Lyzolda, the Blood Witch MTG Card
2006-05-05 - Number 117
2019-02-15 - Number 65
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Cleric |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Lyzolda excels in drawing cards and mana acceleration when sacrificing red or black creatures.
- She is versatile, fitting various strategies, and synergizes well with sacrifice & token decks.
- Managing her demanding mana cost and board presence is crucial for optimal play.
Text of card
, Sacrifice a creature: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch deals 2 damage to target creature or player if the sacrificed creature was red. Draw a card if the sacrificed creature was black.
Sacrificial rites take place before an audience of cheering cultists, each begging to be the next on stage.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch offers a unique opportunity to gain card advantage with its ability to sacrifice another creature to draw a card if the creature’s color is red. This can be particularly useful in decks that generate a lot of tokens or have expendable creatures.
Resource Acceleration: Alongside card drawing, if the creature you sacrifice is black, Lyzolda provides resource acceleration by giving you two mana of any color. This can be an effective way to ramp up to your more impactful spells or to have a sudden burst of mana for an unexpected play.
Instant Speed: While Lyzolda itself is not an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed. This allows for strategic plays during your opponent’s turn or in response to your opponent’s actions, making it a flexible tool in your MTG strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch necessitates a non-token creature sacrifice, which could deplete your board presence, putting you at a disadvantage in maintaining control.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both red and black mana, potentially restricting deck compatibility to Rakdos or multicolored builds, limiting its versatility in a broader range of Magic the Gathering decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including specifically one red and one black, this card may not be the most efficient choice. There are other cards within the same mana range that could provide an immediate impact or stronger board presence.
Reasons to Include Lyzolda, the Blood Witch in Your Collection
Versatility: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch offers a unique flexibility to fit into a wide array of deck strategies. If you’re looking to build around Rakdos colors, she can be both a powerful commander or a valuable part of your 99. Her ability to sacrifice creatures for card draw or damage makes her a useful tool in any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to synergize with various combo strategies. She can be the engine in a sacrifice-themed deck or work in tandem with other cards that generate tokens for consistent card draw and damage output. Her sacrifice mechanic also enables graveyard strategies, allowing you to recycle creatures for more value.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature strategies are prevalent, Lyzolda can act as a recurring source of card advantage and board control. This adds a layer of resilience against control decks and provides recurring value against aggro opponents, affirming her relevance in diverse MTG gameplay environments.
How to beat
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch is a multicolored personality in MTG that demands strategic planning to overcome. Known for her ability to convert creatures into life loss and card advantage for the controller, she can be the linchpin of many Rakdos decks. To neutralize her threat, it’s imperative to disrupt the strategy that revolves around her. This means removing creatures that could be sacrificed to her ability, thus limiting the damage she can cause and the cards she can draw for your opponent.
Playing around her activated ability requires a bit of foresight. For example, employing instant-speed removal before the opponent enters their main phase prevents them from exploiting her sacrifice ability. Removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be particularly useful, as they remove creatures without triggering death-related abilities. Additionally, countering Lyzolda herself with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can ensure she never takes effect on the battlefield. Understanding the value of timing with regards to removal and counter spells is key to gaining the upper hand against Lyzolda’s potentially game-altering presence.
In essence, when facing Lyzolda, the Blood Witch, prioritize control over the board state and remain mindful of her ability to turn your opponent’s creatures into direct threats. Keeping her off the battlefield and limiting opportunities for your opponent to sacrifice creatures for benefit are the foundational strategies for reigning in her power.
Cards like Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch stands out as a unique commander in MTG. She resonates with cards like Judith, the Scourge Diva, which also amplifies damage while providing value when non-token creatures die. Unlike Judith, Lyzolda requires a sacrifice and mana payment to utilize her abilities but compensates by offering targeted creature destruction or card drawing. Mayhem Devil is another familiar character in this space, dealing damage to any target when a sacrifice occurs. Though Mayhem Devil is not limited to creature sacrifices, it doesn’t provide the card advantage that the Blood Witch can offer.
In the realm of Rakdos, we also encounter Falkenrath Aristocrat, a card that thrives on creature sacrifices for invincibility and power boosts. While the Aristocrat offers more combat presence, Lyzolda gives consistent value and control over the board state with her damage and card drawing. These attributes make her uniquely positioned in MTG’s pantheon of sacrifice-based cards—yielding a blend of immediate board impact and long-term advantage.
Each card in this comparison delivers something special, but Lyzolda’s ability to potentially draw cards and remove threats with the right setup gives her an edge in certain MTG strategies, embodying the sinister and calculative essence of the Rakdos guild.
Cards similar to Lyzolda, the Blood Witch by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lyzolda, the Blood Witch MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and RNA Guild Kit, 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 Lyzolda, the Blood Witch and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
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Printings
The Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-05-05 | Dissension | DIS | 117 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Nelson | |
| 2 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 65 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jim Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lyzolda, the Blood Witch has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lyzolda, the Blood Witch card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-05-01 | You can sacrifice any creature you control to pay for this ability. If the creature was neither red nor black, the ability has no effect. |
| 2006-05-01 | You must choose a target for the ability, even if the creature you sacrifice isn’t red. If the target becomes illegal before the ability resolves, the ability won’t resolve; you won’t draw a card, even if the creature you sacrificed was black. |
