Abian, Luvion Usurper MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 87
2021-08-20 - Number 87
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Abian |
| Loyalty | 5 |
Text of card
As CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you become Abian. (Your life total becomes equal to their loyalty. You can activate the loyalty abilities by spending or gaining life.) +3: Discard your hand, then draw cards equal to the greatest power among creatures you control. +1: Create a 3/2 red and green Spirit creature token. −X: You deal X damage to any target.
Cards like Abian, Luvion Usurper
Abian, Luvion Usurper dives into the realm of transformative planeswalker cards, much like the well-known Nicol Bolas, the Ravager. Upon entering the battlefield, Abian’s front side offers utility by shuffling any number of permanents you don’t control into their owners’ libraries. This disruptive ability can be likened to the sweeping effect of cards such as Perilous Vault, which also aims to reset the board. However, Abian allows for more targeted manipulation rather than a full wipe.
Another competitor in this space is Karn, the Great Creator, armed with a passive ability to turn off artifacts. Karn doesn’t shuffle but outright denies the use of a particular card type, which can be game-ending in certain matchups. Abian, though, takes a different tack, offering the flexibility to target any nonland permanent which can pivot the board state in your favor.
When weighing the strategic advantages of various planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering, Abian, Luvion Usurper showcases a unique ability to tailor the battlefield to your benefit before revealing its more powerful planeswalker side, setting it apart from other game-altering cards.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Abian, Luvion Usurper allows players to generate substantial card advantage by exiling the top cards of opponent’s libraries and granting the ability to play lands or cast spells from among them. This can turn into a stream of resources that can dominate the game.
Resource Acceleration: By playing additional lands from opponents’ decks, Abian helps in resource acceleration. Gaining access to more mana ahead of the normal curve bolsters your capacity to deploy threats or hold up answers quicker than your opponent can respond.
Instant Speed: While Abian, Luvion Usurper itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the card enables you to cast opponent’s instants and flash spells. This flexibility can be a game-changer, allowing you to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield and maximizing the potential of your turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Abian, Luvion Usurper requires you to discard another card when you play it. This can be particularly taxing in game scenarios where maintaining hand advantage is crucial, and may inadvertently deplete your resources more than you would like.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Abian entails a very specific mana composition which may prove to be a deck building challenge. At three different colors, it necessitates a well-tuned mana base, potentially restricting it to multicolor decks or those with ample mana-fixing solutions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Abian packs a powerful punch with its game-altering abilities, the combined mana value might be considered steep. This can be particularly notable when adjudging its cost-benefit ratio alongside other potential options that might provide similar board impact for less investment.
Reasons to Include Abian, Luvion Usurper in Your Collection
Versatility: Abian, Luvion Usurper is known for its flexible role within various deck archetypes. Its ability to potentially alter the course of a game by disrupting opponents’ strategies with its loyalty abilities makes it an asset in many builds.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with other cards that manipulate loyalty counters or benefit from planeswalker activations. Abian’s unique abilities can be the cornerstone of inventive and powerful combo plays that catch your opponents off guard.
Meta-Relevance: Given Abian’s capability to sway the tempo and dynamics of a game, it remains a significant threat in environments where planeswalkers and control decks prevail. Its insertion in your collection ensures preparedness for a shifting competitive scene.
How to beat
When facing the challenge of Abian, Luvion Usurper in your MTG matchup, strategy becomes key. Abian, known for his ability to disrupt the flow of a game with stealing spells, demands a thoughtful approach. The most effective way to counter this formidable card is through instant-speed removal or counterspells that can neutralize him before his loyalty abilities come into effect. Cards such as Murderous Rider or Hero’s Downfall offer pinpoint removal options that can efficiently deal with Abian.
Another tactic is to utilize effects that prevent your opponent from targeting their spells or abilities, thereby thwarting Abian’s theft abilities. Consider incorporating cards like Shalai, Voice of Plenty or spells that grant hexproof to keep your valuable spells and abilities safe. Moreover, attacking the player’s mana base can inhibit their ability to cast Abian effectively, potentially swinging the momentum in your favor. Cards like Blood Moon or Damping Sphere can play pivotal roles in controlling your opponent’s mana and limiting their strategic plays.
Ultimately, recognizing when Abian, Luvion Usurper is most likely to be played and preparing your hand and board state accordingly is the cornerstone of triumphing over this card’s potentially disruptive effect on your game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Abian, Luvion Usurper MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Abian, Luvion Usurper and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Abian, Luvion Usurper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by James Kooi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 87 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Kooi | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 87 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Kooi |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Abian, Luvion Usurper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | If an effect adds or removes loyalty counters from Abian, you also gain or lose that much life. Similarly, if an effect causes you to gain or lose life, that many loyalty counters are put on or removed from Abian. |
| 2019-11-12 | If an effect causes you to leave the battlefield, you resume being just a player. Your life total doesn't change. The Abian card that represented you moves to the appropriate zone. |
| 2019-11-12 | If you control Abian but haven't become Abian, its loyalty abilities function as normal, drawing from its loyalty counters and not your life. Its last ability causes you, the player, to deal damage, although the source of the ability is Abian. |
| 2019-11-12 | To activate your last ability, you can't pay more life than you have. |
| 2019-11-12 | While Abian is on the battlefield, you're both a player and a permanent. You're a legendary planeswalker that's red and green. |