Dissection PracticeHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Multipurpose Tool

Dissection Practice has three distinct effects. First, it causes a target opponent to lose 1 life and gives you 1 life. Second, it allows you to give a creature +1/+1 until end of turn. Finally, it allows you to give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn. Because the creature-targeting effects use the phrase "up to one," you can cast this spell even if there are no creatures on the battlefield, or if you only want to affect one creature instead of two.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When you cast Dissection Practice, you choose your targets: one opponent, zero or one creature for the buff, and zero or one creature for the debuff. Upon resolution, the game checks if the targets are still legal. If the targeted opponent is the only target and they gain hexproof, the spell is removed from the stack. If at least one target remains legal, the spell resolves as follows: the opponent loses 1 life, you gain 1 life, then the chosen creatures receive their respective power and toughness modifications. If a creature was targeted to receive -1/-1 and its toughness becomes 0, it is put into the graveyard as a state-based action after the spell finishes resolving.

Strategic Timing

As an instant, Dissection Practice is most effective during the combat phase. You can use it to save one of your attackers from a blocker, or to weaken an opponent's blocker so your creature survives. It can also be used in response to damage spells to keep a vital creature alive. Remember that the life drain targets an opponent, so it can be used to finish off a player who is at exactly 1 life.

Common Mistakes

One common error is forgetting that you must choose an opponent to target; the spell cannot be cast if your opponent has protection from black or hexproof and there are no other opponents. Additionally, players sometimes forget that the same creature can be targeted by both the +1/+1 and the -1/-1 effects, which would result in a net change of 0/0, though this is rarely beneficial.

Interaction examples

Early Game Acceleration

Dark Ritual

On turn one, you cast Dark Ritual to add three black mana to your pool. You use one mana to cast a small creature and another mana to cast Dissection Practice. You target your opponent for the life drain and your own creature for the +1/+1. This allows you to attack for increased damage immediately while padding your own life total, all while still having one mana left in your pool.

Precision After Tutoring

Vampiric Tutor

During your opponent's end step, you cast Vampiric Tutor, searching for a card and losing 2 life. On your turn, you cast Dissection Practice targeting your opponent. The 1 life you gain from Dissection Practice helps mitigate the life loss from the Tutor, while the -1/-1 effect can be used to pick off a small utility creature your opponent just played.

Combat Math Manipulation

During combat, your 2/2 creature is blocked by an opponent's 2/2 creature. You cast Dissection Practice, targeting your creature with +1/+1 and their creature with -1/-1. Your creature becomes a 3/3 and their creature becomes a 1/1. Your creature survives the combat, theirs is destroyed, and you gain 1 life while they lose 1 life.