What is the consequence for a team if one of its members has an effect applied that prevents gaining life?

The correct answer highlights a crucial aspect of how effects that apply to a player can influence the gameplay dynamics within a team format in Magic: The Gathering. When one team member has an effect applied that specifically prevents them from gaining life, it directly affects the collective strategy of the team, as all members are subject to the same game rules and effects.

In this context, if a player is unable to gain life due to an effect, it does not inherently mean that the whole team is prohibited from gaining life altogether. However, it does influence how the game is approached, as life gain is typically a strategic component in teamwork.

This points to a broader principle within Magic: The Gathering where individual effects can change the potential outcomes for a team. While the rules allow for different players to have various conditions affecting them, the inability to gain life only restricts the affected player, not the entire team. Thus, teammates can still utilize different means or strategies to gain life, provided they are not individually affected by similar restrictions.

In scenarios where effects apply only to individual players, it’s essential for the team to navigate these restrictions strategically while knowing that one player's inability to gain life does not necessarily translate into a collective disadvantage for the team.