702.15. Lifelink

Subrules

Lifelink is a static ability.

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). See rule 120.3.

If an object is no longer in the zone it’s expected to be in as an effect causes it to deal damage, its last known information is used to determine whether it had lifelink.

The lifelink rules function no matter what zone an object with lifelink deals damage from.

If multiple sources with lifelink deal damage at the same time, they cause separate life gain events (see rules 119.9–10).

Example: A player controls Ajani’s Pridemate, which reads “Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature,” and two creatures with lifelink. The creatures with lifelink deal combat damage simultaneously. Ajani’s Pridemate’s ability triggers twice.

Multiple instances of lifelink on the same object are redundant.

Other rules in this chapter

Ask the judge Pro

The life counter has an AI judge that answers your play citing the exact rules. It is part of Gatewatch Pro; the rules, Oracle text and rulings stay free.