Drain Life MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 105
1993-10-04 - Number 106
1993-12-01 - Number 106
1993-12-10 - Number 106
1993-12-10 - Number 106
1994-04-01 - Number 106
1994-04-01 - Number 106
1994-06-21 - Number 106
1995-04-01 - Number 132
1995-04-01 - Number 132
1996-05-02 - Number ll132
1996-10-08 - Number 118
1997-03-24 - Number 156
2000-10-01 - Number 24
2022-11-28 - Number 102
2022-11-28 - Number 399
2002-06-24 - Number 35928
| Card sets | Released in 17 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Drain Life does 1 damage to a single target for each B spent in addition to the casting cost. Caster gains 1 life for each damage inflicted. If you drain life from a creature, you cannot gain more life than the creature's toughness.
Cards like Drain Life
Drain Life is a classic spell in the realm of black mana sorceries in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out because it’s both a removal and a lifegain tool in one package. For comparison, one can look at Corrupt, which shares the same life drain theme but differs as it deals damage equal to the number of Swamps you control, rather than the amount of mana spent.
Invoking the spirit of draining resources, Consume Spirit is a close relative. Much like Drain Life, it pumps mana into damage and lifegain, however, it restricts its mana to solely black, while Drain Life allows for a more flexible pool. Then there’s the infamous card, Tendrils of Corruption, which also anchors its power in the number of Swamps you have on the field, potentially dishing out massive life point swings.
Ultimately, Drain Life serves as a steadfast option in MTG for players looking to tip the scales with health while neutralizing threats. Its versatility in mana usage and direct life siphoning effect make it a venerable choice amongst its kin.
Cards similar to Drain Life by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Drain Life. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Fluctuator | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drain Life stands out as a card that can effectively eliminate threats while replenishing your own life total. This dual effect ensures you’re not just handling opposing forces but also fortifying your position with increased life points, which can be a decisive advantage in drawn-out matches.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly accelerating resources, the life gained from Drain Life can provide players with a buffer, allowing them to use life as a resource. This additional breathing room means players may opt for more aggressive plays or investments into longer-term strategies, knowing they have a life cushion to fall back on.
Instant Speed: Drain Life may not have instant speed, but its strategic impact during your main phase is undeniable. It serves as a powerful tool during a player’s turn to shift the game’s momentum, stabilizing the board and mitigating the urgency for instant speed interaction when you’ve effectively disrupted your opponent’s plan and regained life.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Drain Life offers a dual benefit of damage and life gain, it requires a sacrifice, as players must discard a card. This could prove costly when your hand is already dwindling, potentially limiting your strategic options or forcing a valuable trade-off.
Specific Mana Cost: The card demands specific mana allocation with at least one black mana, which may not be easily accessible in a multi-color deck. This requirement can hamper the flexibility of your mana base and make it challenging to cast other spells in your arsenal.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its escalating mana cost that grows with the desired damage output, Drain Life can become a hefty investment. For its base effect, numerous alternative cards could provide similar, or even superior, effects at a lower mana expenditure, which should be considered when building an efficient deck.
Reasons to Include Drain Life in Your Collection
Versatility: Drain Life offers a flexible solution in decks that are looking to gain life while simultaneously removing creatures or chipping away at the opponent’s life total. It can work in various strategies, fitting anywhere from control to black-heavy multicolor builds.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize well in combos that amplify spell effects or benefit from life gain. It’s a cornerstone in setups that utilize life as a resource for powerful plays or in conjunction with other spells to control the board.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, Drain Life maintains relevance by providing a scalable effect that adapts to the amount of mana you can invest. Its impact on the board and life totals can make it a worthy inclusion against the ever-changing roster of popular deck archetypes.
How to beat
Confronting Drain Life in Magic: The Gathering can be tricky due to its life-stealing properties. This black sorcery not only damages your creatures or deals a blow to your life total but also provides your opponent with a lifeline by restoring theirs. The key here is to mitigate this exchange. One approach is to utilize cards that deter life gain, like Tainted Remedy, turning their healing into harm. Alternatively, enhance your deck’s resilience against such spells by employing damage prevention or using cards like Witchbane Orb to make yourself hexproof.
Similarly, countering the spell is a strong strategy. Blue mages wield counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, which can nullify Drain Life before it takes effect. Don’t forget about timing. Since Drain Life is a sorcery, it can only be played at sorcery speed, providing a narrow window to react. Always be ready to use your disruption when your opponent taps out for the kill.
Never underestimate the power of card advantage either. If you can outdraw and outresource your opponent, their Drain Life might not be enough to tilt the game in their favor. Keep your hand full and the threats coming, and Drain Life will lose much of its potency against you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drain Life MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Drain Life and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Drain Life Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 105 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 106 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 106 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 106 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 106 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 106 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 106 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 106 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 132 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 132 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 11 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll132 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Douglas Shuler | |
| 12 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 118 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 13 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 156 | 1997 | Normal | White | Andrew Robinson | |
| 14 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 24 | 1997 | Normal | White | Andrew Robinson | |
| 15 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35928 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | ||
| 16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 102 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 17 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 399 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drain Life has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Drain Life card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Cost reducers can be used to reduce the X part of the mana cost. |
| 2004-10-04 | You may gain up to the total toughness of the creature even if it was already damaged. |