Lifelink

[Blazingblevins]

When using lifelink, say it was a 2/1 and it attacked. Does I automatically gain that much life or is it what is left over from combat?

[Paraluke]

You gain the life equal to the damage dealt by your 2/1. That would normally be 2 life, but if damage is prevented due to say, protection from creatures, all damage is prevented and you will not gain any life.

[Blazingblevins]

So if someone block the 2 I gain no life say they have a 2/2. If they have a 2/1 I gain 1?

[Blazingblevins]

Or does it mean if they don't block I get 2 life and they get 2 damage if I was a 2/2?

[Paraluke]

It is the amount of damage your creature has successful dealt.

1) you have 2/2, opponent blocks with 1/1
You gain 2 life and his creature dies
2) you have 2/2, opponent blocks with 2/2
You gain 2 life, your creatures dies with his
3) you have 2/2, opponent chooses not to block
You gain 2 life and opponent loses 2 life

[Rasser]

If they block your 2/2 with lifelink you would still get 2 life even if they blocked with a 1/1. You creature still does 2 damage even though it is only 1 to do lethal damage

[Blazingblevins]

Ok ic. Well what happens if he doesn't block and it goes straight to player. Is that not considered damage or does the ability still work that way. Or does it have to be against another card

[Paraluke]

I just amended my examples

[Rasser]

702.14b
Damage dealt by a source with Lifelink causes the source's controller, or it's owner if it has no controller, to gain that much life. (In addition to any other results that damage causes)

[Blazingblevins]

Ok that clears it up. I was using it that way I just wanted to make sure. I know how to use most creatures but sometimes I think to much into it. But thanks for the clarification

[Blazingblevins]

Since I have u on here. I was wondering how to use trait doctoring. It is kinda wordy and it explains but still a bit confusing. The cipher also needs clarified

[Paraluke]

Use the card link at top right corner...

{Trait Doctoring}

[Paraluke]

Ok let's tackle one by one.

Essentially  {Trait Doctoring} allows your to change a color or basic land type to another on a target permanent.

Example My opponent has  {Crusade} but I have only blue creatures. When I cast this spell I can target crusade and change the color "white" to blue, making my opponent lose the bonus while you gain it

Similarly, you can change cards which affect a certain land type, for {Conversion}  you can change all swamps (from mountain).

[Paraluke]

Ok for cipher...let me see how I can simplify it.

Cipher ability states that you can exile the card. So firstly, you must decide whether to exile the card ( {Trait Doctoring}) in this case, and if you do exile, here is what happens.
You can then encode the card on a creature. This means in a loose sense the creature has a memory of this card's abilities.
When this creature deals combat damage to a player (ie unblocked and deals damage), you may cast a copy of this card without paying its casting cost.

Ok let's go back to my examples.

My opponent has two  {Crusade}. I cast trait doctoring and targeted the crusade and changed "white" to "blue". I exiled trait doctoring and ciphers it on my {Invisible Stalker}.

I attacked with my stalker. Since it cannot be blocked and my opponent can't do anything to it, it deals combat damage to my opponent. The ciphered effect triggers and I can choose to cast a copy of the encoded card, which I gleefully target his other crusade. I have +2/+2 for my stalker!

[Blazingblevins]

Ok I had to read it a few( 6) times throughly. But I get the concept. Anytime a target card has a color specific ability you change the color to your advantage.