Liliana's Elite MTG Card

Eldritch Moon (EMN)
2016-07-22 - Number 94

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 250

Liliana's Elite - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
2022-07-08 - Number 82

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 434

Liliana's Elite - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
2023-03-21 - Number 120

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zombie
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Liliana’s Elite can exponentially grow as graveyards fill, making it ideal for self-mill strategies.
The card requires specific mana and strategy, possibly clashing with diverse deck builds.
It’s a versatile creature that scales well, maintaining relevance across various metas.

Text of card

Liliana's Elite gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard.

"You have to admit, Gideon—he has great form." —Liliana Vess

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Liliana’s Elite can grow into a tremendous threat as your graveyard fills up, effectively turning each creature card in your graveyard into an additional point of power for the Elite. This incremental growth can easily put you ahead in the game, especially in strategies focused around self-mill or sacrifice.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the power boost that Liliana’s Elite receives from a well-stocked graveyard can accelerate your game plan. By becoming a large threat quickly, it pressures opponents and demands an answer, often diverting resources that could be used elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Although Liliana’s Elite itself does not operate at instant speed, its inherent synergy with instant-speed graveyard-filling spells, like those that feature flash or those cast during an opponent’s turn, makes it a flexible component in a dynamic strategy. The Elite benefits each time a creature card hits your graveyard, no matter whose turn it is.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Liliana’s Elite gains strength for each creature card in your graveyard, pushing players towards a discard strategy that could deplete valuable hand options inadvertently.

Specific Mana Cost: Liliana’s Elite demands a particular black mana investment, which might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored deck constructions or those with a stricter mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the necessity to invest three mana for its initial summoning, it requires a commitment that may delay other critical plays, especially in the fast-paced early game.

Reasons to Include Liliana’s Elite in Your Collection

Versatility: Liliana’s Elite proves effective in a variety of deck builds, particularly those centered around graveyard mechanics. Its power and toughness scale with the number of creature cards in your graveyard, making it a dynamic asset in ongoing games.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with self-mill strategies, or spells that allow you to reanimate dead creatures. Together with such synergies, Liliana’s Elite can become a massive threat on the board in relatively few turns.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where graveyard interaction is key, Liliana’s Elite holds significant value. As it rewards you for naturally playing the game—cards going to the graveyard—its relevancy sustains across various MTG metas, providing persistent utility in your deck.

How to beat

Liliana’s Elite can prove to be a powerful asset in graveyard-centered decks within the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its strength scales with the number of creature cards in your graveyard, potentially growing into a formidable force if left unaddressed. To tackle such a challenge, controlling the number of creature cards in graveyards is key. Cards like Rest in Peace and Relic of Progenitus excel at clearing graveyards, thus capping the Elite’s potential growth.

Additionally, utilizing exile effects allows you to target and remove Liliana’s Elite before it can amplify its power. Path to Exile and Swords to Plowshares are efficient at this, dealing with the creature regardless of its size. Another strategy is to apply pressure with aggressive creatures or disruptive tactics to divert your opponent’s focus from their graveyard synergy. Combating Liliana’s Elite often involves preempting its strength rather than confronting it at its peak.

It’s essential to remain vigilant and keep the graveyard under control or have removal at the ready. With smart plays and strategic card choices, your deck can effectively gatekeep Liliana’s Elite from dominating the battlefield.

Cards like Liliana's Elite

Liliana’s Elite holds a unique place among creature cards in MTG, especially for decks that thrive on graveyard interactions. Comparable to Skaab Goliath, both creatures gain strength from the number of creature cards in your graveyard. However, Liliana’s Elite stands out with its lower casting cost and its power level that can increase from turn to turn as your graveyard grows.

Another analogous card is Wight of Precinct Six, which also becomes more formidable as more creatures find their way to the graveyard. While it shares this synergistic graveyard scaling, Liliana’s Elite has the advantage of counting your entire graveyard, not just your opponent’s. Moreover, Gurmag Angler can become a deadly threat by delving away the same resource Liliana’s Elite depends on, though it doesn’t scale dynamically during the game.

Ultimately, Liliana’s Elite shines in graveyard-centric decks, offering a scaling threat that can become overwhelmingly powerful over time. Despite the similarities it shares with other cards, the Elite’s particular ability to leverage ongoing graveyard accumulation makes it a staple in any reanimator or self-milling strategy.

Wight of Precinct Six - MTG Card versions

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

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Liliana's Elite MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Jumpstart, 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's Elite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Liliana's Elite Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-07-22	Eldritch Moon	EMN	94	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander
2	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	250	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander
3	2022-07-08	Double Masters 2022	2X2	82	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander
4	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	434	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander
5	2023-03-21	Shadows over Innistrad Remastered	SIR	120	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana's Elite has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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