Situation: Divinity of pride vs a 7/7 flying body.

[Mart83]

Ok here's the situation I was faced at 2 days ago.

I attack with my 7/7 flying body. Defending player, which is at 22 lifes, uses his Divinity of pride to block.

We were wondering if my creature would die OR if his Pride would. So we asked a veterant player how this would happen. he said with the new combat damage being dealt at instant speed or so (?), his pride becomes 8/8 and survives while mine dies...

What the heck?! If damage are dealt at instant speed now, Divinity would die way before he gains the 4 extra lifes that would have granted +4/+4 to it, no?
And anyway, if I am correct, Lifelink triggers once damage are all dealt, but Divinity thoughness being at 0 before it resolve, Divinity dies and then he would have gained his 4 extra life. Or did something change with the new ruling...?

I was used to the old rule but I am not really up to date with the new ruling since I did not play for a year long, but please clarify because I am sure I was right...

[FuDaWg45]

Neither creature dies. Damage is dealt all at once, and lifelink now gives the life as the damage is being dealt. This is all before state-based effects get checked.

So, 7 gets dealt to divinity, 4 gets dealt to your 7/7 flyer, and your opponent gains 4 life all at once. Now, state based effects are checked and the divinity is an 8/8 and doesn't die. Your 7/7 was only dealt 4 damage so it doesn't die either.

I'm pretty sure that's right.

[Wombatish]

Fu is right. It's complicated, but correct.

[Mart83]

Originally Posted by FuDaWg45

Damage is dealt all at once, and lifelink now gives the life as the damage is being dealt.

It makes a lot more sense this way, but...

Lifelink ruling says: "10/4/2004: You only gain the life when the triggered ability resolves. If you are reduced to zero life before the ability resolves, you will lose before gaining the life. "

So how comes everything is done all at once if Lifelink still has to trigger and resolves? All of these are done at the same time now?

[FuDaWg45]

They just recently changed the rules for lifelink a few months ago. It's no longer a triggered ability. I believe it's now a static ability, so it gives life at the exact time damage is dealt.

[Mart83]

Oh, is this only applied to Lifelink?

[Hardtrack]

No, deathtouch also became a static ability. Both lifelink and deathtouch now work immediately when damage is dealt.

I also don't know where you got that ruling. The scoured the rulings in Gatherer and removed almost all of the outdated ones, including the one you are quoting as far as I can see.

[Mart83]

Got it from Spirit Link. Maybe there's a difference I did not see.

Anyway, thank for all of your answers

[GG Crono]

Note that the word "Lifelink" doesn't appear anywhere on Spirit Link. That's because Spirit Link does not grant lifelink, it makes it so that whenever the enchanted creature deals damage, you gain that much life. The distinction comes into play when you stick it on an opponent's creature.

[FuDaWg45]

Originally Posted by GG Crono

Note that the word "Lifelink" doesn't appear anywhere on Spirit Link. That's because Spirit Link does not grant lifelink, it makes it so that whenever the enchanted creature deals damage, you gain that much life. The distinction comes into play when you stick it on an opponent's creature.

Spirit Link also sets up a triggered ability, so it's "slower" than lifelink. You can also have multiple Spirit Links on a creature and you'll gain multiples of life, while multiple lifelinks will do nothing extra.

[Mart83]

heck, they changed the words on Loxodon Warhammer to lifelink. Couldn't they do the same to Spirit Link and such?

Anyway, my question has been answered. Thank you again!

[Hardtrack]

Originally Posted by Mart83

heck, they changed the words on Loxodon Warhammer to lifelink. Couldn't they do the same to Spirit Link and such?

No, because that would completely change the card. If it gave the creature lifelink than putting it on your opponents creature would result in him getting the life instead of you, which is now the case.