Lavaborn Muse MTG Card
2003-02-03 - Number 105
2005-08-22 - Number C13
2007-07-13 - Number 216
2013-03-15 - Number 50
2020-09-26 - Number DDK-50
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if that player has two or fewer cards in hand, Lavaborn Muse deals 3 damage to him or her.
"Her voice is disaster, painful and final." —Matoc, lavamancer
Exploring the Lavaborn Muse Card
Delving into the depths of red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, Lavaborn Muse stands out for its unique ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies. This card is intriguing when positioned against other creatures with similar punishing effects. For example, Harsh Mentor punishes opponents for activating abilities of artifacts, creatures, and lands, but doesn’t directly influence their hand. Lavaborn Muse, however, with its distinct ability, pressures opponents by causing life loss if they have a low card count at the end of their turns.
Cards like Lavaborn Muse
Lavaborn Muse draws parallels to cards like Underworld Dreams, which inflicts damage on opponents upon drawing cards, or Raiders’ Wake that causes loss of life when opponents discard cards. While Underworld Dreams presents a continuous threat during an opponent’s draw phase, Lavaborn Muse requires a strategic setup to ensure maximum impact during the end step. Conversely, Raiders’ Wake leverages discard to weaken opponents but lacks the direct, turn-end pressure that Lavaborn Muse provides. Each card has strategic merit, but Lavaborn Muse’s ability to both affect hand size and punish with life loss gives it a distinct presence in the red zone of Magic: The Gathering play.
Cards similar to Lavaborn Muse by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lavaborn Muse. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Midrange | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lavaborn Muse rewards a strategic hand size by potentially forcing the opponent to discard at the beginning of their upkeep. This continuous depletion of their resources can shift the balance in your favor while you maintain a full grip of cards.
Resource Acceleration: Though this card doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure tokens, it accelerates your resources by allowing you to keep pressure on the opponent. By controlling the pace and forcing them to lose cards, you indirectly manage the flow of the game and resources within it.
Instant Speed: While Lavaborn Muse operates at sorcery speed itself, this recurring disruption pairs well with your own instant-speed responses. The threat of discarding keeps opponents tentative about fully utilizing their mana each turn, often giving you the upper hand to react with instant-speed plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lavaborn Muse demands a precise condition to trigger its ability — each opponent must have three or fewer cards in hand by the upkeep. This can be a significant hurdle as it requires you to actively manage the number of cards your opponent holds, often necessitating additional cards or strategies to force them to discard.
Specific Mana Cost: The Muse calls for a strict red mana investment, with a casting cost of three colorless and one red mana. This can restrict deck-building options, favoring a commitment to red or a mana base that can reliably generate multiple colors of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a four mana investment, Lavaborn Muse provides a continuous effect, but only in the right circumstances. The cost is steep when weighed against other cards in the same mana range that could provide a more immediate or guaranteed impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Lavaborn Muse in Your Collection
Versatility: As a creature that slots effortlessly into Red decks, Lavaborn Muse serves a dual purpose. Not only does it apply pressure with its solid 3/3 stats, but it also has the potential to disrupt your opponent’s hand, a valuable asset across multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks tailored to limiting hand size. Its ability to deal damage during the upkeep phase can be the cornerstone of a strategy that punishes opponents for emptying their hand, pairing well with other cards that force discards or capitalize on damage triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players are stockpiling cards in hand for a big move, Lavaborn Muse can shift the balance. Keeping the pressure on by dishing out consistent damage each turn can be crucial in dealing with control and combo decks that rely on a full grip of cards.
How to beat
Lavaborn Muse is an intriguing creature card that demands attention in any Magic: The Gathering match. Positioned as a threat that can routinely inflict damage to opponents with four or more cards in hand, she can turn the tides of the game quickly if left unchecked. Facing this card requires a strategic approach that hinges on maintaining a low hand size, thus nullifying the Muse’s ability to deal damage.
Controlling the number of cards in hand is just one facet of the strategy. Engaging in frequent spell casting, utilizing instants on your opponent’s turn, and leveraging card types that operate from the graveyard can mitigate the Muse’s influence. Additionally, removal spells that can target creatures without triggering effects upon death, such as exile or bounce spells, can effectively handle the Lavaborn Muse, removing the persistent threat from the board entirely.
In essence, when countering Lavaborn Muse, the fusion of maintaining card economy and employing spot removal or countering abilities becomes paramount. Players who adeptly manage their hand size and control the battlefield can overcome the potential continuous damage and pressure exerted by this card, maintaining their standing in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lavaborn Muse MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Salvat 2005, 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 Lavaborn Muse and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Lavaborn Muse Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2013-03-15. Illustrated by Brian Snõddy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-02-03 | Legions | LGN | 105 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | C13 | 2003 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 3 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 216 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 4 | 2013-03-15 | Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt | DDK | 50 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | DDK-50 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lavaborn Muse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lavaborn Muse card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The number of cards in hand is checked both at the beginning of upkeep and when the triggered ability resolves. |