The Gaffer 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
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, draw a card.
Complete guide
The Gaffer is a legendary Halfling Peasant that rewards you for your hospitality and healthy living. By reaching a specific threshold of life gain, you can turn your recovery into a steady stream of extra cards every single turn.
Checking the Threshold
The Gaffer features an 'intervening if' clause. At the beginning of every end step—yours and your opponents'—the game checks if you have gained a total of 3 or more life during that specific turn. It does not matter if you also lost life; the ability only tracks the gross amount gained. If you haven't hit the 3-life mark by the time the end step starts, the ability will not trigger at all.
Resolution and Timing
When the end step begins, the ability checks the turn's history. Even if The Gaffer entered the battlefield after you gained the life, it will still 'remember' that life gain and trigger accordingly. Once it triggers and the stack resolves, you draw exactly one card. Gaining 6, 9, or 20 life in a single turn still only results in one draw from this specific trigger.
Strategic Considerations
Because this ability triggers during 'each' end step, you can maximize your card draw by finding ways to gain 3 life during your opponents' turns as well. Common mistakes include thinking you need to gain the life while The Gaffer is present or believing that losing life offsets your gain for this check. Neither is true; if you gained 3 and lost 10, the Gaffer still sees that you gained 3.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf Roaming Throne is on the battlefield with 'Halfling' chosen as the creature type, it will see The Gaffer's end step ability trigger. If you gained 3 or more life that turn, The Gaffer triggers once, and Roaming Throne causes it to trigger an additional time. You will draw two cards instead of one during that end step.
Solemn SimulacrumWhile Solemn Simulacrum doesn't gain you life directly, it helps you reach the mana needed to play multiple life-gain spells in one turn. If you gain 3 life on your turn and The Gaffer triggers, you draw a card. If Solemn Simulacrum dies later on an opponent's turn, you draw a card from its death trigger, but The Gaffer will only trigger during that opponent's end step if you also found a way to gain 3 life during their turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : The Gaffer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You draw just one card, no matter how much life you've gained past 3 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The Gaffer's ability looks at how much life you've gained in the turn, even if it wasn't on the battlefield when you gained life. It doesn't care if you also lost life, even if you lost more life than you gained.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If you haven't gained 3 or more life by the time an end step begins, The Gaffer's ability won't trigger at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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