What it does
Drain Life is an old black spell (and a shorthand for an effect) where you pay X mana to deal X damage to a creature or player, then gain that much life. The classic card Drain Life reads: "Spend only black mana on X." This restriction means even if you have huge mana, only the black mana you spend counts toward X—a common trap for newer players splashing colorless or other colors.
The key nuance: lifegain equals damage dealt, not damage attempted. If the target has only 2 toughness or you damage a creature that dies, you still gain life equal to the full damage dealt. But if the damage is prevented or reduced, your lifegain shrinks accordingly.
In Commander, Drain-style effects shine as removal-plus-lifegain or as a finisher in mono-black, where swingy 40-point life totals make a big X both a kill and a cushion.
Iconic cards with Drain Life
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