Ajani's SunstrikerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Ajani's Sunstriker is a 2/2 creature for two white mana. Its primary ability is Lifelink, a static ability that changes the result of damage. When this creature deals damage, you gain that much life simultaneously. Because it is a static ability, it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to.

How Lifelink Resolves

When Ajani's Sunstriker deals combat damage or any other form of damage, the life gain happens at the exact same moment. If the Sunstriker deals 2 damage to a blocking creature, you gain 2 life instantly. If you are at 1 life and an opponent attacks you with a creature, but your Sunstriker deals lethal combat damage at the same time, the life gain can prevent you from losing the game because your life total never actually hits zero.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is treating Lifelink as a triggered ability. Unlike older cards that say 'Whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life,' Lifelink does not wait for a trigger to resolve. Another mistake is thinking multiple instances of Lifelink stack; they do not. Giving Ajani's Sunstriker a second instance of Lifelink provides no additional benefit.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized in aggressive decks that need to outpace other fast strategies or in 'Lifegain Matters' decks. Because it costs two white pips, it is most at home in mono-white or heavy white builds where you can consistently cast it on turn two to start pressuring the opponent's life total immediately.

Interaction examples

Applying Early Pressure

Esper Sentinel

If you have Esper Sentinel on the battlefield, your opponent may be hesitant to cast noncreature spells to remove your threats. This allows Ajani's Sunstriker to safely attack. When the Sunstriker connects for 2 damage, you gain 2 life, widening the life gap while the Sentinel continues to provide card advantage or mana taxation.

Scaling the Lifegain

Ornithopter of Paradise

While Ornithopter of Paradise provides the color-fixing needed to cast the restrictive double-white cost of Ajani's Sunstriker, it also serves as a potential blocker. If you use the Thopter to block a flyer and the Sunstriker to block a ground creature, the Sunstriker ensures that even if you lose a creature in combat, your life total remains healthy due to the immediate 2 life gained from its strike.