<p>Damage is different than life loss.  For players, damage causes life loss.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>119.3a Damage dealt to a player by a source without infect causes that player to lose that much life</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So no, the Blood Scrivener isn't destroyed.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T19:42:16.290Z
Yes, damage causes loss of life. But what kind of effect is Blood Scrivener's ability? If it is not a damage effect, what is it then?
joern
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T20:14:46.597Z
@joern "kind" is not an attribute that effects have in Magic
KSFT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T20:29:39.857Z
Okay. If it is not possible to categorize this any further, then I accept this answer. "life loss" appears to be a self-contained concept.
joern
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-01T15:13:54.747Z
Personally I think you have quoted the wrong rule to answer his question
Wouter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-01T15:16:12.753Z
118.3. If an effect causes a player to gain life or lose life, that player’s life total is adjusted accordingly.
Wouter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-01T16:46:33.177Z
@Wouter The question was about No Mercy which says damage, so I went with the rule that had both terms.
JonTheMon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T19:16:07.983Z
2017-02-27T19:16:07.983Z
JonTheMon
<p>No. Loss of life is not damage - damage causes loss of life. Blood Scrivener will not cause No Mercy to trigger.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T19:14:41.623Z
2017-02-27T19:14:41.623Z
Ben
<p>Let's say I control the card <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Mercy%5d">No Mercy</a>. The card states that whenever a creature successfully deals damage to me it gets destroyed.</p>

<p>Now let us suppose:</p>

<ol>
<li>I also control <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlood%20Scrivener%5d">Blood Scrivener</a></li>
<li>I have no cards in hand.</li>
<li>I need to draw a card.</li>
</ol>

<p>Because of Blood Scrivener's ability, I draw 2 cards and I lose 1 life.</p>

<p>Question: Does the loss of life induced by Blood Scrivener count as damage? (And does it cause Blood Scrivener to be destroyed?)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-27T19:12:58.950Z
Related: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/11600/what-are-the-differences-between-combat-damage-direct-damage-and-loss-of-life
diego
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-01T15:12:58.927Z
Blood scrivener says that you lose life, not that he damages you, so you won't lose the blood scrivener due to the effect of no mercy
Wouter
<magic-the-gathering>
Does No Mercy get triggered by Blood Scrivener?
joern
# Does No Mercy get triggered by Blood Scrivener?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-27)

Let's say I control the card [No Mercy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Mercy%5d). The card states that whenever a creature successfully deals damage to me it gets destroyed.

Now let us suppose:

1. I also control [Blood Scrivener](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlood%20Scrivener%5d)
2. I have no cards in hand.
3. I need to draw a card.

Because of Blood Scrivener's ability, I draw 2 cards and I lose 1 life.

Question: Does the loss of life induced by Blood Scrivener count as damage? (And does it cause Blood Scrivener to be destroyed?)

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/11600/what-are-the-differences-between-combat-damage-direct-damage-and-loss-of-life  
> **username_2**: Blood scrivener says that you lose life, not that he damages you, so you won't lose the blood scrivener due to the effect of no mercy  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Damage is different than life loss. For players, damage causes life loss.

> 119.3a Damage dealt to a player by a source without infect causes that player to lose that much life

So no, the Blood Scrivener isn't destroyed.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, damage causes loss of life. But what kind of effect is Blood Scrivener's ability? If it is not a damage effect, what is it then?  
> **username_4**: @username_0 "kind" is not an attribute that effects have in Magic  
> **username_0**: Okay. If it is not possible to categorize this any further, then I accept this answer. "life loss" appears to be a self-contained concept.  
> **username_2**: Personally I think you have quoted the wrong rule to answer his question  
> **username_2**: 118.3. If an effect causes a player to gain life or lose life, that player’s life total is adjusted accordingly.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 The question was about No Mercy which says damage, so I went with the rule that had both terms.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-02-27. Score: 0

No. Loss of life is not damage - damage causes loss of life. Blood Scrivener will not cause No Mercy to trigger.


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