Liberate MTG Card

Liberate offers card advantage by negating opponent removal and keeping hand options robust. Maintaining tempo is critical, and Liberate preserves board presence with efficient creature retention. Instant speed utility allows for tactical flexibility, keeping opponents uncertain during gameplay.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Number	21
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Text of card

Remove target creature you control from the game. At end of turn, return that card to play under its owner's control.

"Not everyone gets a second chance." —Hanna

Cards like Liberate

Liberate stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile option for temporary removal, akin to other spells that temporarily exile creatures from the battlefield. Its closest relative in purpose and effect might be Long Road Home, which also exiles a creature and returns it to the battlefield at the next end step. Where they diverge is in their additional aspects; while Liberate is strictly a vanishing act, Long Road Home confers a +1/+1 counter upon the creature’s return.

Another comparable card is Otherworldly Journey. Much like Liberate, it plays with the battlefield presence of creatures, though it supersedes in longevity by bringing back the exiled creature with a +1/+1 counter not at the end step, but in the next end step, prolonging its absence. This can strategically deny opponents certain benefits or triggers for a full rotation of turns. Contrastingly, Cloudshift offers immediate return during the same turn and can be instrumental in dodging removal or reactivating enter-the-battlefield abilities.

Though each card presents a nuanced approach to the mechanic, in terms of pure removal capabilities, Liberate provides a clean, straightforward option for players aiming to momentarily clear a path or protect their own creature from imminent threats within Magic: The Gathering’s dynamic gameplay.

Otherworldly Journey - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Liberate by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Liberate card is an excellent tool for swiftly reclaiming a creature and saving it from an adverse situation. By returning a creature to your hand, you effectively negate an opponent’s removal efforts, thereby maintaining your board presence and card parity. This helps to keep your hand filled with options, allowing for strategic plays and responses during critical moments in a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Liberate itself doesn’t directly produce additional resources, it efficiently helps retain your valuable creatures. This aspect is crucial as it preserves your vital resources on the board, effectively keeping up the pace and not losing tempo. It ensures that your mana investment in your creatures isn’t wasted, as you have the opportunity to redeploy them at a more opportune time.

Instant Speed: The key strength of Liberate lies in its capability to be cast at instant speed. This flexibility gives you the power to react in the heat of battle, making it possible to wait until the last possible moment to decide whether to salvage your creature or not. This can generate tactical advantages, especially when you can use your untapped mana to bluff other potential actions, keeping your opponent guessing and on the edge.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Liberate necessitates the player to discard a card in addition to paying its mana cost. This can sometimes become problematic, particularly if your hand is already sparse or if the card you must discard is crucial to your overall game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Liberate, you must have access to white mana. This specific mana requirement can restrict its inclusion to only certain types of decks, typically those that are mono-white or operate within a color combination that includes white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Liberate’s mana cost might be considered high relative to the tempo of some games. In scenarios where speed is of the essence, investing three mana to temporarily remove a single target can set you back, particularly if other options are available that either cost less or offer more flexibility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Liberate excels as a flexible option for decks focused on tempo or protecting key creatures. Its instantaneous nature allows strategic plays during either player’s turn.

Combo Potential: The ability to return a creature to your hand synergizes well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects, enabling repeated use of powerful abilities and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with removal spells, Liberate offers a reliable method to safeguard your most valuable creatures and maintain board presence against control tactics.

How to beat

Liberate presents a unique challenge within the realm of defensive Magic: The Gathering spells. Standing out with its low mana cost and the instant speed exile of target creature, it requires a precise strategy to overcome. Unlike other removal spells, such as Oblivion Ring or Banishing Light, which offer more permanence in their effects, Liberate temporarily removes a creature, only for it to return to the battlefield under its owner’s control.

Combatting Liberate effectively involves anticipating your opponent’s plays. Utilizing instant-speed spells that can counteract the exile effect, like Negate or Swift Response, is vital for maintaining board presence. Additionally, taking advantage of the temporary nature of Liberate by playing cards that benefit from leaving and re-entering play can turn the tide in your favor. Cards such as Thragtusk or Rekindling Phoenix, which provide advantageous effects upon entering or leaving the battlefield, can help offset the temporary setback caused by Liberate.

Ultimately, understanding the potential of creature etb (enter the battlefield) and ltb (leave the battlefield) effects, alongside timely counterspell intervention, is paramount to gaining the upper hand against Liberate and ensures strategic depth in your gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Liberate MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Liberate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Liberate has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Liberate 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 creature returns after “at the beginning of the end step” abilities trigger, so any such abilities on the creature will not trigger this turn.