Wall of ReverenceHow it works & interactions with other cards

Scaling Life Gain

Wall of Reverence features a triggered ability that occurs at the beginning of your end step. Unlike many other healing effects that provide a flat amount, this card scales based on the power of a creature you currently control. Because it targets a creature, you must choose a legal target when the ability is put onto the stack. If that creature's power changes before the ability resolves, you will gain life equal to its power at the moment of resolution.

Step-by-Step Resolution

The process begins as you move from your post-combat main phase to your end step. First, the triggered ability is placed on the stack, and you choose a target creature you control. Second, players have an opportunity to respond with instants or activated abilities. Third, as the ability resolves, the game checks the current power of the targeted creature. Finally, you gain that much life. If the creature has left the battlefield, the game uses its 'last known information' to determine how much life you gain.

Timing and Buffs

A common mistake involves missing the window for power-pumping effects. According to official rulings, if an effect changes a creature's power 'until end of turn,' that bonus is still active during your end step. This means you can cast spells to boost a creature's power during your main phase or combat, and Wall of Reverence will 'see' that increased value when its ability resolves before the cleanup step begins.

Interaction examples

Steady Growth with Golems

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control both cards, at the beginning of your end step, you can target Solemn Simulacrum with the Wall's ability. Since Solemn Simulacrum has a power of 2, the ability will resolve and you will gain 2 life. This provides a repeatable way to regain health while your Golem sits back and blocks.

Doubling Up the Reverence

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Spirit' as the creature type, it will interact with Wall of Reverence. Because the Wall is a Spirit, its end step ability will trigger an additional time. You can choose Roaming Throne (a 4/4) as the target for both triggers. During your end step, you will gain 4 life twice, for a total of 8 life gain in a single turn.

Self-Targeting

Wall of Reverence can target itself! If you control no other creatures, the Wall can be the target of its own ability. Since it has a base power of 1, you will gain 1 life at the beginning of every one of your end steps as long as it remains on the battlefield.