Lifesteal
- Lifesteal
Damage dealt also heals your hero.
Lifesteal is an ability which causes damage dealt by a card to also restore that much Health to the controlling player's hero. Lifesteal minions on the battlefield are marked by a broken heart at the bottom of their portraits.
The Lifesteal mechanic was first introduced in Goblins vs Gnomes on the card Mistress of Pain (later renamed Queen of Pain). It was officially keyworded in Knights of the Frozen Throne. Prior to Patch 9.0.0.20457, Lifesteal was represented by the text "Damage dealt by this minion also heals your hero".
Contents
Notes[edit | edit source]
- Whenever a Lifesteal card or Hero Power deals damage, it will restore the exact same amount of Health to its controlling hero too.
- This includes minions with Battlecry, Deathrattle, and triggered effects that deal damage.[1]
- Health restoration from Lifesteal is applied after the Lifesteal source deals damage.
- If a hero deals Lifesteal damage while also taking lethal damage, the Lifesteal heal will save the hero if it would be enough to restore them to 1 health or more (or, put another way, if the damage taken minus the Lifesteal heal is less than the hero's health).
- For example, if a rogue with 5 health remaining equipped with a Kingsbane which has been granted Lifesteal (by Leeching Poison) attacks Dr. Boom, the rogue will survive if Kingsbane has at least 3 attack.
- If Betrayal is cast upon a minion with Lifesteal, the Lifesteal effect will activate once for each minion hit.
- If a Lifesteal card deals damage to a minion protected by Divine Shield, it will deal 0 damage and thus also restore 0 Health, while also removing the Divine Shield.[2]
- As with all healing effects, if combined with Auchenai Soulpriest, Embrace the Shadow or Auchenai Phantasm, Lifesteal cards will instead deal damage to the controlling hero. Because this damage is not counted as damage dealt by the Lifesteal card itself, however, the effect will not trigger a second time.
Cards with Lifesteal[edit | edit source]
This section lists cards which have the ability to Lifesteal or can gain the ability to Lifesteal when played.
Collectible[edit | edit source]
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Felscream Blast | Common | Spell | Fel | Demon Hunter | 1 | Lifesteal. Deal 1 damage to a minion and its neighbors. | |||||||||||||
Reliquary of Souls | Legendary | Minion | General | Priest | 1 | 1 | 3 | Lifesteal Deathrattle: Shuffle 'Reliquary Prime' into your deck. | |||||||||||
Kor'vas Bloodthorn | Legendary | Minion | General | Demon Hunter | 2 | 2 | 2 | Charge, Lifesteal After you play a card with Outcast, return this to your hand. | |||||||||||
Aldrachi Warblades | Free | Weapon | Demon Hunter | 3 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal | ||||||||||||
Soul Cleave | Free | Spell | Demon Hunter | 3 | Lifesteal Deal 2 damage to two random enemy minions. | ||||||||||||||
Ashtongue Battlelord | Common | Minion | General | Demon Hunter | 4 | 3 | 5 | Taunt Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Il'gynoth | Legendary | Minion | General | Demon Hunter | 4 | 2 | 6 | Lifesteal Your Lifesteal damages the enemy hero instead of healing you. | |||||||||||
Judicious Junior | Common | Minion | General | Paladin | 6 | 4 | 9 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Tidal Wave | Common | Spell | Shaman | 8 | Lifesteal Deal 3 damage to all minions. | ||||||||||||||
Showing all 9 cards |
Forged in the Barrens
The below cards are planned for release with Forged in the Barrens, coming March 30th, 2021.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drain Soul | Common | Spell | Shadow | Warlock | 2 | Lifesteal Deal 3 damage to a minion. | |||||||||||||
Aldrachi Warblades | Common | Weapon | Demon Hunter | 3 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal | ||||||||||||
Blood Shard Bristleback | Rare | Minion | General | Warlock | 3 | 3 | 3 | Lifesteal. Battlecry: If your deck contains 10 or fewer cards, deal 6 damage to a minion. | |||||||||||
Devouring Plague | Common | Spell | Shadow | Priest | 3 | Lifesteal. Deal 4 damage randomly split among all enemy minions. | |||||||||||||
Eye Beam | Epic | Spell | Fel | Demon Hunter | 3 | Lifesteal. Deal 3 damage to a minion. Outcast: This costs (1). | |||||||||||||
Ashtongue Battlelord | Common | Minion | General | Demon Hunter | 4 | 3 | 5 | Taunt Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Tidal Surge | Common | Spell | Nature | Shaman | 4 | Lifesteal Deal 4 damage to a minion. | |||||||||||||
Showing all 7 cards |
Wild format

Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deadscale Knight | Common | Minion | Murloc | Any | 1 | 1 | 1 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Swamp Leech | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 1 | 2 | 1 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Cheaty Anklebiter | Common | Minion | General | Any | 2 | 2 | 1 | Lifesteal Battlecry: Deal 1 damage. | |||||||||||
Crystalsmith Kangor | Legendary | Minion | General | Paladin | 2 | 1 | 2 | Divine Shield, Lifesteal Your healing is doubled. | |||||||||||
Drain Soul | Common | Spell | Warlock | 2 | Lifesteal Deal 2 damage to a minion. | ||||||||||||||
Penance | Common | Spell | Holy | Priest | 2 | Lifesteal Deal 3 damage to a minion. | |||||||||||||
Queen of Pain | Rare | Minion | Demon | Warlock | 2 | 1 | 4 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Spirit Lash | Common | Spell | Priest | 2 | Lifesteal Deal 1 damage to all minions. | ||||||||||||||
Vicious Scalehide | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 2 | 1 | 3 | Lifesteal Rush | |||||||||||
Vilefiend | Common | Minion | Demon | Any | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Acolyte of Agony | Common | Minion | General | Priest | 3 | 3 | 3 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Bronze Explorer | Common | Minion | Dragon | Paladin | 3 | 2 | 3 | Lifesteal Battlecry: Discover a Dragon. | |||||||||||
Eye Beam | Epic | Spell | Fel | Demon Hunter | 3 | Lifesteal. Deal 3 damage to a minion. Outcast: This costs (1). | |||||||||||||
Pumpkin Peasant | Common | Minion | General | Any | 3 | 2 | 4 | Lifesteal Each turn this is in your hand, swap its Attack and Health. | |||||||||||
Wickerflame Burnbristle | Legendary | Minion | General | Paladin | 3 | 2 | 2 | Divine Shield, Taunt, Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Ancestral Guardian | Common | Minion | General | Paladin | 4 | 4 | 2 | Lifesteal Reborn | |||||||||||
Chillblade Champion | Common | Minion | General | Paladin | 4 | 3 | 2 | Charge Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Felsoul Inquisitor | Common | Minion | Demon | Any | 4 | 1 | 6 | Lifesteal Taunt | |||||||||||
High Priestess Jeklik | Legendary | Minion | General | Warlock | 4 | 3 | 4 | Taunt, Lifesteal When you discard this, add 2 copies of it to your hand. | |||||||||||
Lesser Amethyst Spellstone | Rare | Spell | Warlock | 4 | Lifesteal. Deal 3 damage to a minion. (Take damage from your cards to upgrade.) | ||||||||||||||
Prince Valanar | Legendary | Minion | General | Any | 4 | 4 | 4 | Battlecry: If your deck has no 4-Cost cards, gain Lifesteal and Taunt. | |||||||||||
Spectral Cutlass | Epic | Weapon | Rogue | 4 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal Whenever you play a card from another class, gain +1 Durability. | ||||||||||||
Blood-Queen Lana'thel | Legendary | Minion | General | Warlock | 5 | 1 | 6 | Lifesteal Has +1 Attack for each card you've discarded this game. | |||||||||||
Bloodworm | Common | Minion | Beast | Any | 5 | 4 | 4 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Rusty Recycler | Common | Minion | Mech | Any | 5 | 2 | 6 | Taunt Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Zilliax | Legendary | Minion | Mech | Any | 5 | 3 | 2 | Magnetic Divine Shield, Taunt, Lifesteal, Rush | |||||||||||
Walking Fountain | Common | Minion | Elemental | Shaman | 8 | 4 | 8 | Lifesteal, Rush, Windfury | |||||||||||
Obsidian Statue | Epic | Minion | General | Priest | 9 | 4 | 8 | Taunt, Lifesteal Deathrattle: Destroy a random enemy minion. | |||||||||||
Shirvallah, the Tiger | Legendary | Minion | Beast | Paladin | 25 | 7 | 5 | Divine Shield, Rush, Lifesteal Costs (1) less for each Mana you've spent on spells. | |||||||||||
Showing all 29 cards |
Uncollectible[edit | edit source]
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravenous Vilefiend | None | Minion | Demon | Demon Hunter | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Insatiable Felhound | Common | Minion | Demon | Demon Hunter | 3 | 3 | 6 | Corrupted Taunt, Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Desperate Dreadlord | None | Minion | Demon | Warlock | 5 | 5 | 5 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Libram of Judgment | Common | Weapon | Paladin | 7 | 5 | 3 | Corrupted Lifesteal | ||||||||||||
Reliquary Prime | None | Minion | General | Priest | 7 | 6 | 8 | Taunt, Lifesteal Only you can target this with spells and Hero Powers. | |||||||||||
Showing all 5 cards |
Forged in the Barrens
The below cards are planned for release with Forged in the Barrens, coming March 30th, 2021.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battlefield Medic | None | Minion | General | Paladin | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Showing the only card |
Wild format

Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crystal Dryad | None | Minion | General | Druid | 1 | 1 | 2 | Lifesteal | |||||||||||
Siphon Life | None | Hero Power | Warlock | 2 | Hero Power Lifesteal Deal 3 damage. | ||||||||||||||
Pumpkin Peasant | Common | Minion | General | Any | 3 | 4 | 2 | Lifesteal Each turn this is in your hand, swap its Attack and Health. | |||||||||||
Amethyst Spellstone | Rare | Spell | Warlock | 4 | Lifesteal. Deal 5 damage to a minion. (Take damage from your cards to upgrade.) | ||||||||||||||
Greater Amethyst Spellstone | Rare | Spell | Warlock | 4 | Lifesteal. Deal 7 damage to a minion. | ||||||||||||||
Grave Vengeance | None | Weapon | Paladin | 8 | 5 | 3 | Lifesteal | ||||||||||||
Showing all 6 cards |
Sources of Lifesteal[edit | edit source]
Lifesteal-generating cards[edit | edit source]
This section lists cards which generate cards that have the ability to Lifesteal.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reliquary of Souls | Legendary | Minion | General | Priest | 1 | 1 | 3 | Lifesteal Deathrattle: Shuffle 'Reliquary Prime' into your deck. | |||||||||||
Insatiable Felhound | Common | Minion | Demon | Demon Hunter | 3 | 2 | 5 | Taunt Corrupt: Gain +1/+1 and Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Vile Call | Common | Spell | Demon Hunter | 3 | Summon two 2/2 Demons with Lifesteal. | ||||||||||||||
Envoy Rustwix | Legendary | Minion | Demon | Warlock | 5 | 5 | 4 | Deathrattle: Shuffle 3 random Prime Legendary minions into your deck. | |||||||||||
Libram of Judgment | Common | Weapon | Paladin | 7 | 5 | 3 | Corrupt: Gain Lifesteal. | ||||||||||||
Enhanced Dreadlord | Rare | Minion | Demon | Warlock | 8 | 5 | 7 | Taunt Deathrattle: Summon a 5/5 Dreadlord with Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Showing all 6 cards |
Forged in the Barrens
The below cards are planned for release with Forged in the Barrens, coming March 30th, 2021.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Veteran Warmedic | Epic | Minion | General | Paladin | 4 | 3 | 5 | After you cast a Holy spell, summon a 2/2 Medic with Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Showing the only card |
Wild format

Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dreamway Guardians | Rare | Spell | Druid | 2 | Summon two 1/2 Dryads with Lifesteal. | ||||||||||||||
Uther of the Ebon Blade | Legendary | Hero card | Paladin | 9 | Battlecry: Equip a 5/3 Lifesteal weapon. | ||||||||||||||
Showing all 2 cards |
Lifesteal-granting cards[edit | edit source]
This section lists cards which grant the Lifesteal ability to other cards or to itself.
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragonmaw Sentinel | Rare | Minion | General | Priest | 2 | 1 | 4 | Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain +1 Attack and Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Apotheosis | Common | Spell | Holy | Priest | 3 | Give a minion +2/+3 and Lifesteal. | |||||||||||||
Man'ari Mosher | Common | Minion | Demon | Warlock | 3 | 3 | 4 | Battlecry: Give a friendly Demon +3 Attack and Lifesteal this turn. | |||||||||||
High Exarch Yrel | Legendary | Minion | General | Paladin | 8 | 7 | 5 | Battlecry: If your deck has no Neutral cards, gain Rush, Lifesteal, Taunt, and Divine Shield. | |||||||||||
Showing all 4 cards |
Wild format

Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leeching Poison | Common | Spell | Rogue | 1 | Give your weapon Lifesteal this turn. | ||||||||||||||
Lightforged Blessing | Common | Spell | Holy | Paladin | 2 | Twinspell Give a friendly minion Lifesteal. | |||||||||||||
Lightforged Blessing | Common | Spell | Holy | Paladin | 2 | Give a friendly minion Lifesteal. | |||||||||||||
Nether Breath | Rare | Spell | Fel | Warlock | 2 | Deal 2 damage. If you're holding a Dragon, deal 4 damage with Lifesteal instead. | |||||||||||||
Omega Mind | Epic | Minion | General | Shaman | 2 | 2 | 3 | Battlecry: If you have 10 Mana Crystals, your spells have Lifesteal this turn. | |||||||||||
Elixir of Life | Common | Spell | Holy | Priest | 3 | Give a minion +2/+2 and Lifesteal. | |||||||||||||
Paragon of Light | Rare | Minion | General | Paladin | 3 | 2 | 5 | While this minion has 3 or more Attack, it has Taunt and Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Corpsetaker | Epic | Minion | General | Any | 4 | 3 | 3 | Battlecry: Gain Taunt if your deck has a Taunt minion. Repeat for Divine Shield, Lifesteal, Windfury. | |||||||||||
Prince Valanar | Legendary | Minion | General | Any | 4 | 4 | 4 | Battlecry: If your deck has no 4-Cost cards, gain Lifesteal and Taunt. | |||||||||||
Deathweb Spider | Epic | Minion | Beast | Warlock | 5 | 4 | 6 | Battlecry: If your hero took damage this turn, gain Lifesteal. | |||||||||||
Zilliax | Legendary | Minion | Mech | Any | 5 | 3 | 2 | Magnetic Divine Shield, Taunt, Lifesteal, Rush | |||||||||||
Frost Lich Jaina | Legendary | Hero card | Mage | 9 | Battlecry: Summon a 3/6 Water Elemental. Your Elementals have Lifesteal for the rest of the game. | ||||||||||||||
Showing all 12 cards |
Related cards[edit | edit source]
Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Il'gynoth | Legendary | Minion | General | Demon Hunter | 4 | 2 | 6 | Lifesteal Your Lifesteal damages the enemy hero instead of healing you. | |||||||||||
Showing the only card |
Wild format

Name / Desc | Rarity | Type | Subtype | Class | Cost | Atk | HP | Description | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deathaxe Punisher | Epic | Minion | General | Any | 4 | 3 | 3 | Battlecry: Give a random Lifesteal minion in your hand +2/+2. | |||||||||||
Countess Ashmore | Legendary | Minion | General | Any | 7 | 6 | 6 | Battlecry: Draw a Rush, Lifesteal, and Deathrattle card from your deck. | |||||||||||
Showing all 2 cards |
Achievements[edit | edit source]
Name | Requirements | Rewards |
---|---|---|
I Vant to Suck Your Blood (1/5) | Play 5 cards with Lifesteal. | 10 ![]() |
I Vant to Suck Your Blood (2/5) | Play 15 cards with Lifesteal. | 10 ![]() |
I Vant to Suck Your Blood (3/5) | Play 50 cards with Lifesteal. | 10 ![]() |
I Vant to Suck Your Blood (4/5) | Play 150 cards with Lifesteal. | 10 ![]() |
I Vant to Suck Your Blood (5/5) | Play 500 cards with Lifesteal. | 20 ![]() |
So Judgey... (1/2) | Restore 60 Health with Lifesteal weapons. | 100 ![]() ![]() |
So Judgey... (2/2) | Restore 180 Health with Lifesteal weapons. | 200 ![]() ![]() |
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Prior to the introduction of the Lifesteal keyword in Patch 9.0.0.20457, if a Lifesteal card dealt damage while combined with Auchenai Soulpriest or Embrace the Shadow, the converted Lifesteal healing would count as damage dealt by the Lifesteal card itself. This would cause the Lifesteal card's effect to trigger again and again, resulting in an infinite loop of damage until the controlling player's hero was killed. More precisely, the infinite loop was believed to stop once the hero had been in negative Health following three consecutive triggers or after 61 triggers, whichever happened first. In Knights of the Frozen Throne, this interaction was changed to deal damage only once.[3]
- When a Lifesteal effect restores health to the controlling player's hero, the healing is accompanied by a unified visual style.
- Holy Fire, Drain Life, and Tidal Surge were not changed into Lifesteal spells with the release of Knights of the Frozen Throne, as they always restore the same amount of Health to the controlling hero and changing them to Lifesteal would cause the healing to scale with Spell Damage.[2][4] In the case of Drain Life, Game Director Ben Brode has also expressed a reluctance to add a new keyword to the Basic set.[4]
- Lifesteal is the second non-launch keyword to continue to appear on cards outside of the set it was introduced in, the first being Discover. It's also the first non-launch mechanic to later be given an official keyword.
Patch changes[edit | edit source]
Patch 9.0.0.20457 (2017-08-08): This effect is now named as Lifesteal. Lifesteal minions on the battlefield now have a unique icon at the bottom of their portraits.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Matthew Place on Twitter. (2017-07-31).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Puffin on reddit. (2017-07-08). Retrieved on 2017-07-26.
- ↑ Auchenai Soulpriest and Lifesteal Synergy Update. (2017-07-08). Retrieved on 2017-07-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ben Brode on Twitter. (2017-07-21).
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