MTG Gift of Immortality
Magic: The Gathering has introduced countless iconic cards over the years, but few enchantments offer the recurring value and flavorful design ofGift of Immortality. This white aura card has intrigued players since its release, combining resilience and strategy in a uniquely powerful way. Whether you’re a casual deck builder, a combo enthusiast, or a commander veteran, understanding the full potential of Gift of Immortality can change how you approach creature protection and recursion in your deck. Its interaction with creatures, sacrifice outlets, and death triggers opens the door to creative deckbuilding across multiple formats.
Card Overview
What Is Gift of Immortality?
Gift of Immortality is a white enchantment aura card first printed in theTherosset. Its casting cost is 2W (two generic mana and one white), making it fairly accessible even in decks with limited white mana sources. The card’s effect is what makes it stand out:
- Enchant creature
- When enchanted creature dies, return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
- Return Gift of Immortality to the battlefield attached to that creature at the beginning of the next end step.
In simple terms, Gift of Immortality allows a creature to die and immediately come back, and then the enchantment returns to it shortly after. This continuous cycle makes it incredibly difficult to remove a key creature unless both the creature and the enchantment are exiled or removed at the right moment.
Gameplay Value and Strategic Use
Why Play Gift of Immortality?
The card’s primary strength lies in protecting valuable creatures. In a format like Commander, where your entire deck often centers around one or two key creatures, being able to bring them back after they die is a massive advantage. But Gift of Immortality goes beyond just protection it also fuels synergies involving death triggers, enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects, and sacrifice mechanics.
Synergy with Sacrifice Outlets
Gift of Immortality pairs beautifully with sacrifice engines. Cards likeViscera Seer,Altar of Dementia, orAshnod’s Altarallow you to sacrifice a creature repeatedly. With the enchantment in play, you can abuse death triggers while ensuring your creature returns over and over.
Great for ETB and LTB Effects
Creatures that have powerful enter-the-battlefield (ETB) or leaves-the-battlefield (LTB) effects are ideal targets for Gift of Immortality. By letting them die and return repeatedly, you can trigger these abilities as many times as needed perfect for value-based white decks.
Best Creatures to Pair With Gift of Immortality
To make the most of this card, you’ll want to enchant creatures that either:
- Have abilities that trigger when they enter or leave the battlefield
- Are regularly targeted by opponents due to their power
- Are used as sacrifice fodder in a combo
Popular Choices in Commander
- Sun Titan: Brings back permanents with mana value 3 or less every time it enters the battlefield or attacks.
- Sakura-Tribe Elder: Sacrifices itself to fetch a land, then returns at end step.
- Reveillark: When it leaves the battlefield, it brings back creatures with low power, forming loops.
- Karmic Guide: A recursion creature that can bring back others when reanimated.
- Selfless Spirit: Can sacrifice itself to make your whole board indestructible, then return with the enchantment.
How the Timing Works
Understanding the End Step Clause
One of the most important details of Gift of Immortality is its timing. When the enchanted creature dies, it comes back immediately. However, the enchantment itself doesn’t return until the beginning of the next end step. That means the creature is vulnerable during that window unless you have another protection spell or effect in place.
For example, if the creature dies during combat, it returns immediately, but Gift of Immortality only reattaches during the end step. If that creature dies again before the end step, the enchantment won’t be able to return, breaking the loop.
Combat Tricks and Stack Interactions
In more advanced play, timing Gift of Immortality with stack resolutions can create powerful effects. For example, you might sacrifice a creature in response to a spell, then let the enchantment trigger its return. In multiplayer formats, this timing flexibility lets you manipulate the battlefield while always having a creature ready to come back.
Deck Archetypes That Benefit
White-Based Control Decks
In white-heavy decks that aim to outlast opponents, Gift of Immortality fits naturally. It lets you maintain critical creatures likeMother of RunesorThalia, Heretic Catharwithout constantly losing resources. Your win condition can revolve around attrition rather than burst damage.
Orzhov Aristocrats
White-black sacrifice decks, often called Aristocrats, thrive on looping creatures through death triggers. When combined with black cards likeBlood ArtistorZulaport Cutthroat, Gift of Immortality turns every death into damage against your opponents, while still returning your creatures back to the field.
Sun Titan Loops
Sun Titan is one of the strongest pairings with Gift of Immortality. If you can sacrifice Sun Titan and bring him back multiple times, you can potentially return many smaller permanents across turns, especially if you have ways to repeatedly sacrifice him.
Weaknesses and Counterplay
Vulnerable to Exile Effects
While Gift of Immortality offers a strong form of recursion, it doesn’t protect against exile. If the enchanted creature is exiled instead of dying, the enchantment won’t return, and your loop is broken. Spells likeSwords to PlowsharesorPath to Exileare common counters.
Disruption Through Stack Interaction
If an opponent removes Gift of Immortality in response to a creature dying, the enchantment won’t be on the battlefield to trigger its return effect. Savvy opponents will recognize the need to break the loop by removing the enchantment first.
Graveyard Hate
Decks that useRest in PeaceorLeyline of the Voidcan shut down the recursion completely. Because the creature must return from the graveyard, any effects that exile cards instead of letting them die will prevent Gift of Immortality from working.
Tips for Effective Use
- Use on creatures that you expect to die repeatedly.
- Combine with sac outlets to loop value or drain opponents.
- Keep backup protection ready during the window when the enchantment is not attached.
- Protect the enchantment itself cards likeGreater AuramancyorLightning Greaveshelp.
- Be mindful of end step timing to avoid missing reattachment.
Gift of Immortality is a deceptively simple card that delivers immense value over time. Whether you’re building a casual combo deck, crafting a resilient white midrange list, or seeking to maximize death synergy in Commander, this enchantment has the power to redefine your game plan. Its ability to repeatedly bring back creatures fuels not only your board presence but also combos and triggers that can spiral out of control in your favor. While it has counters and limitations, strategic use of Gift of Immortality can create a game-winning engine that frustrates opponents and keeps your key creatures alive far longer than expected. It’s not just a card it’s a long-term investment in board dominance and value.