Nine Lives MTG Card


Indirectly allows card advantage and resource balance by protecting life points and extending gameplay. Combines well with damage prevention and control strategies for a robust defensive stance. Requires precise play and countermeasures to exploit or overcome its potential drawbacks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Hexproof

Text of card

Hexproof If a source would deal damage to you, prevent that damage and put an incarnation counter on Nine Lives. When there are nine or more incarnation counters on Nine Lives, exile it. When Nine Lives leaves the battlefield, you lose the game.


Cards like Nine Lives

Nine Lives stands out in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal as a unique enchantment card that provides exceptional defense. It finds kinship with cards like Solitary Confinement, which also offer a protective shield against damage. While Nine Lives prevents damage up to nine instances, Solitary Confinement requires a card sacrifice each turn to maintain immunity from damage and being targeted, making it a more high-maintenance card for players to manage.

Another card that echoes Nine Lives’ protective theme is Glacial Chasm, which at the cost of cumulative upkeep, prevents all damage to a player. Unlike Nine Lives, Glacial Chasm doesn’t allow you to attack, setting a different strategic balance between offense and defense. Then there’s Worship, an enchantment that, as long as you control a creature, ensures your life total can’t drop below 1, effectively creating a buffer like Nine Lives but with a dependency on creature presence.

In evaluating these mechanics, Nine Lives emerges as a particularly intriguing option for players who prefer a fortification strategy without ongoing sacrifices or restrictions on attacking capabilities, reflecting its unique position among defensive enchantments in Magic: The Gathering.

Solitary Confinement - MTG Card versions
Glacial Chasm - MTG Card versions
Worship - MTG Card versions
Solitary Confinement - MTG Card versions
Glacial Chasm - MTG Card versions
Worship - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nine Lives by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Fortified Area - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Fortified Area - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Nine Lives. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUGWUG ModernModern Challenge 64 2024-03-04
WUWU PioneerPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-06
Jeskai ComboJeskai Combo PioneerHBMO24 - GenX Comics and Games Pioneer 5k
Selesnya EnchantmentsSelesnya Enchantments ModernEnchantressCampeonato de Espaa de Modern 2023
EnchantressEnchantress ModernEnchantressModern League 2024-01-24
Azorius MillAzorius Mill ModernMillGrand Open Qualifier Barcelona 2023
Mono-White PrisonMono-White Prison ModernWhite DevotionEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Modern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Nine Lives does not directly allow you to draw additional cards, its protection ability can be pivotal in prolonging the game, essentially saving resources. Prolonging the game grants the player more draws naturally, and thus can indirectly lead to card advantage as you outlast your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nine Lives isn’t designed to accelerate resources in the traditional mana sense, it can save precious life points and potentially prevent spending resources on other survival tactics. This indirectly maintains your resource equilibrium, enabling further strategic plays without the pressure of an imminent defeat.

Instant Speed: Nine Lives may not be an instant itself, but its lasting impact on the board allows for instant-speed interactions in other forms. With Nine Lives in play, a player can better afford to wait and utilize instant-speed removal or counterspells, secure in the knowledge that Nine Lives provides a substantial buffer against direct threats to their life total.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nine Lives doesn’t mandate a discard directly, but because it draws focus due to its protective nature, running out of ways to protect it can leave you vulnerable to its penalty if it’s removed from the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires two white mana, which can limit the card’s inclusion to decks that heavily rely on white mana sources or a two-color strategy with a robust mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for an enchantment that prevents damage but doesn’t advance board presence or offer immediate value, some players may find it less efficient compared to other protective options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nine Lives offers a unique defensive capability that can be incorporated into a variety of decks, particularly those looking to stall the game or set up for a late-game win condition. Its ability to absorb damage can be a game-changer in tough matchups.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that redirect or prevent damage, as well as with cards that can remove Nine Lives from play after accruing enough counters, thereby circumventing its downside and potentially locking an opponent out of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments heavy with direct damage spells or aggressive creature strategies, Nine Lives poses a formidable obstacle. By effectively negating a portion of the opponent’s strategy, it can shift the tempo of the game in your favor.


How to beat

Nine Lives is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can be both a blessing and a curse for the player using it. Upon casting, this card prevents damage that would reduce your life total to less than one, effectively granting you invulnerability from losing the game due to damage – but only for a while. This effect sounds powerful, but it comes with a twist. Each time Nine Lives prevents damage, it accumulates an “incarnation counter,” and when it has nine or more, the card is exiled, and you lose the game.

Strategically speaking, the key to beating Nine Lives lies in triggering its deadly downside. This can be achieved by focusing on cards that are adept at either placing counters on opposing permanents or dealing with enchantments directly. Spells like Hex Parasite can be used to add counters to Nine Lives, hastening its ruin. Alternatively, straightforward enchantment removal like Disenchant or other universal removal spells can get rid of Nine Lives, clearing the path for you to deal damage directly once again. Either approach requires foresight and timing – planning your moves to bypass or break the enchantment’s protective barrier without letting your opponent leverage it for too long.

It’s crucial to blend smart card choices with equally shrewd gameplay to dismantle the intricate shield Nine Lives offers. Incorporate the right mix of counter-play and removal into your deck, and watch the seemingly impermeable defense crumble, leading you towards victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlocking the full potential of Nine Lives in your MTG deck requires a blend of savvy deck-building and precise gameplay. Whether you’re constructing an impregnable defense or seeking cards that complement its unique abilities, the strategy you employ can dramatically influence the tide of battle. Nine Lives isn’t just about survival; it’s about creating windows of opportunity. Take your game knowledge further by delving into synergies, meta-strategies, and impactful plays that leverage its power. Enhance your collection and gameplay by exploring the depth Nine Lives adds to your MTG experience. Let’s explore together the intricate dance of defense and opportunity that Nine Lives presents.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nine Lives MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Core Set 2021, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Nine Lives and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Nine Lives Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Paul Scott Canavan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 819382015NormalBlackPaul Scott Canavan
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 3442015NormalBlackPaul Scott Canavan
32020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 282015NormalBlackPaul Scott Canavan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nine Lives has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nine Lives card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-06-23 If damage that a source would deal to you can't be prevented, you still put an incarnation counter on Nine Lives.
2020-06-23 If more than one source deals damage to you at once, prevent the damage from each of them and put that many incarnation counters on Nine Lives, even if this causes more than nine incarnation counters to be on Nine Lives. Leave it to cats to abuse loopholes.
2020-06-23 If you counter the first triggered ability or otherwise remove it from the stack, it will just trigger again immediately if Nine Lives still has nine or more incarnation counters on it.
2020-06-23 Once the first triggered ability is on the stack, it won't trigger again, even if more damage is prevented and more incarnation counters are put onto it.
2020-06-23 The last ability of Nine Lives triggers no matter how it leaves the battlefield.