Branchsnap Lorian MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Morph,Trample |
| Released | 2003-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Legions |
| Set code | LGN |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 118 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Heather Hudson |
Text of card
Trample Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
Lorians treat trees and prey the same way: by ripping them limb from limb.
Cards like Branchsnap Lorian
In the expansive world of MTG, the Branchsnap Lorian presents an exciting dynamic to creature play. It evokes similarities to cards like Lovestruck Beast, which shares the aspect of significant presence on the battlefield due to impressive power and toughness at a low mana cost. While Branchsnap Lorian requires the player to have completed a land drop this turn to potentially be even more cost-effective, it competes for deck space with Lovestruck Beast, which has a built-in ability to create a 1/1 creature token.
Comparatively, Steel Leaf Champion stands as another card that offers substantial power and toughness at a low cost, yet it doesn’t require a specific board state to be cast. The trade-off with Steel Leaf Champion comes in the form of a mana cost exclusively composed of green, which could limit its use in multi-colored decks whereas Branchsnap Lorian provides more flexibility. Furthermore, we have the card Werewolf Pack Leader offering not only a considerable body for its mana but also the capability to draw additional cards, heightening deck efficiency.
Matching up Branchsnap Lorian with such cards draws attention to its potential efficiency and the strategies it enables—particularly in landfall decks where its cost can be reduced to a mere one green mana, distinguishing its role in MTG creature tactics.
Cards similar to Branchsnap Lorian by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Branchsnap Lorian allows players to benefit from an efficient card draw mechanism by cycling away from your hand, potentially replacing itself in a beneficial way to maintain card equilibrium.
Resource Acceleration: Thanks to its Trample ability, this creature can often deal damage to the opponent, thereby accelerating your board presence and indirectly pressuring your opponent’s resources.
Instant Speed: The Evolve mechanic of Branchsnap Lorian offers the flexibility to grow your creature at instant speed in response to new threats or opportunities, making it a versatile play at any point in the match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Branchsnap Lorian necessitates discarding another card to utilize its full potential, which could hinder your hand advantage and reduce long-term strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a Green-specific mana cost, potentially restricting it to mono-green or green-based multicolored decks, thereby constraining deck-building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at three, its summoning investment might overshadow the returns when eyed against other creatures with similar or lower costs that wield comparable or superior combat stats or abilities.
Reasons to Include Branchsnap Lorian in Your Collection
Versatility: Branchsnap Lorian’s ability to adapt to various gameplay situations is a significant advantage. Its trample trait along with adaptable mana cost can prove beneficial in different deck builds, especially in green-based ones that value creatures with variable power.
Combo Potential: As a creature that can modify its power and toughness, Branchsnap Lorian synergizes well with mechanics that rely on creature size. It can readily integrate into strategies aimed at enhancing creature strength or initiating potent interactions with cards that recognize high-powered creatures.
Meta-Relevance: With the frequent presence of creature-centric decks in the current meta, Branchsnap Lorian stands out as a competitive option. It adjusts well against numerous deck archetypes, acting as an efficient and recyclable creature that can pose a consistent threat on the battlefield.
How to Beat Branchsnap Lorian
Branchsnap Lorian has emerged as a formidable creature within the mono-green strategies of Magic: The Gathering. This card can aggressively pressure opponents with its low casting cost and substantial power boost when casting other creature spells. Despite its innate strength, there are effective strategies to mitigate the impact of Branchsnap Lorian in a game.
Utilizing removal spells that can target Branchsnap Lorian before the player has the opportunity to cast another creature and pump up its stats is one tactic. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can promptly dispatch the Lorian from the battlefield. Board sweepers, such as Damnation or Supreme Verdict, can also clean the board and reset the pressure posed by this green creature.
Another approach involves countering the inherent card advantage generated by Lorian with cards offering similar or greater efficiency. For instance, cards that create multiple blockers, like Lingering Souls or Raise the Alarm, can provide a buffer against Lorian’s attacks. In alliance with smart blocking and removal spells, players can tilt the scales back into their favor, even when facing the raw power of Branchsnap Lorian in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Branchsnap Lorian MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Branchsnap Lorian 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Branchsnap Lorian has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |