Oath of Liliana MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Oath of Liliana grants player advantage, incorporating both creature removal and token generation.
  2. Its mana specificity and cost may limit deck diversity and necessitate strategic trade-offs.
  3. Oath of Liliana shines in planeswalker-centric decks and adapts to the shifting MTG meta.

Text of card

When Oath of Liliana enters the battlefield, each opponent sacrifices a creature. At the beginning of each end step, if a planeswalker entered the battlefield under your control this turn, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.

"I'll keep watch. Happy now?"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Oath of Liliana rewards players through its creature destruction ability, which can lead to card advantage as it potentially removes a key threat from your opponent’s board without an immediate resource expenditure beyond casting the enchantment itself.

Resource Acceleration: Each time a planeswalker enters the battlefield under your control while this enchantment is in play, you get a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. This effectively accelerates your board presence without requiring additional mana investment, supporting your resource economy indirectly with additional blocking or attacking options.

Instant Speed: Though not at instant speed itself, Oath of Liliana’s ability to influence the board during your turn creates a dynamic where opponents must be cautious about playing high-value targets. The inherent threat of instant-speed planeswalkers that could be played right after can deter an adversary from executing their plans due to the potential for immediate board impact and additional Zombie tokens that follow.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Oath of Liliana requires both black and generic mana. This cost necessitates a commitment to black mana sources in your deck, which can limit its flexibility in multicolored deck compositions.

Discard Requirement: While Oath of Liliana doesn’t directly demand a discard, it compels a sacrifice, which could be seen as a form of resource discard. If you’re unable to control a creature when you play it, you might end up sacrificing a valuable asset on the board.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including one black, there are alternatives in the game that might bring a creature to the board or offer other forms of board control at a lower mana value.


Reasons to Include Oath of Liliana in Your Collection

Versatility: Oath of Liliana offers flexible play options, fitting neatly into various deck archetypes. Its ability to force opponents to sacrifice creatures upon entry, combined with its later game advantage of producing a Zombie token for each Planeswalker you control, makes it a dynamic card in both aggressive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks built around Planeswalkers. The ability to both protect your Planeswalkers by reducing the number of opposing threats and to subsequently create an army of Zombie tokens can turn the tide in your favor, particularly in long, drawn-out games.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG game environment often fluctuates in terms of what deck styles are predominant, Oath of Liliana has the potential to be incredibly impactful. In a meta where Planeswalkers are key, the additional benefit of producing tokens each turn can give you a significant edge.


How to beat Oath of Liliana

Oath of Liliana is a unique enchantment in Magic the Gathering, bringing a mix of defense and long-term value to a player’s game. When it hits the battlefield, its first ability triggers, compelling an opponent to sacrifice a creature. This effect is particularly potent against decks that rely on a single, powerful creature or have a limited number of creatures on the board.

To outmaneuver Oath of Liliana, a strategic approach is to maintain a surplus of expendable creatures. Token strategies work well, as they can easily produce a number of lesser creatures, which can be sacrificed without significantly impacting your board presence. Alternatively, incorporating instant-speed removal or bounce spells into your deck allows you to respond to the Oath’s trigger by either removing your own creature from the battlefield or by targeting the Oath itself, thereby conserving your more valuable nonland permanents.

Remember, Oath of Liliana’s subsequent advantage lies in granting you a 2/2 black Zombie creature token whenever a planeswalker enters the battlefield under your control. Thus, reducing the reliance on planeswalkers or employing countermeasures against them can further diminish the enchantment’s utility, ensuring that Oath of Liliana’s presence on the table doesn’t become overwhelming.


BurnMana Recommendations

As adventurers in the realm of MTG, mastering the art of the game lies in thoughtful deck construction and strategic play. The insights on Oath of Liliana highlight its ability to create card advantages and enhance your board presence through token generation, while also considering its limitations such as mana specificity and potential resource sacrifices. Recognizing the nuances of this enchantment can profoundly influence your matches, especially in decks focused on planeswalker synergies. Elevate your gameplay and expand your collection’s potential with deeper understanding and strategic incorporation of cards like Oath of Liliana. Embark on further exploration and sharpen your strategy with us.


Cards like Oath of Liliana

Oath of Liliana is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that brings both creature control and a subtle board presence strategy to the table. Its closest comparison might be to Elspeth’s Nightmare, another enchantment with staged effects geared toward disrupting the opponent’s field. While Elspeth’s Nightmare offers a more direct approach to creature and graveyard interaction, Oath of Liliana shines with its ability to produce a Zombie token each turn, as long as a planeswalker enters under your control.

Another card with parallel themes is Trial of Ambition, which also compels an opponent to sacrifice a creature when it comes into play. Although it lacks the repeatable aspect and the planeswalker synergy of Oath of Liliana, it can be recurred for repeated use if paired with Cartouche spells. Lastly, The Eldest Reborn has a narrative tie-in with Liliana, showcasing a wider range of effects, from forcing sacrifices to reanimating creatures or planeswalkers. The sacrifice it dictates is similar, but its versatility extends throughout the game more prominently.

Evaluating these options, Oath of Liliana stands out in contexts that support planeswalker-heavy strategies, leveraging both control elements and incremental advantages, offering players a powerful tool in synergistic decks.

Elspeth's Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Trial of Ambition - MTG Card versions
The Eldest Reborn - MTG Card versions
Elspeth's Nightmare - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Trial of Ambition - Amonkhet (AKH)
The Eldest Reborn - Dominaria (DOM)

Cards similar to Oath of Liliana by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Season of the Witch - The Dark (DRK)
Tourach's Gate - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Withering Wisps - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Funeral March - Homelands (HML)
Casting of Bones - Alliances (ALL)
Blanket of Night - Visions (VIS)
Necropotence - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Hecatomb - Masters Edition (ME1)
Megrim - Stronghold (STH)
Recurring Nightmare - Exodus (EXO)
Contamination - Urza's Saga (USG)
Oppression - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Maggot Therapy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Murderous Betrayal - Nemesis (NEM)
Noxious Field - Prophecy (PCY)
Tainted Well - Invasion (INV)
Phyrexian Arena - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Gravestorm - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Mortiphobia - Torment (TOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Oath of Liliana MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Oath of Liliana and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Oath of Liliana Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2016-07-22. Illustrated by Wesley Burt.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 992015normalblackWesley Burt
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 99s2015normalblackWesley Burt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Oath of Liliana has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-07-13 Oath of Liliana is legendary, just like the previous Oaths from Oath of the Gatewatch. If you already control an Oath of Liliana, you can still cast a second Oath of Liliana to take advantage of its enters-the-battlefield ability. It will enter the battlefield, causing its first ability to trigger. You will then choose one to keep, and the other will be put into your graveyard.
2016-07-13 Oath of Liliana’s last ability will trigger even if the planeswalker that entered the battlefield under your control is no longer on the battlefield, no longer under your control, or no longer a planeswalker. This is also true if Oath of Liliana wasn’t on the battlefield when the planeswalker entered.
2016-07-13 The last ability triggers only once per turn, even if more than one planeswalker entered the battlefield under your control.

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