Leonin Battlemage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Cat Wizard |
| Released | 2004-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Darksteel |
| Set code | DST |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 5 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Stephen Tappin |
Text of card
: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Whenever you play a spell, you may untap Leonin Battlemage.
The strongest of the pride are measured not by the steel in their hands but by the steel in their souls.
Cards like Leonin Battlemage
The Leonin Battlemage card adds strategic depth to combat spells in Magic: The Gathering, occupying a niche somewhat akin to other creature spell enhancements. It rivals cards like Jeskai Ascendancy, which also boosts creatures during your spells. However, Leonin Battlemage shines with its inherent ability, providing a consistent stat boost to your creatures with each spell cast, distinguishing it from Jeskai Ascendancy’s one-time trigger per spell.
Aligned with this theme is the renowned prowess ability found on cards like Abbot of Keral Keep. Prowess similarly rewards spell casting by powering up creatures, albeit temporarily for the turn. The Leonin Battlemage’s flexibility stands out, offering an incremental, lasting advantage, which can be valuable in longer games where sustained power is crucial. Then we look at cards like Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest, which combines prowess with the option to give double strike. While Shu Yun can potentially lead to explosive turns, the Leonin Battlemage facilitates a more controlled board presence, potentially making it a safer play under certain game conditions.
Evaluating these similarities and differences, Leonin Battlemage claims its unique position among creature enhancement spells in Magic: The Gathering, favored for its tactic of lasting creature buffs and game endurance.
Cards similar to Leonin Battlemage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Leonin Battlemage’s ability to bolster your hand size can be a game-changer. By providing avenues to draw more cards, perhaps through supportive artifacts or abilities triggered by its casting or presence, players can maintain a superior position with more strategic options at their disposal.
Resource Acceleration: As a potential enabler in white-centered decks, the Leonin Battlemage can contribute to resource acceleration through various synergies. Whether it’s by empowering your creatures to hit harder or faster, or through interactions that untap your lands, this card can be a key component in ramping up your board state efficiently.
Instant Speed: While the Leonin Battlemage itself isn’t an instant, it can create situations where you benefit from instant speed interactions. If you have other cards that react to creature spells or that can be cast at instant speed, the Battlemage’s presence on the battlefield can provide the necessary distraction, allowing you to optimize the timing of your plays and keep opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Leonin Battlemage requires card discard to trigger certain abilities. This can be inconvenient, especially when you are trying to maintain card advantage in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a mana cost demanding white mana, the Leonin Battlemage may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks, limiting deck-building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to mana efficiency, the Leonin Battlemage stands at a higher bracket for its abilities, which could be a setback when trying to maintain tempo against faster decks in the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Leonin Battlemage, with its ability to boost creatures, is a solid inclusion in a variety of white or multicolor decks. This card’s flexibility in supporting offensive and defensive strategies makes it a valuable asset for many playstyles.
Combo Potential: The Battlemage’s ability pairs well with cards that benefit from instant-speed buffs or utilize tap and untap mechanics. This allows for interesting and advantageous interactions on the battlefield, elevating your overall game plan.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of MTG’s meta, the Leonin Battlemage can shine in environments where creature-based tactics are prevalent. Its ability to consistently apply pressure and dictate the flow of combat can make it a game-changing inclusion against a wide array of decks.
How to Beat Leonin Battlemage
Leonin Battlemage is best understood by grasping its role in MTG gameplay. With its ability to provide a power and toughness boost to creatures you control whenever you cast a spell, it demands an answer fast. To overcome the battle prowess that this card provides, consider employing removal spells as soon as possible to eliminate the threat. Direct damage spells, such as Lightning Bolt or Doom Blade, are highly effective due to their low mana cost and instant speed, allowing you to react swiftly during your opponent’s turn.
Control decks that can counter creatures or utilize board wipes like Wrath of God provide a strategic overture against the Leonin Battlemage’s ability to fortify a board presence. Additionally, exile effects from cards like Path to Exile are crucial since they prevent further recursion threats from cards that might retrieve the Battlemage from the graveyard.
Remember, timing is key against Leonin Battlemage. Efficiently managing your spells and resources while keeping removal or counterspells in hand could mean the difference between dominating the board or falling victim to this feline tactician’s martial enhancements.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Leonin Battlemage MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Leonin Battlemage 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Leonin Battlemage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |