119. Life

Rules in this chapter

• 119.1 Life Each player begins the game with a starting life total of 20. Some variant games have different starting life totals.
• 119.2 Life Damage dealt to a player normally causes that player to lose that much life. See rule 120.3.
• 119.3 Life If an effect causes a player to gain life or lose life, that player’s life total is adjusted accordingly.
• 119.4 Life If a cost or effect allows a player to pay an amount of life greater than 0, the player may do so only if their life total is greater than or equal to the amount of the payment…
• 119.5 Life If an effect sets a player’s life total to a specific number, the player gains or loses the necessary amount of life to end up with the new total.
• 119.6 Life If a player has 0 or less life, that player loses the game as a state-based action. See rule 704.
• 119.7 Life If an effect says that a player can’t gain life, that player can’t make an exchange such that the player’s life total would become higher; in that case, the exchange won’t happen…
• 119.8 Life If an effect says that a player can’t lose life, that player can’t make an exchange such that the player’s life total would become lower; in that case, the exchange won’t happen…
• 119.9 Life Some triggered abilities are written, “Whenever [a player] gains life, . . . .” Such abilities are treated as though they are written, “Whenever a source causes [a player] to gain…
• 119.10 Life Some replacement effects are written, “If [a player] would gain life, . . . .” Such abilities are treated as though they are written, “If a source would cause [a player] to gain…