Save Life MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2004-11-19
Set symbol
Set name	Unhinged
Set code	UNH
Number	19
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Silver
Illustred by	Ray Lago
Un-set :-)	This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

Save Life cards combine life gain with additional benefits like drawing cards or resource ramping.
Instant speed activation of Save Life cards introduces surprise elements into the game.
They can be restrictive due to specific mana costs and potential high mana investment.

Text of card

Choose one Target player gains 2½ life; or prevent the next 2½ damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. Gotcha Whenever an opponent says "Save" or "Life," you may say "Gotcha" If you do, return Save Life from your graveyard to your hand.

Who consistently managed to win.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Providing a significant boost to your survival, cards with the ability to save life often come with secondary benefits, such as drawing cards, which can turn the tide by giving you more options and responses to the state of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Certain life-saving cards have the added advantage of ramping up your resources. They not only protect your life total but can also accelerate your mana base or other resources, allowing you to deploy threats sooner and respond more effectively to your opponent’s actions.

Instant Speed: The versatility of instant-speed life-saving cards can’t be overstated. With the capacity to react in the middle of combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn, these cards offer the element of surprise, enabling you to stabilize unpredictably and keep your opponents guessing about your available options.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nestled within the terms of use, Save Life cards often impose the necessity to discard another card from your hand. This action can deplete essential resources, particularly if your hand is already sparse, making it a considerable trade-off in tense situations where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Leveraging Save Life effects typically demands a particular blend of mana, which at times necessitates an unwavering commitment to a certain color combination. This specificity can limit deck versatility and restrict these cards’ inclusion to decks aligned with those precise mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Save Life cards can be on the heftier side. While safeguarding your life total is pivotal, the mana you invest may eclipse the benefit, especially when other cards are available that can protect, or even enhance, your position for a similar, if not lower, mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Save Life is highly adaptable across various deck archetypes, making it a utility card that can fit in both aggressive and defensive strategies. Its capacity to swing life totals can be pivotal in tight matches.

Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with effects that capitalize on life gain or require life payment as a cost. It easily integrates into combos that harness life as a resource for powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggro decks are prevalent, Save Life can provide the necessary edge by offering crucial life points that can extend the game and enable you to stabilize your board presence.

How to Beat Save Life MTG Card

Save Life, a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, can certainly be a thorn in a player’s side with its health-regenerating ability. To effectively get around this card, it’s crucial to focus on strategies that minimize life gain or employ alternative win conditions. Cards that hinder life gain such as Tainted Remedy, which reverses the effect of life gain attempts, or utilize win conditions that aren’t affected by life totals like Felidar Sovereign, can be particularly effective.

Moreover, aggressive decks that apply constant pressure may overrun the life buffer created by Save Life before it makes a significant impact. Utilizing burn spells combined with direct damage abilities will help keep your opponent’s life total within striking distance. Lastly, cards that cause forced sacrifice or apply loss of life effects that bypass life gain, such as effects from Exsanguinate, serve as reliable ways to mitigate the advantages provided by Save Life.

Combining these elements can offer a robust game plan to overcome the heralded persistence of Save Life and pave the way to your victory on the battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Save Life MTG card by a specific set like Unhinged, 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 Save Life and other MTG cards: