AI DraftFeb 26, 2026
Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Walking Ballista
Overview
If Walking Ballista has lifelink (for example, granted by Heliod’s 
ability), removing a +1/+1 counter from it to deal 1 damage will cause you to gain 1 life from lifelink, which in turn triggers Heliod’s “Whenever you gain life…” ability . The life-gain trigger is placed on the stack after the damage event is processed , and when that trigger resolves you may put a +1/+1 counter on a target creature or enchantment you control (including Walking Ballista) [118.9; Ruling 2020-01-24]. Repeated uses are limited by the number of counters and any damage already marked on Ballista (which can cause it to be destroyed by state-based actions) [Ruling 2020-08-07].
ability), removing a +1/+1 counter from it to deal 1 damage will cause you to gain 1 life from lifelink, which in turn triggers Heliod’s “Whenever you gain life…” ability . The life-gain trigger is placed on the stack after the damage event is processed , and when that trigger resolves you may put a +1/+1 counter on a target creature or enchantment you control (including Walking Ballista) [118.9; Ruling 2020-01-24]. Repeated uses are limited by the number of counters and any damage already marked on Ballista (which can cause it to be destroyed by state-based actions) [Ruling 2020-08-07].Step 1
Ensure Heliod, Sun-Crowned and Walking Ballista are on the battlefield and Ballista has at least one +1/+1 counter. Optionally give Ballista lifelink using Heliod’s activated ability (: Another target creature gains lifelink until end of turn).
: Another target creature gains lifelink until end of turn).Step 2
Activate Walking Ballista’s ability that reads 'Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature: It deals 1 damage to any target.' Removing the counter is the cost; the ability will resolve and deal 1 damage to the chosen target.
Step 3
When that ability resolves it deals damage. Damage is dealt and processed according to the damage sequence . Because Ballista has lifelink, the damage event causes you to gain that much life as part of the damage results .
Step 4
The life-gain event from lifelink causes Heliod’s triggered ability ('Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature or enchantment you control') to trigger . That triggered ability is put on the stack after the damage event is processed and waits to be put on the stack as a triggered ability does .
Step 5
When Heliod’s triggered ability resolves you choose a target creature or enchantment you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it. You may target Walking Ballista with that trigger, and Heliod can be targeted by its own trigger [118.9; Ruling 2020-01-24].
Step 6
Repeat as desired/possible: you can activate Ballista’s remove-a-counter ability again only if it still has counters to remove and isn’t destroyed by marked damage or other effects. Marked damage and remaining toughness limit how many times you can safely remove counters in a turn [Ruling 2020-08-07].
Resolution
When Walking Ballista deals damage by removing a +1/+1 counter, if it has lifelink the lifelink causes you to gain life as part of the damage event . That life gain triggers Heliod’s ability (once per life-gain event) [118.9; Ruling 2023-07-28]. The trigger is put on the stack after damage is dealt and processed , and when it resolves you may put a +1/+1 counter on a target creature or enchantment you control (you may target Ballista, and Heliod can be the target of its own triggered ability) [118.9; Ruling 2020-01-24]. You cannot remove more +1/+1 counters from Ballista in a turn than its counters and survivability allow — damage marked on Ballista and its remaining counters can cause it to be destroyed as a state-based action [Ruling 2020-08-07].
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