What is the Lifelink Rule?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The Lifelink rule in Magic: The Gathering is a keyword ability that allows a player to gain life equal to the amount of damage dealt by a creature with lifelink, regardless of whether the damage is dealt during combat, blocking, or through other means. This ability is a static ability that triggers concurrently with damage, meaning that it happens automatically when the creature deals damage, and it applies to both combat and non-combat damage.
Understanding Lifelink
To delve deeper into the world of lifelink, let’s address some frequently asked questions that players often have about this ability.
FAQs About Lifelink
- Does Lifelink Apply When Blocking?: Yes, lifelink applies when a creature is blocking, as it triggers on any damage dealt by the creature, regardless of the context.
- How Much Life Do You Get with Lifelink?: With lifelink, you gain life equal to the amount of damage dealt by the creature, making it a powerful ability for maintaining a strong life total.
- Does Lifelink Activate While Defending?: Yes, lifelink activates whenever the creature deals damage, whether it’s attacking or defending.
- What is Lifelink?: Lifelink is a keyword ability that allows a player to gain life when a creature with lifelink deals damage to any target.
- Does Lifelink Work Both Ways?: Lifelink works for any damage dealt by the creature, including combat and non-combat damage, but it only triggers for the creature’s controller.
- How Does Lifelink Work in Combat?: In combat, lifelink triggers after damage is dealt, allowing the creature’s controller to gain life.
- Does Infect Still Trigger Lifelink?: Yes, infect still triggers lifelink, as it deals damage in the form of poison counters.
- Does Fog Stop Lifelink?: Fog can prevent damage from being dealt, which in turn prevents lifelink from triggering.
- Can Lifelink Trigger Twice?: Lifelink is a static ability and does not trigger twice; multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
- Do Shield Counters Prevent Lifelink?: Shield counters can prevent damage from being dealt, which prevents lifelink from triggering.
- Do Red Instants Have Lifelink?: Some red instants and sorcery spells can have lifelink, allowing players to gain life when they deal damage.
- Does Deathtouch Work on Planeswalkers?: Deathtouch does not work on Planeswalkers, as they are not creatures.
- Does Prevent All Damage Stop Lifelink?: Yes, preventing all damage stops lifelink from triggering, as lifelink requires damage to be dealt.
- How Does Deathtouch Work with Lifelink?: Deathtouch and lifelink work independently, with deathtouch causing lethal damage and lifelink gaining life.
- Can a Planeswalker Have Lifelink?: While Planeswalkers cannot have lifelink, creatures that deal damage to Planeswalkers can trigger lifelink.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lifelink rule is a powerful keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to gain life when a creature with lifelink deals damage. Understanding how lifelink works, including its interactions with other abilities like deathtouch and infect, is crucial for building effective decks and strategies. By mastering the lifelink rule, players can unlock new possibilities for gaining life and outmaneuvering their opponents.