Whats the difference between getting what {Essence Sliver} gives and Lifelink?
Quote from: mickeven on October 17, 2014, 06:17:57 PM
Whats the difference between getting what {Essence Sliver} gives and Lifelink?
The only difference is that {Essence Sliver}'s ability can stack while multiple instances of lifelink are redundant. For example, if you have 2 {Essence Sliver}s on the battlefield, each sliver you control will gain you 2 life for each damage it deals, but if you have a 2 lifelink slivers, like {Syphon Sliver}, your slivers will still only gain you 1 life for each one damage dealt. Its a small difference but it can be relevant.
Quote from: mickeven on October 17, 2014, 06:17:57 PM
Whats the difference between getting what {Essence Sliver} gives and Lifelink?
the ability thatt {essence sliver} has is a triggered ability. after this creature deals damage, the ability will trigger and potentially resolve like normal. lifelink like on a {griselbrand} is just a quality of the damage he does. if griselbrand is doung damage, its controller is simultaneously gaining that much life. griselbrands ability doesn't use the stack and cant be responded to. note that if you gave {essence sliver} lifelink he would gain twice as much life.
ill give an example when this could be important. you are at 2 life and i swing with two {grizzly bear}. if you block with a normal lifelinking 2/2 like {ajani's sunstriker} the way damage will play out is youll take 2 from unblocked bear, but simultaneously gain 2 from lifelink. so the game will never see you go to zero. but if instead, you blocked with an {essence sliver} you would take the two damage from unblocked and then before you can even put the "whenever this deals damage..." trigger on the stack, state based actions will be checked and the game will see you at 0 life, making you lose.
edited for fat fingers.
got it. each answer taught me something different!! thanks dudes!!