Witch Hunt — ruling 1

Spells and abilities that would cause a player to gain life still resolve, but the life-gain part has no effect.

Witch Hunt — ruling 2

Abilities that trigger whenever a player gains life can’t trigger and effects that would replace gaining life with another effect won’t apply because it’s impossible for players to gain life.

Witch Hunt — ruling 3

If an effect sets a player’s life total to a specific number and that number is higher than the player’s current life total, that part of the effect won’t do anything. (If the number is lower than the player’s current life total, the effect will work as normal.)

Witch Hunt — ruling 4

To choose a target at random, all possible legal targets must have an equal chance of being chosen. There are many ways to do this, including assigning each possible legal target a number and rolling a die.

Witch Hunt — ruling 5

The target is chosen at random as you put the last ability on the stack. Players can respond to this ability knowing who the target is.

Witch Hunt — ruling 6

If you control Witch Hunt, you are not a legal target. If there are no legal targets available, the ability is removed from the stack and you retain control of Witch Hunt.

Witch Hunt : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Witch Hunt 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

Players can't gain life. At the beginning of your upkeep, this enchantment deals 4 damage to you. At the beginning of your end step, target opponent chosen at random gains control of this enchantment.

How it works : Witch Hunt

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
Spells and abilities that would cause a player to gain life still resolve, but the life-gain part has no effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
Abilities that trigger whenever a player gains life can’t trigger and effects that would replace gaining life with another effect won’t apply because it’s impossible for players to gain life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect sets a player’s life total to a specific number and that number is higher than the player’s current life total, that part of the effect won’t do anything. (If the number is lower than the player’s current life total, the effect will work as normal.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
To choose a target at random, all possible legal targets must have an equal chance of being chosen. There are many ways to do this, including assigning each possible legal target a number and rolling a die.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
The target is chosen at random as you put the last ability on the stack. Players can respond to this ability knowing who the target is.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 17, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If you control Witch Hunt, you are not a legal target. If there are no legal targets available, the ability is removed from the stack and you retain control of Witch Hunt.
No other card is named in this ruling.