Death's Caress — ruling 1

If Death’s Caress resolves but the target creature isn’t destroyed, perhaps because it has indestructible or it regenerated, you still check if it’s a Human. If so, you’ll gain life equal to its toughness.

Death's Caress — ruling 2

Check the creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine if it was a Human. If it was, use its toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life is gained.

Death's Caress — ruling 3

If the target creature isn’t on the battlefield or is otherwise an illegal target when Death’s Caress tries to resolve, Death’s Caress doesn’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t gain any life.

Death's Caress : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Death's Caress is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Destroy target creature. If that creature was a Human, you gain life equal to its toughness.

How it works : Death's Caress

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 1, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If Death’s Caress resolves but the target creature isn’t destroyed, perhaps because it has indestructible or it regenerated, you still check if it’s a Human. If so, you’ll gain life equal to its toughness.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
Check the creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine if it was a Human. If it was, use its toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life is gained.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
If the target creature isn’t on the battlefield or is otherwise an illegal target when Death’s Caress tries to resolve, Death’s Caress doesn’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t gain any life.
No other card is named in this ruling.