Why Does Red Have a Greater Number of Anti-Lifegain Effects than Does Black?

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Posted on Dec. 5, 2021, 9:45 p.m. by DemonDragonJ

Both red and black have effects that prevent players from gaining life, but I have noticed that red has a greater number of such effects than does black, and I wonder why that is.

I can perfectly understand red having effects that make damage unpreventable, since red is the color of dealing damage, but I feel that anti-lifegain effects should be in black, since black cares about gaining and losing life more than does red.

What does everyone else say about this? Why does red have a great number of anti-lifegain effects than does black?

The way I see it, black is the color of self-centric motives and actions--preventing other players from doing things isn't really what it's about.

December 5, 2021 10:48 p.m.

DarkMagician says... #3

Because black doesn't really care about your opponents gaining life. Red is the color of direct damage seeking to put its opponent's life total to 0 as fast as possible so it needs those effects.

December 6, 2021 7:48 a.m.

plakjekaas says... #4

Because the red way of life consumes available resources and doesn't leave a healthy future

December 6, 2021 9:06 a.m.

TriusMalarky says... #5

Black actually cares a lot more about manipulating life totals -- white and green gain life, red deals direct damage to take it away, and black just moves the life totals up and down a bunch. Cards like Bloodghast care about how much life your opponent has, and while black doesn't really make the opponent(s) gain life, stopping lifegain is antithesis to the fluctuation black wants to utilize.

December 6, 2021 11:07 a.m.

Oof_Magic says... #6

The only black effect I can think up that ‘prevents’ lifegain is Tainted Remedy?

December 9, 2021 10:17 a.m.

plakjekaas says... #7

Oof_Magic Well there's also:

Archfiend of Despair

Erebos, God of the Dead

Forsaken Wastes

And Everlasting Torment and Havoc Festival, but those are red too, hard to count in this discussion

December 9, 2021 7:23 p.m.

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