I was thinking that R&D could make cheaper/bigger lifegain effects if they used a limiting mechanic of some sort. Something like "this effect cannot raise your life total above Y", with the lifegain being more efficient the lower Y is. For a classic healing spell flavour, replace Y with "your starting life total".
You could also try the opposite direction: "If your life total is less than Y, you may gain Z life." Set Y to something low like 10, and make Z extra-efficient for emergency use.
One advantage of using a 'hard cap' on lifegain effects is that it reduces the risk of breaking cards like Felidar Sovereign, Serra Ascendant and whatever else Wizards make in the future that uses lifegain as a win condition. Sanguine Bond would still need to be kept in mind however...
HuntedWumpusMustDie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
...not useful. For four mana you need some sort of permanence... or you need to eliminate something on the oppenent's field- if you do use it you shoot yourself in the foot for loosing your card advantage.
Nagoragama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Awful, awful, awful reprint. I can see no situation where I would ever want to play this, in any format or any deck.
CJM2
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I actually lost a draft match because my opponent was main-decking two copies of this. TWO COPIES. He outraced my beatdown by gaining 14 life off of one of the most useless cards in the set.
But wait, it gets better: he was ALSO main-decking two copies of Brink of Disaster. And Gideon's Lawkeeper. One of the most frustrating matches of all time.
why do new players seem to think that lifegain is so powerful
its so funny when i see dudes make a green white deck where half of it is lifegain
heyhellowhatsnew
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a good card in limited and pauper. Y'all are nuts.
Gelzo
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
You know that free "Mini-Master" event Wizards did? Last match I went up against a guy that was running a ton of lifegain. The last game went on for a very long time, and everyone else was waiting on us to finish so the last packs could get handed out. He gained 23 life, 14 of which came from him using this card and then Reclaiming it. I still beat him 2-0, but I don't think I've ever been so angry at someone for how they played the game.
Please, please don't delay games you're going to lose anyway with lifegain. It's not likely to make you any friends.
sonorhC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
See, it's cards like this that give lifegain a bad name.
Yukikah
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Should have been one less mana with no added effect. I'll say I still wouldn't use it at 2W and I'm not sure I know many that would, but at it wouldn't be so very slap in the face awful.
Totema
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I know this is not good, but Lava Axe has a higher mana cost, smaller effect, and is Sorcery speed, yet still has more than a full star higher rating than this. In other words, this more than completely cancels it out, and yet it still is liked more. That's unacceptable.
A3Kitsune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Getting reprinted in Avacyn Restored. At least it's getting new art.
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
All you people do realize this card is Instant? I mean most lifegain is sorceries... I think this should be at least two stars if only for being instant.
Comments (18)
Otherwise...
Nourish
Renewed Faith
Rest for the Weary
Sun's Bounty
You could also try the opposite direction: "If your life total is less than Y, you may gain Z life."
Set Y to something low like 10, and make Z extra-efficient for emergency use.
One advantage of using a 'hard cap' on lifegain effects is that it reduces the risk of breaking cards like Felidar Sovereign, Serra Ascendant and whatever else Wizards make in the future that uses lifegain as a win condition. Sanguine Bond would still need to be kept in mind however...
But wait, it gets better: he was ALSO main-decking two copies of Brink of Disaster. And Gideon's Lawkeeper. One of the most frustrating matches of all time.
its so funny when i see dudes make a green white deck where half of it is lifegain
Please, please don't delay games you're going to lose anyway with lifegain. It's not likely to make you any friends.