Do Blocking Creatures with Lifelink Gain Life?
Lifelink is a fascinating mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that allows a creature to gain life whenever it deals damage. But what happens when a creature with lifelink is blocked by another creature? Do the controllers of the creatures gain life in this scenario? In this article, we’ll dive into the rules of lifelink and blocking to provide a clear answer to this question.
Lifelink Basics
Before we dive into the blocking scenario, let’s review the basics of lifelink. Lifelink is a static ability that reads "whenever this source deals damage, you gain that much life." This means that whenever a creature with lifelink deals damage to a creature or player, its controller gains that much life.
Blocking and Lifelink
Now, let’s consider the scenario where a creature with lifelink is blocked by another creature. When a creature is blocked, it means that the blocking creature is preventing the attacking creature from dealing damage to the defending player. In this case, the lifelink ability is triggered, but does the controller of the blocking creature gain life?
The Answer
According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, the answer is no. When a creature with lifelink is blocked, the controller of the blocking creature does not gain life. This is because the lifelink ability is triggered by the damage dealt by the attacking creature, not by the blocking creature.
Example Scenario
To illustrate this, let’s consider an example scenario:
- Your opponent controls a 2/2 creature with lifelink, which is attacking you.
- You control a 2/2 creature that is blocking the attacking creature.
- The attacking creature deals 2 damage to your blocking creature.
In this scenario, the lifelink ability is triggered, and you would normally gain 2 life. However, since the blocking creature is preventing the damage from being dealt to you, the lifelink ability is not triggered, and you do not gain life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when a creature with lifelink is blocked by another creature, the controller of the blocking creature does not gain life. The lifelink ability is triggered by the damage dealt by the attacking creature, not by the blocking creature. This means that the controller of the attacking creature is the only one who gains life in this scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if a creature with lifelink is blocked by multiple creatures?
- In this scenario, the lifelink ability is triggered, and the controller of the attacking creature gains life. The blocking creatures do not gain life.
- Can a creature with lifelink gain life from multiple sources?
- Yes, a creature with lifelink can gain life from multiple sources, such as dealing damage to a creature or player, or receiving life from another source.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored the rules of lifelink and blocking in Magic: The Gathering. We’ve seen that when a creature with lifelink is blocked by another creature, the controller of the blocking creature does not gain life. The lifelink ability is triggered by the damage dealt by the attacking creature, not by the blocking creature. By understanding these rules, you can make informed decisions during your games and gain a strategic advantage over your opponents.