---
name: "Drain Life"
mana_cost: "{X}{1}{B}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "2ED"
set_name: "Unlimited Edition"
collector_number: "106"
rarity: "common"
artist: "Douglas Shuler"
oracle_id: "e75ba79f-4cc2-4ede-8641-559ab94e7e36"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/drain-life-2ed"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Drain Life
- **Mana Cost:** `{X}{1}{B}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Sorcery

## Oracle Text
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.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Essence Drain](/printing/essence-drain-m13.md) — Sorcery
2. [Consume Spirit](/printing/consume-spirit-dpa.md) — Sorcery
3. [Soul Burn](/printing/soul-burn-inv.md) — Sorcery
4. [Agonizing Syphon](/printing/agonizing-syphon-m20.md) — Sorcery
5. [Sorin's Thirst](/printing/sorins-thirst-m12.md) — Instant
6. [Exsanguinate](/printing/exsanguinate-som.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Unlimited Edition (2ED) #106
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Artist:** Douglas Shuler
- **Total Printings:** 49 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `legal` | Penny: `not_legal`