The stack, lifegain, whenever you gain life, and creatures dying in combat.

Asked by Aftertherevolution 7 years ago

Ok so here's the setup:

I attack with: Shambling Vent Defiant Bloodlord Rhox Faithmender

Opponent is able to block and kill all three (for simplicity sake).

Shambling Vent does 2 damage with lifelink. And Rhox Faithmender does 1 damage. My understanding is that lifelink still triggers even if the creature receives damage to kill it.

My thinking is that even though all 3 die this combat, the 3 total life from lifelink, will still be doubled by Rhox Faithmender. Ie. I receive 6 life. And then further the life is thrown back to the opponent as 6 damage by Defiant Bloodlord ability.

Is this correct? Ie. All abilities act as instants and can interact with each other before leaving the battlefield?

BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1

Lifelink doesn't trigger (as opposed to abilities such as Spirit Link. Rhox Faithmender's ability is a replacement effect, which also applies immediately. All in all, here's how this plays out:

• All combat damage is dealt simultaneously. You gain a total of 6 life at the same time. Defiant Bloodlord triggers twice (as you gained 2 and 4 life), but the triggers aren't put on the stack just yet
• State-based actions are checked, putting all creatures with lethal damage into their owners graveyard, including all of your creatures
• Defiant Bloodlord's abilities are put on the stack, after you choose an opponent each as a target (this can be different opponents)
• Defiant Bloodlord's abilities eventually resolve, and the chosen opponent(s) lose(s) 2 and 4 life respectively

September 4, 2016 6:35 p.m.

Aftertherevolution says... #2

Thnx Bluenote.

So what's the significance of Defiant Bloodlord's ability triggering "simultaneously" as the combat damage & lifelink but not going on the stack until after the state-based actions are checked?

Ie. My opponent argues that b/c it dies and goes to the graveyard before the ability goes on the stack, then the ability never makes it there and doesn't happen. So the 3rd & 4th part of your scenario never happens.

I would now argue that no it's already triggered and is heading there, but the state-checking just happens and doesn't affect anything already triggered. Is the state-checking just b/c once the stack is active, there can be new play, and therefore the board needs to be current?

September 6, 2016 10:21 a.m.