sources independently.
12. Do red instants have lifelink?
Not inherently. Some red instants and sorceries can gain Lifelink temporarily via card effects. For example, the card Firesong and Sunspeaker gives red instants and sorceries you control Lifelink.
13. Does indestructible override Deathtouch with Lifelink?
Indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy.” They are immune to the destruction effect of Deathtouch. However, the Lifelink will still function and grant you life, because damage is still dealt.
14. Does fog stop Lifelink?
Yes, Fog completely prevents all combat damage dealt this turn. Since no damage is dealt, Lifelink doesn’t trigger.
15. Is it always good to have a creature with lifelink and double strike?
Yes, a creature with both Lifelink and Double Strike is formidable. The creature will deal damage twice in combat. You gain life equal to the damage dealt in each combat damage step.
Lifelink: A Powerful Tool, Understood
Lifelink is a powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering, offering resilience and the ability to outpace your opponent. Understanding its mechanics and interactions is crucial for strategic gameplay. Remember, while multiple instances of Lifelink are redundant, the ability itself is a valuable asset in any deck that aims to control the board and maintain a healthy life total.
Learning about Magic is an ongoing journey, and resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org can provide valuable insights and perspectives on the game’s design and impact. As you continue to explore Magic: The Gathering, you’ll discover the depth and complexity of its rules and strategies. Happy gaming!