Liliana, Death's Majesty MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Liliana
Abilities Mill
Loyalty 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Liliana’s abilities enable graveyard synergies and enhance strategic reanimation plays in MTG decks.
  2. Despite its power, Liliana’s five mana cost and self-milling can hinder some game strategies.
  3. Her versatility in meta play and the ability to recover from setbacks make her a must-have.

Text of card

+1: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. Put the top two cards of your library into your graveyard. −3: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types. −7: Destroy all non-Zombie creatures.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Liliana, Death’s Majesty shines when it comes to card advantage. Her +1 ability allows players to mill cards from their deck while also creating a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. This not only fuels the graveyard for potential reanimation strategies but also puts a creature on the board, effectively maintaining hand resources while impacting the game state.

Resource Acceleration: Liliana’s -3 ability gives players direct access to Resource Acceleration by returning target creature card from their graveyard to the battlefield. This reanimation tactic can bypass high mana costs of powerful creatures, allowing for a more aggressive game plan and an efficient use of graveyard resources.

Instant Speed: While Liliana, Death’s Majesty operates at sorcery speed, her ability to quickly alter the board with creature tokens and reanimation can match the sudden impact usually reserved for instant speed interactions. This makes her a formidable presence, capable of swiftly reversing the tide of the game as soon as she enters the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Liliana Death’s Majesty’s ability to create 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens comes with a cost. You must mill two cards from your library, which can sometimes force you to discard powerful spells or crucial lands through this self-milling process. This side effect might weaken your strategy if vital resources are disposed of inadvertently.

Specific Mana Cost: Playing this Planeswalker requires a commitment to both black and generic mana; specifically, you need three black mana sources. This requirement can be challenging in multicolored decks that need to manage various types of mana, restricting the card’s versatility when you’re trying to optimize mana bases across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five mana, Liliana Death’s Majesty might be slightly on the higher end for a planeswalker’s cost, affecting your curve. While the abilities are potent, some players may opt for lower-costing alternatives that provide earlier board presence or other forms of card advantage in the earlier turns of a game.


Reasons to Include Liliana Death’s Majesty in Your Collection

Versatility: Liliana Death’s Majesty is a multifaceted planeswalker card that can be slotted into a variety of black decks. With the ability to create zombie tokens, reanimate creatures, and force mass creature destruction, she can adapt to both offensive and defensive strategies with ease.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker’s powers synergize well with graveyard-centric strategies and any deck that benefits from having creatures enter the battlefield or leave the graveyard. Pairing her with cards that benefit from, or contribute to, creature tokens can unleash powerful combos on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame ebbs and flows, the capacity of Liliana Death’s Majesty to disrupt opponent strategies and recover from board wipes can be crucial. Control and midrange decks, in particular, can exploit her powers to gain the upper hand in prolonged matches, making her a valuable asset in a diverse meta.


How to beat

Liliana, Death’s Majesty is a powerhouse when it comes to reanimating creatures from the graveyard in MTG. With the ability to create Zombie tokens and bring back powerful creatures, it’s crucial to have a strategy to counter this planeswalker. Board control is key. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board of Zombies. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can prevent the reanimation aspect altogether. Direct damage spells or creature abilities that can target Liliana can force your opponent to redirect their game plan. Remember that timing is everything, and dealing with Liliana before she builds a strong presence will give you a significant advantage.

Combat strategies are also viable. Deploying creatures with evasion like flying can put pressure on Liliana directly, bypassing the ground clutter. Hand disruption techniques to remove Liliana before she’s played, using cards such as Thoughtseize or Duress, can change the tide of battle. Efficiently navigating your own game plan while keeping an eye on your opponent’s potential to unleash Liliana is a skill that can be developed with experience and will lead to more consistent victories against this formidable opponent.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the use of Liliana, Death’s Majesty in MTG can offer an edge to your gameplay. With her capability to generate Zombies, reanimate powerful allies, and upheave the battlefield, she’s a tactical asset in any deck. To best harness her potential, integrate cards that synergize with graveyard mechanics and token generation. The value she brings to midrange and control strategies cannot be overstated. For those looking to sharpen their skills and expand their collection with strategic cards like Liliana, we provide in-depth guides and analysis. Let’s delve deeper into the world of MTG strategy – your next victory could hinge on your next insightful play.


Cards like Liliana, Death's Majesty

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Liliana, Death’s Majesty stands as a formidable planeswalker card, offering a unique blend of zombie-themed mechanics and resurrection abilities. In the spectrum of similar cards, we can compare it to Liliana, the Last Hope, another version of the same iconic character. While Liliana, the Last Hope focuses on weakening opposing creatures and selective graveyard retrieval, Liliana, Death’s Majesty allows for a broader resurrection strategy by bringing back any creature card in addition to creating zombie tokens.

Another peer in the category is Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, showcasing versatility in creating vampire tokens and providing emblem benefits. Although Sorin and Liliana differ in creature types and overall strategies, both contribute significantly to board presence. Additionally, we might consider Ob Nixilis Reignited for its ability to affect the board state with creature destruction and card advantage, much like Liliana’s own steadfast ability to recur and build a formidable army from the graveyard.

Comparing these potent planeswalkers illustrates the distinct tactics and advantages they bring to the table. Liliana, Death’s Majesty, with its dual functionality of reanimating creatures and generating token creatures, marks a powerful ally in any deck centered around graveyard synergy and dominating the battlefield with an ever-growing undead horde.

Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Ob Nixilis Reignited - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)

Cards similar to Liliana, Death's Majesty by color, type and mana cost

Lolth, Spider Queen - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions
Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Liliana Vess - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Liliana Vess // Liliana Vess - MTG Card versions
Ashiok, Wicked Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Lolth, Spider Queen - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools - Commander Legends (CMR)
Ob Nixilis Reignited - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Liliana Vess - Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana (GVL)
Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath - Commander Masters (CMM)
Liliana, the Necromancer - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Liliana Vess // Liliana Vess - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Ashiok, Wicked Manipulator - Wilds of Eldraine Promos (PWOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Liliana, Death's Majesty MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Promos, 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 Liliana, Death's Majesty and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Liliana, Death's Majesty Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 972015normalblackChris Rallis
22017-04-29Amonkhet PromosPAKH 97s2015normalblackChris Rallis
32017-07-20San Diego Comic-Con 2017PS17 972015normalblackVincent Proce
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7012015normalblackChris Rallis
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2322015normalborderlessFay Dalton
62020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1112015normalblackChris Rallis
72020-09-26The ListPLST AKH-972015normalblackChris Rallis
82021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1212015normalblackChris Rallis
92022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4332015normalblackChris Rallis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana, Death's Majesty has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-04-18 A creature that is a Zombie and has other types, such as a Zombie Jackal, isn't a non-Zombie creature.

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