



Have I been short changing myself?

  • 3

Yes, you've been shortchanging yourself!






  • 4
  • 3
  • Might also be worth mentioning that the rules for life link have changed a couple of times over the years, which might be another source of misunderstanding. (I would provide a source, but the coffee shop I'm in at the moment is blocking most of the internet...) – Isaac Aug 21 '15 at 11:39






This is somewhat incorrect. Creatures don't "absorb" damage. Strictly speaking, dealing damage and killing a creature are separate game events. Damage is marked on creatures, and every time state based actions are checked, the damage marked on every non-indestructible creature is compared to its toughness, and every time the former is greater than or equal to the latter, the creature in question dies. This is why, for instance, Sengir Vampire says "Whenever a creature dealt damage by Sengir Vampire this turn dies" rather than "Whenever a creature is killed by Sengir Vampire". Sengir Vampire doesn't actually kill creatures: it deals damage to them, and then the damage kills them.

When a creature you control with lifelink deals damage, the sequence of events is: damage is dealt, then you gain life, then the damage dealt is compared to the toughness of the creature that was dealt damage. The toughness of the creature is irrelevant to life gain, and isn't checked until after the life gain. The life gain is the damage dealt. The other creature is indestructible? The life gain is still the damage dealt. The creature dealing damage has deathtouch? The life gain is the damage dealt.

  • "damage is dealt, then you gain life" This isn't actually correct; you gain life at the exact same time the damage is dealt. – GendoIkari May 31 at 16:22

protected by Joe W May 31 at 1:27


Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
