Basri's Lieutenant MTG Card
Text of card
Vigilance, protection from multicolored When Basri's Lieutenant enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Whenever Basri's Lieutenant or another creature you control dies, if it had a +1/+1 counter on it, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.
Cards like Basri's Lieutenant
Basri’s Lieutenant stands out in the pantheon of MTG white creatures with its protective counter mechanics and ability to strengthen the board. It’s often likened to Knight Exemplar for its emphasis on bolstering other creatures. Knight Exemplar also provides a boost to fellow knights with a blanket indestructible quality, though it doesn’t match Basri’s Lieutenant’s capacity for creating token creatures upon dying if equipped with a counter.
Contrasting Basri’s Lieutenant with Mikaeus, the Lunarch, we see a shared theme of counter distribution. While Mikaeus can be more flexible by incrementing or decrementing his counters to affect the whole field, Basri’s Lieutenant offers a singular protective counter and a potential for token generation on its departure. Additionally, Mikaeus lacks the keyword ‘protection from multicolored,’ leaving it potentially more exposed to a wider array of spells and abilities.
Analyzing the synergy and impact within the gameplay of MTG, Basri’s Lieutenant not only fortifies individual creatures but also secures long-term board presence through its token creation ability, marking it as a reliable choice for any deck focusing on resilience and incremental advantage.
Cards similar to Basri's Lieutenant by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Basri's Lieutenant. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Naya Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 | |
 | Abzan Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Basri’s Lieutenant provides inherent card advantage by putting a +1/+1 counter on another creature when it enters the battlefield. Additionally, its ability to create a 2/2 Knight creature token with vigilance when Basri’s Lieutenant or another creature you control dies, if it had a +1/+1 counter on it, ensures that you maintain board presence.
Resource Acceleration: Basri’s Lieutenant inherently accelerates your resources through the protection from multicolored ability. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to remove it using multicolored spells, saving you from having to redeploy resources to the board and allowing you to commit mana to other elements of your strategy.
Instant Speed: While Basri’s Lieutenant operates at sorcery speed, its ability to generate an impacting board presence instantly upon dying can put opponents at a disadvantage. Your enemies must now account for not just the removal of the Lieutenant but also the potential Knight it may leave behind during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Basri’s Lieutenant offers powerful protection and knight synergy, it does require you to hold onto a creature card to make the most of its counter-distributing ability upon entry. If your hand is empty, you miss out on this vital trigger, potentially reducing the card’s impact on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement of one white mana and three other mana to cast, Basri’s Lieutenant has a mana cost composition that might not seamlessly fit into multi-color decks. Its specific need for white mana can be restrictive, favoring players who run mono-white or two-color decks that can reliably produce white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the four mana cost for Basri’s Lieutenant aligns with its abilities, it can compete with other four-mana spells or creatures in your deck that might offer immediate board presence or broader utility. Its cost efficiency becomes questionable, especially when against aggressive decks that capitalize on lower-costing creatures to quickly pressure opponents.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Basri’s Lieutenant offers a dynamic role in decks focused on +1/+1 counters and can easily become a cornerstone in white-weenie and midrange strategies.
Combo Potential: The ability to create a 2/2 Knight creature token with vigilance whenever Basri’s Lieutenant or another creature you control dies, if it had a +1/+1 counter, pairs well with proliferate mechanics and sacrifice synergies, offering numerous combo opportunities.
Meta-Relevance: With a solid presence in creature-based decks, Basri’s Lieutenant can influence the battlefield in the current meta, especially in environments where board presence and resilience against sweepers are crucial.
How to beat
Battling the robust Basri’s Lieutenant in MTG requires strategy. Standing out with its ability to bolster other creatures with +1/+1 counters, this Knight spells trouble for opponents, especially since it leaves a counterbearing creature behind even if removed. To navigate this challenge, consider leveraging sacrifice effects that bypass triggering its ability. Cards like Plaguecrafter compel a player to sacrifice a creature, circumventing Lieutenant’s death-triggered benefits.
Another tactical maneuver involves utilizing instant-speed removal before counters get distributed, disrupting the synergy before it becomes a problem. Single-target exile effects such as Path to Exile or Dire Tactics can prove to be particularly effective by eliminating the Lieutenant without leaving any residual advantage on the battlefield. Take note, creature control while Basri’s Lieutenant is trying to amplify its army can destabilize the Lieutenant’s game plan.
Managing such a creature demands foresight and the right removal at the right time. A well-timed board clear, like Shatter the Sky, can also reset the board and remove Lieutenant before the counters become overwhelming. Keep solutions for this potential battlefield titan ready and use instant-speed spells to your advantage against Basri’s Lieutenant.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering the art of MTG opens doors to fantastic deck-building possibilities, and Basri’s Lieutenant is an exemplary piece that adds resilience and strength to your white-centric strategies. Its ability to leave behind a vigilant token, combined with protection from multicolored, makes it a formidable card for any collection. If you’re looking to enhance your play with a card that offers both board presence and escalating advantages, take the next step. Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us, fine-tune your deckbuilding skills, and discover how Basri’s Lieutenant can be your ally in the quest for victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Basri's Lieutenant MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Core Set 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 Basri's Lieutenant and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Basri's Lieutenant Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Stewart | |
| 2 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 288 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Stewart |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Basri's Lieutenant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Basri's Lieutenant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-06-23 | Basri's Lieutenant can be the target of its own enters-the-battlefield triggered ability. |
| 2020-06-23 | If Basri's Lieutenant dies at the same time as other creatures, its last ability will trigger for any of the creatures that had a +1/+1 counter on it, including itself. |
| 2020-06-23 | If a creature with +1/+1 counters on it receives a greater or equal number of -1/-1 counters and this causes it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, the last ability triggers. This is because the ability checks the creature as it last existed on the battlefield, and it still had those counters on it at that point. |
| 2020-06-23 | The second triggered ability of Basri's Lieutenant triggers just once if the dying creature has +1/+1 counters on it, no matter how many of those counters it has. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.