<p>Yes, this is exactly what happens, so barring any other side effects*, you'll always end up with 13 life.</p>

<p>*: e.g. a card which doubles any life gained, like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBoon%20Reflection%5d">Boon Reflection</a> (thanks @MichaelSnook)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-10T13:42:14.203Z
You hypothetical life gain doubling card actually exists: Boon Reflection
Michael Snook
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-15T19:36:01.997Z
also killing one death shadow (with swords) will always kill all the deaths you control?
Neil Meyer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-15T19:57:48.613Z
@NeilMeyer barring any other effects, yes
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-10T10:10:03.040Z
2018-09-10T13:43:20.183Z
2018-09-10T13:43:20.183Z
Glorfindel
<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDeath%27s%5d%2b%5bShadow%5d">Death&#39;s Shadow</a> is a <code>13/13</code> that gets <code>-X/-X</code> where <code>X</code> is your life total.</p>

<p>If one I control is exiled by <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSwords%20to%20Plowshares%5d">Swords to Plowshares</a>, then last known information is used to tell us how much life should be gained, but this happens before the life gain from the Swords, right?  I would not necessarily gain 13 life, but rather the current size of Death's Shadow?  </p>

<magic-the-gathering>
How does the following interaction with Swords to Plowshares and Death's Shadow work?
Neil Meyer
# How does the following interaction with Swords to Plowshares and Death's Shadow work?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-10)

[Death's Shadow](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDeath%27s%5d%2b%5bShadow%5d) is a `13/13` that gets `-X/-X` where `X` is your life total.

If one I control is exiled by [Swords to Plowshares](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSwords%20to%20Plowshares%5d), then last known information is used to tell us how much life should be gained, but this happens before the life gain from the Swords, right? I would not necessarily gain 13 life, but rather the current size of Death's Shadow?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-09-10. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

Yes, this is exactly what happens, so barring any other side effects\*, you'll always end up with 13 life.

\*: e.g. a card which doubles any life gained, like [Boon Reflection](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBoon%20Reflection%5d) (thanks @MichaelSnook)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: You hypothetical life gain doubling card actually exists: Boon Reflection  
> **username_0**: also killing one death shadow (with swords) will always kill all the deaths you control?  
> **username_1**: @NeilMeyer barring any other effects, yes  

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