The damage prevention effect is what makes this card useful. This will stop a surprise Lightning Bolt or Giant Growth or prevents your 2/2 from being killed by your opponent's 2/2. Gaining life unfortunately will only delay your loss.

  -- By Anonymous from Bay Area, California on October 30, 2008

im sorry but your just wrong gaining lif will not win you the game dealing damage will you are a fool to think otherwise well just to prove the point why dont you build a life gain deck and play it against a burn deck i promise you will lose life gain does nothing but stall time just makes the game longer the only good life gain cards are recurring like ivory tower for example im gonna stop ranting now

  -- By freindly for fun from bristol england on October 11, 2005

I feel that this card diserves 4 stars. the reason being Lightning Bolt did 3 damage for 1 mana and was soon outlawed because it did to much for 1mana so I think that it is the same for this card you gain 3 life for only 1mana

  -- By Bruce Daw from UT.Sandy on August 21, 2005