Liliana's Defeat MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 68
2020-08-13 - Number 112
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Gains card advantage by removing key opponents’ creatures or planeswalkers, optimizing resource balance.
- Cost-effective and flexible with instant speed, ideal for efficient threat management and tactical plays.
- Deck constraints and mana specificity can limit its utility, necessitating strategic inclusion in matchups.
Text of card
Destroy target black creature or black planeswalker. If that permanent was a Liliana planeswalker, her controller loses 3 life.
"All the power you have gathered for yourself, Liliana, I can take away." —Nicol Bolas
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Liliana’s Defeat is a targeted removal spell that often leads to a direct uptick in resource differential between you and your opponent. By strategically eliminating a key creature or planeswalker your adversary controls, it sets them back while you maintain or even advance your board state.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or acceleration in the traditional sense, the efficiency of this card at one black mana can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. It allows you to deploy your threats or defenses while efficiently dealing with threats, preserving your mana for further development.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Liliana’s Defeat at instant speed allows for maximum flexibility and unpredictability. Reacting to your opponent’s moves during their turn or at the end of their turn can provide a tactical advantage, saving your turn for other game-winning plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Liliana’s Defeat lies in the deck building constraint it imposes. Being a hate card, its effectiveness is tied to facing decks that run Liliana planeswalkers, potentially making it a dead card in hand against non-relevant matchups.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell asks for a single black mana, which while useful in monocolored decks can become a nuisance in multicolored builds. The necessity for black mana can strain the deck’s mana base, particularly in games where mana flexibility is paramount.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its mana cost is not inherently high, when scanning through other removal options within the black slice of the color pie, players may find more versatile or cost-effective alternatives. This can lead to situations where Liliana’s Defeat may be sidelined in favor of a card with broader utility or a lower spot on the mana curve.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Liliana’s Defeat is a specialized removal spell aimed at one of the most persistent types of planeswalkers and creatures in the game. Its ability to target and destroy a Liliana planeswalker or a black creature for a single black mana makes it a highly efficient sideboard option in various black-inclusive decks, ensuring preparedness for specific matchups.
Combo Potential: Although not a combo piece in the traditional sense, Liliana’s Defeat excels as a support card within your deck, safeguarding your own combos by clearing the path of potential Liliana-induced disruptions or black creature threats that could stand in your way.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame saturated with black creatures and Liliana planeswalkers, having Liliana’s Defeat in your arsenal gives you a significant edge. Its cost-effectiveness and pinpoint accuracy provide a quick response to prevalent threats, optimizing your deck’s performance against common adversaries.
How to beat
Overcoming a potent removal spell like Liliana’s Defeat can be crucial in match-ups that revolve around black Planeswalkers or creatures. When facing this card, versatility in your deck composition is key. Consider running a diverse range of threats to reduce your vulnerability to color-specific removal. Non-black creatures are immune to Liliana’s Defeat, so balancing your creature base can keep your strategy resilient against such tailored spells.
Additionally, the use of counter magic or spells that grant hexproof can effectively neutralize targeted removal. A carefully timed Negate or a proactive Dive Down can preserve your powerful black threats on the battlefield. Keeping pace with the ebb and flow of resources and utilizing the stack is fundamental when Liliana’s Defeat is a known quantity in your opponent’s deck.
Bearing in mind that preparation and adaptability are paramount, sideboarding options that offer protection or alternative pressure can disempower the specific threat of removal spells like Liliana’s Defeat. By doing so, you ensure that your key components survive to maintain control and influence in the game.
Cards like Liliana's Defeat
Liliana’s Defeat is a potent example of targeted removal within Magic: The Gathering, known for its precision in dealing with specific threats. It can be compared to Dark Betrayal, which similarly excels at neutralizing black creatures. Yet Liliana’s Defeat distinguishes itself with an additional edge – it also deals with Liliana planeswalkers, presenting a dual advantage that Dark Betrayal lacks.
In the realm of removal spells, we also encounter Doom Blade, a classic choice that dispatches non-black creatures. While broader in its application compared to Liliana’s Defeat, it falters against mono-black decks where Liliana’s Defeat shines. Furthermore, there’s Cast Down, providing an unrestricted answer to non-legendary creatures. This removes the color limitation altogether, offering flexibility but missing the specific planeswalker interaction that makes Liliana’s Defeat exceptional in its niche.
Ultimately, Liliana’s Defeat occupies a unique slot among removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, balancing specificity and utility. It challenges opponents with both black-based creature decks and those utilizing the formidable Liliana planeswalkers, making it a powerful sideboard card against such tailored strategies.
Cards similar to Liliana's Defeat by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Liliana's Defeat MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Defeat 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Liliana's Defeat Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 68 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kieran Yanner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana's Defeat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
