Life Goes On MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Life Goes On offers strategic stabilizing by negating damage with its significant life gain at instant speed.
  2. Activating Life Goes On in creature-based decks can maximize its life gain, proving pivotal in tight matches.
  3. Consider the single green mana cost and situational trigger of Life Goes On when building multicolored decks.

Text of card

You gain 4 life. If a creature died this turn, you gain 8 life instead.

"If you believe the God-Pharaoh tests you, charge with me to prove yourself. If you believe he betrayed us all, join with me to fight for tomorrow!" —Samut, former Tah-crop initiate


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Life Goes On can be a pivotal card that enables players to stabilize their life total which, while not directly drawing cards, indirectly contributes to maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Gaining 4 life or even 8 if a creature died can be a significant advantage, essentially nullifying an opponent’s previous turn attack, allowing you to preserve your resources for subsequent plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Life Goes On at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing players to respond to threats or actions by the opponent at the most opportune time.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Life Goes On demands a singular green mana for activation, which can be limiting in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary green mana when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only one green mana, Life Goes On’s effect—gaining life—might not be as impactful in the fast-paced game scenarios when pitted against spells of similar cost that can alter the board state or provide card advantage.

Discard Requirement: While Life Goes On does not require a discard, its condition for maximizing potential—hoping a creature of yours dies that turn—can be a situational hurdle, especially in a game state where you’re ahead and no creatures are at risk of dying.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Life Goes On offers a quick and cost-effective way to gain a substantial amount of life which makes it a solid addition to decks that seek to counteract aggressive strategies. Its single green mana cost allows it to be easily slotted into various deck builds without compromising the mana curve.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks focused on life gain triggers. It can also help to turn on the threshold for cards like “Serra Ascendant” or improve the potency of “Aetherflux Reservoir” shots, enabling powerful interactions within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where burn or aggro decks are prevalent, having Life Goes On in your sideboard or main deck can quickly shift the tides of the game in your favor. Activating its bonus life gain after a creature’s demise can often be the pivotal maneuver that ensures your survival and paves the way to victory.


How to Beat Life Goes On

Life Goes On represents a nifty tool for lifegain enthusiasts, providing a significant health boost particularly after a creature’s demise. However, this boost can be mitigated or even rendered ineffective with the right strategy. To outplay an opponent playing Life Goes On, it’s essential to focus on reducing its trigger opportunities. You can achieve this by favoring exile effects over destruction for creature removal, thus bypassing the “when a creature dies” trigger.

Silencing abilities or spells that prevent lifegain for the turn, such as Tibalt, Rakish Instigator, offer another viable countermeasure. Additionally, placing pressure on the opponent’s life total through aggressive strategies can often outweigh the gains Life Goes On provides. A carefully timed Skullcrack can nullify its effect, shifting the momentum of the game back into your favor.

Ultimately, although Life Goes On can provide a burst of life, strategic play, deck construction, and powerful spell timing can ensure it doesn’t become the linchpin of your opponent’s survival plan. Taking these steps will help keep the balance and maintain the upper hand in your matches.


Cards like Life Goes On

Life Goes On is a notable card focusing on life gain in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other life-gain spells like Rest for the Weary, which also provides a significant boost to your life total. However, Life Goes On has the potential to gain more life – up to 8 life if a creature died this turn, as opposed to Rest for the Weary’s maximum of 8 life that hinges on having lands enter the battlefield under your control that turn.

Comparatively, there’s Feed the Clan, which offers a similar conditional life boost. Like Life Goes On, you can gain more life if you meet a specific condition – controlling a creature with power 4 or greater. Meanwhile, a more consistent option might be Heroes’ Reunion, offering a straightforward 7 life gain with no conditions, but at two different mana colors.

Ultimately, Life Goes On stands out among its peers with its low mana cost and potential for a high life yield, making it a powerful option for decks that can regularly satisfy its trigger condition. Its place in lifegain strategies is firmly established, thanks to its efficiency and synergy with creature-focused decks.

Rest for the Weary - MTG Card versions
Feed the Clan - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Reunion - MTG Card versions
Rest for the Weary - Worldwake (WWK)
Feed the Clan - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Heroes' Reunion - Invasion (INV)

Cards similar to Life Goes On by color, type and mana cost

Fog - MTG Card versions
Natural Selection - MTG Card versions
Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crossbow Ambush - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Fog - Magic 2012 (M12)
Natural Selection - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Berserk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Giant Growth - The List (PLST)
Lifelace - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Crumble - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Sandstorm - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Seedling Charm - Mirage (MIR)
Shrink - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Choking Vines - Weatherlight (WTH)
Crossbow Ambush - Stronghold (STH)
Crop Rotation - The List (PLST)
Worldly Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Gaea's Might - Dominaria United (DMU)
Reclaim - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Serene Sunset - Judgment (JUD)
Sprout - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Gather Courage - The List (PLST)
Nature's Claim - The List (PLST)
Prey's Vengeance - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Life Goes On MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Core Set 2021, 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 Life Goes On and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Life Goes On Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 1212015normalblackDaarken
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1922015normalblackDaarken
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1992015normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Life Goes On has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Life Goes On card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-06-23 You won't gain more than 8 life if more than one creature died this turn.

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