Poisoner's Apprentice — ruling 1

The infusion ability will trigger when Poisoner's Apprentice enters regardless of whether you've gained life this turn, and you'll choose a target. As that ability resolves, it will check to see if you've gained life this turn. If you have, the target creature will get -4/-4 until end of turn.

Poisoner's Apprentice : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Poisoner's Apprentice 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

Infusion — When this creature enters, target creature an opponent controls gets -4/-4 until end of turn if you gained life this turn.

How it works : Poisoner's Apprentice

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
The infusion ability will trigger when Poisoner's Apprentice enters regardless of whether you've gained life this turn, and you'll choose a target. As that ability resolves, it will check to see if you've gained life this turn. If you have, the target creature will get -4/-4 until end of turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.