<p>Yes, lifelink is not a triggered ability like you might expect but a static replacement effect that replaces damage being dealt with the damage being dealt and you gaining that much life:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>119.3f Damage dealt by a source with lifelink causes that source’s controller to gain that much life, in addition to the damage’s other results.</p>
<p>702.15a Lifelink is a static ability.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Note that this is not the case with cards that say &quot;Whenever this card deals damage, you gain that much life&quot;; that would be a triggered ability, and you would lose before it could resolve.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-04T20:56:17.210Z
While the conclusion is correct, I'm pretty sure Lifelink is not a replacement ability. It modifies the normal result of damage being dealt in the same way infect does.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-04T18:43:43.430Z
2016-10-04T18:48:06.863Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
KSFT
<p>I'm the farthest thing from a magic know it all, so I have a question for you. If my opponent has a 40/40 with trample and I have a 20/20 with lifelink that is blocking it. and I have 20 life left. Do I gain life from lifelink at the same time the damage is dealt to me? Thanks for taking the time to answer!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-07T22:33:56.207Z
You do but still end up at 0 life ;)
Stephane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T16:18:06.113Z
@Stephane no you don't. Your 20/20 blocks the 40/40, soaking up 20 of the damage, the other 20 goes to your life. Your 20/20 gives you 20 life for the damage it dealt, which in effect cancels out the rest of the damage, so you end up at 20 life since 20-(40-20)+20=20
Andrew
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T22:33:39.873Z
My bad. You're right.
Stephane
<magic-the-gathering><mtg-multiplayer>
MTG Lifelink Before Death?
Larrzero5
# MTG Lifelink Before Death?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-04)

I'm the farthest thing from a magic know it all, so I have a question for you. If my opponent has a 40/40 with trample and I have a 20/20 with lifelink that is blocking it. and I have 20 life left. Do I gain life from lifelink at the same time the damage is dealt to me? Thanks for taking the time to answer!

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-multiplayer

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You do but still end up at 0 life ;)  
> **username_2**: @username_1 no you don't. Your 20/20 blocks the 40/40, soaking up 20 of the damage, the other 20 goes to your life. Your 20/20 gives you 20 life for the damage it dealt, which in effect cancels out the rest of the damage, so you end up at 20 life since 20-(40-20)+20=20  
> **username_1**: My bad. You're right.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-10-04. Score: 2

Yes, lifelink is not a triggered ability like you might expect but a static replacement effect that replaces damage being dealt with the damage being dealt and you gaining that much life:

> 119.3f Damage dealt by a source with lifelink causes that source’s controller to gain that much life, in addition to the damage’s other results.
>
> 702.15a Lifelink is a static ability.

Note that this is not the case with cards that say "Whenever this card deals damage, you gain that much life"; that would be a triggered ability, and you would lose before it could resolve.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: While the conclusion is correct, I'm pretty sure Lifelink is not a replacement ability. It modifies the normal result of damage being dealt in the same way infect does.  

---

