Inkwell Leviathan MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost9
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Leviathan
Abilities Islandwalk,Landwalk,Shroud,Trample
Power 7
Toughness 11

Key Takeaways

  1. Inkwell Leviathan controls the battlefield with trample and demands multiple resources to be handled effectively.
  2. Its reanimation synergy allows for early deployment, circumventing high mana costs for a quick advantage.
  3. Despite a steep mana cost, the versatility in evasion and combo potential makes it a collection must-have.

Text of card

Islandwalk, trample, shroud

"Into its maw went the seventh sea, never to be seen again while the world remains." —Esper fable


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Inkwell Leviathan enables solid control of the battlefield through its sheer presence. With its trample ability, it ensures damage goes through blockers, effectively putting the opponent on a clock and often necessitating multiple resources of theirs to handle it.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly affecting resources, the fact that Inkwell Leviathan can be reanimated from the graveyard with various strategies means you can circumvent its high mana cost, leading to a form of indirect acceleration as you deploy a substantial threat earlier than typical mana progression would allow.

Instant Speed: While Inkwell Leviathan itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its synergies with other cards that have flash or can be activated at instant speed, like “Aetherize” to clear the path for its trample damage, capitalize on this behemoth’s intimidating attack power at critical moments in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Inkwell Leviathan does not have a direct discard requirement, managing your hand to accommodate its high mana cost could indirectly pressure you to discard other valuable cards to keep your game plan on track.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Inkwell Leviathan includes blue mana symbols, which can be a challenge in multi-colored decks that might struggle with generating the necessary blue mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With nine mana needed to bring this behemoth into play, Inkwell Leviathan’s cost is steep when compared to other creatures. This can make it a late-game play, limiting its impact during earlier, potentially crucial turns of the game.


Reasons to Include Inkwell Leviathan in Your Collection

Versatility: With its trample ability and substantial power and toughness, Inkwell Leviathan can serve as a formidable finisher in a variety of decks. Its evasion coupled with an imposing battlefield presence makes it a noteworthy addition for those looking to apply pressure on their opponents.

Combo Potential: Inkwell Leviathan shines in combo-intensive environments, where it can be a central piece. It works well with reanimation strategies, instantly becoming a powerful threat when brought back from the graveyard to the battlefield ahead of schedule.

Meta-Relevance: As a creature that commands attention, Inkwell Leviathan can play a crucial role in shifting the dynamics of the current game, challenging prevalent control decks with its sheer resilience to common removal spells owing to shroud, ensuring it remains a relevant choice in evolving metagames.


How to beat

Overcoming the massive Inkwell Leviathan in Magic: The Gathering can be a daunting task with its trample and shroud abilities that significantly limit your interaction options. Its sheer size often makes direct combat ineffective. Strategic planning is required to make sure this leviathan doesn’t overwhelm you during gameplay.

First and foremost, managing your resources to keep up with its nine-mana cost can be critical. Utilize board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Damnation to reset the field, as these can effectively bypass Inkwell Leviathan’s shroud ability. Artifacts and enchantments that alter the rules of engagement, like Meekstone or Ensaring Bridge, can help contain the Leviathan without having to target it directly. Additionally, cards that change creature card types or remove abilities altogether, such as Humility, open up the avenue for a variety of creature-based removals.

Inkwell Leviathan can dominate the seas of play, but with the right tactics and preparations, it’s possible to navigate these treacherous waters. Always be mindful of the potential for such a powerful card to hit the board and have your answers ready to reclaim control.


BurnMana Recommendations

If Inkwell Leviathan has stoked your curiosity with its tide-turning prowess on the battlefield, dive deeper into strategies that harness its full potential. Whether it’s anchoring your deck with its formidable bulk or exploring reanimation techniques to summon it sooner, this sea giant is worth exploring. For seasoned players and newcomers alike, understanding the mechanics and strategies that complement such monumental creatures can provide an edge during gameplay. Are you ready to master the art of aquatic dominance? Discover more about integrating the might of the Inkwell Leviathan into your MTG collection and how it could be the lynchpin in your next aquatic-themed victory.


Cards like Inkwell Leviathan

When delving into the deep waters of powerful artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Inkwell Leviathan emerges as a noteworthy behemoth. This creature echoes the might of other game-changing leviathans, such as Stormtide Leviathan, which also boasts an impressive presence on the battlefield. Still, Inkwell Leviathan stands out with its evasion abilities, including trample, islandwalk, and the crucial shroud property, creating a considerable challenge for opponents aiming to remove it.

Comparably, the Colossal Whale sails a similar course with its substantial mana value and impactful board presence. Although it carries the potential to exile opposing creatures when it attacks, it lacks the protective shroud ability that makes Inkwell Leviathan particularly resilient. Additionally, looking at Lorthos, the Tidemaker, we observe another sea monster with a substantial 8/8 body and the capacity to dictate the flow of combat, yet it doesn’t have the same set of protective abilities as Inkwell Leviathan.

To sum up, while there are multiple giant creatures in Magic: The Gathering that dominate with their size and battlefield influence, Inkwell Leviathan distinguishes itself through its blend of evasiveness and defense, marking it as an apex predator in a world of giants.

Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Colossal Whale - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - Magic 2011 (M11)
Colossal Whale - Magic 2014 Promos (PM14)
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Inkwell Leviathan by color, type and mana cost

The Magic Mirror - MTG Card versions
Depth Charge Colossus - MTG Card versions
Hulking Metamorph - MTG Card versions
The Magic Mirror - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Depth Charge Colossus - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Hulking Metamorph - The Brothers' War (BRO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inkwell Leviathan MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Premium Deck Series: Graveborn, 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 Inkwell Leviathan and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Inkwell Leviathan Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Anthony Francisco.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 302003normalblackAnthony Francisco
22011-11-18Premium Deck Series: GravebornPD3 102003normalblackAnthony Francisco
32015-02-27Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. KioraDDO 372015normalblackAnthony Francisco
42016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 562015normalblackAnthony Francisco
52018-08-09Commander 2018C18 912015normalblackAnthony Francisco
62020-08-07Double Masters2XM 552015normalblackAnthony Francisco

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inkwell Leviathan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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