The 1995 Fourth Edition Drain Life card (number 132) is a staple black sorcery from the original Magic: The Gathering era, featuring artwork by Douglas Shuler.
Drain Life
1995 • Magic: The Gathering • Fourth Edition
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Description
Drain Life, card number 132 in the 1995 Fourth Edition set, remains a recognizable fixture for fans of the original Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Designed as a black sorcery, this card allows players to spend black mana to deal damage to a target while gaining an equal amount of life, capped by the target’s remaining resources. The card’s mana cost of {X}{1}{B} offers strategic flexibility, letting players scale the impact based on their mana pool and the game state. Created by artist Douglas Shuler, the Fourth Edition release standardized the visual presentation of the game’s early cards, making this print a key reference point for collectors tracking the evolution of the franchise. As a common card, Drain Life was widely distributed, yet it holds a distinct place in the history of the TCG as a representative example of the black mana’s thematic focus on life exchange and resource denial. Collectors often seek out Fourth Edition cards to complete their historical archives or to appreciate the foundational design language that shaped modern gameplay. The card’s straightforward mechanics and iconic status make it a popular choice for those interested in the classic era of Magic: The Gathering. Whether building a vintage collection or studying the game’s early design philosophy, this card offers a tangible connection to the 1995 release that defined the genre.
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Card Details
The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
Catalog Profile
The core identity of the card within the set.
Featured Subject
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Featured
Drain Life
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
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Common
Douglas Shuler
Card Stock
English
{X}{1}{B}
Sorcery
B
Card Text
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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.