Soul Conduit — ruling 1

If one of the targeted players is an illegal target when the activated ability tries to resolve, the exchange won’t happen. Neither player’s life total will change.

Soul Conduit — ruling 2

When the life totals are exchanged, each player gains or loses the amount of life necessary to equal the other player’s previous life total. For example, if Player A has 5 life and Player B has 3 life before the exchange, Player A will lose 2 life and Player B will gain 2 life. Replacement effects may modify these gains and losses, and triggered abilities may trigger on them.

Soul Conduit — ruling 3

If a player can’t gain life, that player can’t exchange life totals with a player with a higher life total. If a player can’t lose life, that player can’t exchange life totals with a player with a lower life total. In either of these cases, neither player’s life total will change.

Soul Conduit — ruling 4

In a Two-Headed Giant game, each player is considered to have the same life total as their team. If the two targeted players are on different teams, the teams will end up exchanging life totals. If the two targeted players are teammates, nothing will happen.

Soul Conduit : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Soul Conduit 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

, : Two target players exchange life totals.

Complete guide

Soul Conduit is a high-stakes artifact capable of turning a losing game into an immediate victory. By spending six mana and tapping this relic, you can force a dramatic shift in the balance of power between any two players. It is the ultimate tool for political maneuvers and unexpected comebacks in long-form matches.

How the Exchange Works

Soul Conduit targets two players and forces them to swap their current life totals. Behind the scenes, the game calculates the difference between their totals and causes each player to gain or lose the exact amount of life needed to reach the other person's number. For example, if you have 2 life and your opponent has 20, you will gain 18 life while they lose 18 life simultaneously.

Conditions and Restrictions

For the exchange to occur, both targets must be legal when the ability resolves. If one player gains hexproof or leaves the game in response, the entire ability fails and no life totals change. Additionally, if a player is under an effect that prevents them from gaining or losing life, and the exchange would require them to do so, the exchange is cancelled for both players.

Strategic Timing

Because this ability costs six mana to activate, it is best utilized when you have reached a dangerously low life total or when an opponent has stabilized at a very high one. It functions at instant speed, meaning you can wait until your opponent's end step or even in response to a lethal attack to switch places and leave them vulnerable.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Conduit

Gilded Lotus

You can use Gilded Lotus to tap for three mana of any one color, providing half of the activation cost for Soul Conduit. This combination helps you maintain enough mana to threaten a life swap even after casting other spells during your turn.

The Big Swap

Player A is at 5 life and Player B is at 30 life. Player A activates Soul Conduit targeting both players. Upon resolution, Player A gains 25 life to reach 30, and Player B loses 25 life to drop to 5. Triggered abilities that care about life gain or loss will see these specific values.

Interaction with Stat Boosts

Vanquisher's Banner

While Vanquisher's Banner provides a static buff to your creatures, it does not interact with your life total. If you exchange life totals using Soul Conduit, your creatures will retain their +1/+1 bonus from the Banner regardless of how your life total changes.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Soul Conduit

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
If one of the targeted players is an illegal target when the activated ability tries to resolve, the exchange won’t happen. Neither player’s life total will change.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
When the life totals are exchanged, each player gains or loses the amount of life necessary to equal the other player’s previous life total. For example, if Player A has 5 life and Player B has 3 life before the exchange, Player A will lose 2 life and Player B will gain 2 life. Replacement effects may modify these gains and losses, and triggered abilities may trigger on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
If a player can’t gain life, that player can’t exchange life totals with a player with a higher life total. If a player can’t lose life, that player can’t exchange life totals with a player with a lower life total. In either of these cases, neither player’s life total will change.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 1, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, each player is considered to have the same life total as their team. If the two targeted players are on different teams, the teams will end up exchanging life totals. If the two targeted players are teammates, nothing will happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.