Do multiple instances of lifelink in combat count as one instance of life gain?
Asked by megawurmple 10 years ago
For example, if my opponent attacks with 2 Serra Ascendant and has an Archangel of Thune in play, how many counters does he put on his creatures? I heard somewhere that 2 creatures dealing damage to a Boros Reckoner in combat would only trigger his ability once, and was wondering if this worked the same way.
the reason Boros Reckoner 's ability would only trigger once (assuming no blocking creatures have first strike or doublestrike) is because combat damage is dealt simultaneously. It's ability only triggers when the reckoner is dealt damage, so, even though it's being blocked by two creatures it's only being dealt damage once, therefore only one trigger.
November 28, 2013 12:27 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
If you want official assurance for why Archangel of Thune triggers twice but Boros Reckoner only triggers once in your examples, it's because the following rule specifically makes the Archangel example different from the Reckoner example:
118.9. 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 life, . . . ." If a player gains 0 life, no life gain event has occurred, and these abilities wont trigger.
November 29, 2013 10:24 a.m.
Somewhat related question.. say I'm runNing Karlov ghost consul and I have multiple creatures with lifelink. During combat would those count as seperate triggers giving him 2 counters for each trigger or would he only get 2 counters period sense damage is done simultaneously?
March 9, 2017 7:50 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #6
@Herodion: Yes, Karlov of the Ghost Council will trigger for each creature with lifelink. It's due to the Rule 118.9 quoted in my last post, i.e. you treat his ability as if it says "Whenever a source causes you to gain life..."
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GlistenerAgent says... Accepted answer #1
In the case of the Serra Ascendant , you will put two counters on your creatures, because each of the Ascendant's combat damage is a single lifegain event. In the case of the Boros Reckoner , all combat damage is dealt at the same time, and the Boros Reckoner will deal all the damage dealt to it during the first combat step to some target, then all the damage dealt to it during the second combat step (if it is still alive) to some other target. If none of the creatures involved have first strike, then Boros Reckoner will deal all the damage dealt to it to one target.
November 28, 2013 12:05 p.m.