Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord MTG Card


Provides continuous card advantage and scales in power with graveyard size for strategic gameplay. Instant speed sacrifice ability offers flexibility and surprise tactics during gameplay. High mana cost and specific color requirements may limit deck integration in competitive play.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Zombie Elf
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard. , Sacrifice another creature: Each opponent loses life equal to the sacrificed creature's power. Sacrifice a Swamp and a Forest: Return Jarad from your graveyard to your hand.


Cards like Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord

Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord commands a unique position among Magic: The Gathering graveyard-centric commanders. While he shares traits with other Golgari staples, his sack-and-fling ability distinctly shines. Take Meren of Clan Nel Toth, a strong commander that gains value from recurring creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. Both Meren and Jarad appreciate a well-stocked graveyard, yet Jarad’s potential to act as a finisher by sacrificing a creature for direct damage is unparalleled in Meren’s toolkit.

The Mimeoplasm, another Golgari heavy-hitter, excels at directly assuming the form of the largest threats in any graveyard. Comparatively, Jarad’s ability to leverage his own robustness – which increases with bigger graveyards – is a slower burn but can often fly under the radar until it’s too late. Sidisi, Brood Tyrant also marries well with graveyard strategies, creating a multitude of Zombie tokens to swarm the field. Unlike Jarad, Sidisi doesn’t offer the same sudden burst of lethal damage.

In jest, Jarad brings both a steady buildup via graveyard size and the surprising capacity to turn tables in one fell swoop. Given his direct damage capability and synergy with high-power creatures in the graveyard, Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord is an acclaimed commander that demands respect on the battlefield.

Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
The Mimeoplasm - MTG Card versions
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
The Mimeoplasm - MTG Card versions
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord by color, type and mana cost

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Gyome, Master Chef - MTG Card versions
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root - MTG Card versions
Woodwraith Strangler - MTG Card versions
Savra, Queen of the Golgari - MTG Card versions
Mortipede - MTG Card versions
Lathril, Blade of the Elves - MTG Card versions
Creakwood Liege - MTG Card versions
Noxious Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Desecrator Hag - MTG Card versions
Corpsejack Menace - MTG Card versions
Rot Farm Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Reaper of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Graverobber Spider - MTG Card versions
Vhati il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Poison-Tip Archer - MTG Card versions
Golgari Findbroker - MTG Card versions
Canker Abomination - MTG Card versions
Storrev, Devkarin Lich - MTG Card versions
Rotwidow Pack - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord offers a robust strategy for card advantage in your deck. His ability to sacrifice another creature to score card draws and fill up your graveyard can provide a continuous engine for getting ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable Lich Lord effortlessly turns your creature resources into valuable plays. With the ability to scale his power and toughness based on the number of creature cards in your graveyard, Jarad can quickly become an accelerating force on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Jarad’s sacrifice ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to foes or make strategic moves during an opponent’s turn. This can result in unexpected swings in board state or pressuring your opponent’s life total at a moment’s notice, keeping your adversaries constantly on edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of using Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, is the necessity to discard a creature card to activate one of its key abilities. This can be particularly challenging in a game where your hand is already depleted, making it a risky play when you’re in need of maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Another consideration is the specific mana cost associated with Jarad. The card demands a mix of black and green mana, which may restrict its integration into a diversified deck. Players running a two-color or multicolor deck may occasionally find the mana requirements limiting, especially in highly competitive formats where mana efficiency is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, Jarad comes with a comparatively high overall mana cost. Allocating six mana—two black, two green, and two of any color—can prove cumbersome in the early game. This cost hurdle could delay impactful plays or conflict with the ability to cast other essential spells in the crucial mid-game phase.


Reasons to Include Jarad Golgari Lich Lord in Your Collection

Versatility: Jarad Golgari Lich Lord excels in decks that leverage the graveyard, fitting effortlessly into Dredge, Reanimator, or Sacrifice strategies. His ability to scale with the graveyard makes him a dynamic threat in multiple phases of the game.

Combo Potential: This commander interacts seamlessly with numerous cards, creating lethal synergies. For instance, pairing him with high-powered creatures allows for significant life loss effects or with “Persist” creatures can generate infinite combos.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta often gravitates towards creature-based strategies, Jarad’s ability to sacrifice creatures for direct life loss can be a game-changer, providing a valuable win condition against a wide array of decks.


How to beat

Jarad Golgari Lich Lord is a formidable foe in MTG, standing tall as both a sacrificial outlet and a scalable threat. To counteract Jarad’s potential to turn the tides, players must thwart graveyard synergy, as his strength lies in his ability to sacrifice creatures for direct damage based on their power. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can efficiently neutralize his ability by exiling graveyard contents. Without fuel, Jarad’s impact is significantly diminished.

Another strategic approach is to remove Jarad before his ability can be activated. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can dispatch Jarad swiftly, denying the possibility of a devastating sacrifice play. Targeted removal is especially effective during the early stages before Jarad can become a looming threat.

Lastly, countering Jarad before he hits the battlefield is also viable. Counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can ensure that Jarad never gets a chance to exercise his power. By employing these tactics, you can maintain control over the game and prevent Jarad Golgari Lich Lord from marshaling his undying forces against you.


BurnMana Recommendations

Whether you’re orchestrating a dominating board presence with Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord or fine-tuning your deck-building strategies, MTG always offers ways to enhance your gameplay and collection. The versatility of Jarad in graveyard-based tactics adds depth to your matches and ignites powerful combinations. For any challenger seeking to master the art of sacrifice and emergence from the graveyard, considering Jarad is a strategic move that can steer games in your favor. Embrace the chance to amplify your MTG experience and position yourself as a formidable player. Visit us to discover more insights and strategies tailored to advance your skill and deck prowess in the world of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari and Return to Ravnica, 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 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-09-07 and 2018-11-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 452003NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
22012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1742003NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2232015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
42017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1792015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
52018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 652015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-10-01 Jarad’s first ability applies only when Jarad is on the battlefield.
2012-10-01 The life loss is based on the power of the sacrificed creature as it last existed on the battlefield.
2012-10-01 To activate Jarad’s last ability, you must sacrifice two lands. It doesn’t matter what other land types the two lands have, as long as one is a Swamp and one is a Forest. Even if one of the lands you sacrifice is both a Swamp and a Forest, you have to sacrifice another land that is a Swamp or a Forest.
2012-10-01 You can sacrifice any land with the land type Swamp or Forest, not just ones named Swamp or Forest. For example, you could sacrifice two Overgrown Tombs.