Drain Life

Fifth Edition (5ED) #156 · Common · Sorcery

Mana cost: {X}{1}{B}

Spend only black mana on X.
Drain Life deals X damage to any target. You gain life equal to the damage dealt, but not more life than the player's life total before the damage was dealt, the planeswalker's loyalty before the damage was dealt, or the creature's toughness.

Illustrated by Andrew Robinson · Released March 24, 1997

Prices

Nonfoil price since August 29, 2026: up $0.03 USD (8.8%) to $0.37 USD; low $0.34 USD, high $0.37 USD.

Printings

  1. 30th Anniversary Edition #102 (30A) · Common · 2022 · $1.20 USD
  2. 30th Anniversary Edition #399 (30A) · Common · 2022
  3. Magic Online Promos #35928 (PRM) · Common · 2013
  4. Friday Night Magic 2002 #7 (F02) · Rare · 2002 · $16.36 USD foil
  5. Beatdown Box Set #24 (BTD) · Common · 2000 · $1.12 USD
  6. Oversized League Prizes #67 (OLEP) · Rare · 1999
  7. Fifth Edition #156 (this printing) · Common · 1997 · $0.37 USD
  8. Mirage #118 (MIR) · Common · 1996 · $0.33 USD
  9. Pro Tour Collector Set #ll132 (PTC) · Common · 1996 · $0.98 USD
  10. Fourth Edition #132 (4ED) · Common · 1995 · $0.16 USD
  11. Summer Magic / Edgar #106 (SUM) · Common · 1994
  12. Revised Edition #106 (3ED) · Common · 1994 · $0.25 USD
  13. Collectors' Edition #106 (CED) · Common · 1993 · $5.00 USD
  14. Intl. Collectors' Edition #106 (CEI) · Common · 1993 · $7.84 USD
  15. Unlimited Edition #106 (2ED) · Common · 1993 · $1.16 USD
  16. Limited Edition Beta #106 (LEB) · Common · 1993 · $26.66 USD
  17. Limited Edition Alpha #105 (LEA) · Common · 1993 · $65.20 USD

Legality

Rulings

  1. 2004-10-04 · wotc — Cost reducers can be used to reduce the X part of the mana cost.
  2. 2004-10-04 · wotc — You may gain up to the total toughness of the creature even if it was already damaged.

All cards in Fifth Edition (5ED)