Life Goes On MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 121
2020-07-03 - Number 192
2020-08-13 - Number 199
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
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
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.
Cards similar to Life Goes On by color, type and mana cost
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.
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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- 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 Life Goes On Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Daarken.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 2 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 192 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 199 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Life Goes On has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
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.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-06-23 | You won't gain more than 8 life if more than one creature died this turn. |