And yes, they gain life
Status: Restricted in Vintage, banned everywhere else
Through the Ages will very likely, and at long last, bring partner pairings into the Arena format thanks to Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder, reimagined as Final Fantasy XVI's Hugo Kupka (who is not really one of the good guys, as you may guess from the card art), and Tymna the Weaver as Cecil Harvey, illustrated by the legendary Yoshitaka Amano
Besides being based on the popular song of the same name, this is a powerful card
This is certainly true for Alpha and Beta cards (owning a piece of Magics first-ever set feels amazing!) as well as tournament staples, like Lightning Bolt
You could also then use the Dinner Bell ability to draw cards equal to the damage on chosen character of yours, then banish them for a decent card draw.