119. Life
In short
Life: starting totals (20 in a standard game, 40 in Commander, 30 per team in Two-Headed Giant), life loss vs. damage (not the same thing!), paying life (only your own, never below 0) and life total exchanges. "Your life total becomes X" is, in rules terms, gaining or losing the difference — relevant for triggers.
Informal summary — the official English text below is authoritative.
119.1.Each player begins the game with a starting life total of 20. Some variant games have different starting life totals.
119.1aIn a Two-Headed Giant game, each team’s starting life total is 30. See rule 810, “Two-Headed Giant Variant.”
119.1bIn a Vanguard game, each player’s starting life total is 20 plus or minus the life modifier of their vanguard card. See rule 902, “Vanguard.”
119.2.Damage dealt to a player normally causes that player to lose that much life. See rule 120.3.
119.3.If an effect causes a player to gain life or lose life, that player’s life total is adjusted accordingly.
119.4.If a cost or effect allows a player to pay an amount of life greater than 0, the player may do so only if their life total is greater than or equal to the amount of the payment. If a player pays life, the payment is subtracted from their life total; in other words, the player loses that much life.
119.4aIf a cost or effect allows a player to pay an amount of life greater than 0 in a Two-Headed Giant game, the player may do so only if their team’s life total is greater than or equal to the total amount of life both team members are paying for that cost or effect. If a player pays life, the payment is subtracted from their team’s life total.
119.4bPlayers can always pay 0 life, no matter what their (or their team’s) life total is, and even if an effect says players can’t pay life.
119.5.If an effect sets a player’s life total to a specific number, the player gains or loses the necessary amount of life to end up with the new total.
119.6.If a player has 0 or less life, that player loses the game as a state-based action. See rule 704.
119.7.If an effect says that a player can’t gain life, that player can’t make an exchange such that the player’s life total would become higher; in that case, the exchange won’t happen. Similarly, if an effect redistributes life totals, a player can’t receive a new life total such that the player’s life total would become higher. In addition, a cost that involves having that player gain life can’t be paid, and a replacement effect that would replace a life gain event affecting that player won’t do anything.
119.8.If an effect says that a player can’t lose life, that player can’t make an exchange such that the player’s life total would become lower; in that case, the exchange won’t happen. Similarly, if an effect redistributes life totals, a player can’t receive a new life total such that the player’s life total would become lower. In addition, a cost that involves having that player pay life can’t be paid.
119.9.Some triggered abilities are written, “Whenever [a player] gains life, . . . .” Such abilities are treated as though they are written, “Whenever a source causes [a player] to gain life, . . . .” If a player gains 0 life, no life gain event has occurred, and these abilities won’t trigger.
119.10.Some replacement effects are written, “If [a player] would gain life, . . . .” Such abilities are treated as though they are written, “If a source would cause [a player] to gain life, . . . .” If a player gains 0 life, no life gain event would occur, and these effects won’t apply.
119.1aIn a Two-Headed Giant game, each team’s starting life total is 30. See rule 810, “Two-Headed Giant Variant.”
119.1bIn a Vanguard game, each player’s starting life total is 20 plus or minus the life modifier of their vanguard card. See rule 902, “Vanguard.”
Source: Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules. Unofficial presentation under the Fan Content Policy. Rules effective as of Sep 25, 2026