How does the theft of hearts work concretely?

When a player eliminates an opponent in combat, he automatically wins an additional heart receptacle, while the victim loses one. This allows the winners to become more resistant and the vanquished to become increasingly vulnerable.

What happens if I lose all my hearts?

Reaching zero hearts is synonymous with elimination. Depending on the server rules, this can lead to a temporary or definitive ban (Revive-ban), making survival absolutely crucial.

Are there other ways to obtain hearts?

Yes, many servers allow for manufacturing hearts via extremely costly crafting recipes using rare resources like heart fragments or Nether stars.

Is there a maximum limit of health?

To maintain a certain balance, most servers set a ceiling (often between 20 and 40 hearts). Once this limit is reached, killing a player will no longer give you a heart, but will still make them lose one.

Can one return hearts to a friend or exchange them?

The Lifesteal introduces a unique economy where the hearts are exchangeable objects. You can 'withdraw' your own hearts in the form of items to give them to a banned ally in order to resurrect them or to sell them on the black market.

How to survive if one starts with few hearts?

Strategy is the key: stay discrete, focus on equipment (Netherite, Crystals, Totems) and only take combat when you are sure to win in order to rebuild your health bar.