Parallel Lives MTG Card


Parallel Lives enhances card advantage by replicating token output without using extra resources. Acts as a resource acceleration tool, boosting mana token effects to cast spells faster. Offers strategic depth by empowering instant-speed token strategies to create formidable presences.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

If an effect would put one or more tokens onto the battlefield under your control, it puts twice that many of those tokens onto the battlefield instead.

"There will come a time when the only prey left will be each other." —Ulrich of Krallenhorde Pack


Cards like Parallel Lives

Within the rich tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, the Parallel Lives card shines as a powerhouse in token strategies. Guided by the same enchantment vein, Anointed Procession emerges as its counterpart from the Amonkhet set. While Parallel Lives doubles the number of tokens for green-aligned decks, Anointed Procession caters to white-aligned strategies, essentially serving the same doubling effect but across different color identities.

Both Doubling Season and Primal Vigor closely mirror the abilities of Parallel Lives but extend their influence beyond tokens to include counters, making them exceptionally versatile. Doubling Season, albeit at a higher mana cost, combines the impact of Parallel Lives and Anointed Procession, offering a significant advantage to decks that exploit both tokens and counters. Primal Vigor, while offering the doubling boon for any player, provides a delicate balance of risk and reward, demanding strategic deployment.

All these cards exemplify the extraordinary effects of token multiplication in MTG. Although Parallel Lives exclusively affects the control player’s tokens without stretching into other aspects like counters or enemy tokens, its focused strength makes it a valuable piece in decks constructed around creating a vast quantity of tokens.

Anointed Procession - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions
Anointed Procession - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Parallel Lives by color, type and mana cost

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Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions
Living Lands - MTG Card versions
Titania's Song - MTG Card versions
Arboria - MTG Card versions
Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Greater Good - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Parallel Lives. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Four-color ZooFour-color Zoo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Parallel Lives on the battlefield, you effectively double your output on any tokens generated, massively increasing your potential card advantage without expending additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment acts as a catalyst for resource acceleration, as it can amplify effects that produce mana tokens, thereby enhancing your ability to cast more spells quicker.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the presence of Parallel Lives can complement strategies involving instant-speed token generation, turning a modest response into an overwhelming force at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Parallel Lives requires a precise combination of mana to play, demanding both generic and green mana. This could potentially restrict its integration within decks that are not heavily focused on green or lack the necessary mana-fixing capabilities to accommodate it effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including three generic and one green, Parallel Lives sits at a point on the mana curve where players are looking to make impactful plays. This cost might compete with other significant game-changing four-mana spells or creatures players wish to cast, making it a tough choice at crucial moments of the game.

Discard Requirement: While Parallel Lives itself does not impose a discard requirement, it indirectly influences hand management. To make the most out of its ability to duplicate tokens, players might find themselves retaining token-generating cards in hand until Parallel Lives can be played, which could lead to a less efficient use of resources in the meanwhile.


Reasons to Include Parallel Lives in Your Collection

Versatility: Parallel Lives is an enchantment that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to double the number of tokens you create makes it an invaluable card for any token-based strategy, be it creating creatures, treasures, or clues.

Combo Potential: The card’s capacity to enhance token-based combinations is immense. Integrating it into a deck with token synergies can lead to explosive plays, turning an otherwise modest board state into a dominating force.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tokens are a prevalent strategy, Parallel Lives shines as a cornerstone card. Its effect can significantly bolster your board presence, making it harder for opponents to maintain control and allowing you to capitalize on token-generating effects to their full potential.


How to beat

Parallel Lives is a card that stands out in MTG for its ability to effectively double the number of tokens players create. This doubling effect can quickly overwhelm opponents who are unprepared. To tackle this challenge, having the right strategy is crucial. One effective method is to use card removal spells that can directly target and destroy enchantments, such as Disenchant, Oblivion Ring, or Mortify.

Another approach is to take a more aggressive stance. You could employ a strategy focused on controlling the board by using sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the playing field, ensuring that the tokens never have a chance to build up. Additionally, employing counterspells such as Negate or Cancel can prevent Parallel Lives from ever hitting the board, cutting the problem at the root.

Lastly, focusing on direct player attacks can also be a winning move. This can be achieved through fast, aggressive creature strategies or combo finishes that outpace the token-generating value Parallel Lives represents. By combining these tools, you’ll have a fighting chance of neutralizing the impressive multiplying power of Parallel Lives and steering the game towards your victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Doubling tokens with Parallel Lives can be your game-changer, transforming a good position into a winning one. This enchantment is a prized asset for players who love to see their board flourish with tokens. If you’re looking to make the most of token generators or seeking a pivotal card for your green deck, Parallel Lives is worth considering. For those ready to harness its potential—or wanting to defend against it—we have deeper insights and strategies. Join us to dive into the nuances of this card, ensuring you’re well-equipped for your next clash in the enchanting world of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Parallel Lives MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Parallel Lives and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Parallel Lives Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1992003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 6152015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 1032015NormalBorderlessBODAX
42023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 582015NormalBorderlessLander Strijbol
52023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 832015NormalBorderlessBODAX

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Parallel Lives has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Parallel Lives card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-09-22 All of the tokens enter the battlefield simultaneously. They’ll have the same name, color, type and subtype, abilities, power, toughness, and so on.
2011-09-22 If the effect creating the tokens instructs you to do something with those tokens at a later time, like exiling them at the end of combat, you’ll do that for all the tokens.
2011-09-22 If the effect is putting more than one kind of token onto the battlefield, it’ll put twice as many of each kind onto the battlefield. For example, if you cast Bestial Menace while controlling Parallel Lives, you’ll put two Snake tokens, two Wolf tokens, and two Elephant tokens onto the battlefield.
2011-09-22 If you control two Parallel Lives, then the number of tokens created is four times the original number. If you control three, then the number of tokens created is eight times the original number, and so on.