Liege of the Hollows MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Released | 1997-06-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Weatherlight |
| Set code | WTH |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 131 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Text of card
If Liege of the Hollows is put into any graveyard from play, each player may pay any amount of mana to put that number of Squirrel tokens into play under his or her control. Treat those tokens as 1/1 green creatures.
Cards like Liege of the Hollows
Liege of the Hollows offers a unique dynamic in Magic: The Gathering as a creature that capitalizes on death-triggered abilities. Quite like Squirrel Nest, which consistently creates creature tokens, Liege of the Hollows also focuses on token generation. However, Liege of the Hollows requires a tactical sacrifice since it can only populate the board after its demise, unlike Squirrel Nest’s ongoing effect.
Another comparable card is Deep Forest Hermit, which not only musters an army of tokens upon entering the battlefield but also buffs them. Despite being more immediate than the Liege’s ability, Hermit lacks the potential for explosive token generation at a moment’s notice. Additionally, we can look at Deranged Hermit as well. It shares the squirrels theme and also grants them a boost, but its echo cost means a significant mana investment.
Ultimately, Liege of the Hollows stands out for its capacity to both strategically control the board postmortem and potentially saturate it with tokens, unlike its counterparts, which either provide steady value or come with higher costs.
Cards similar to Liege of the Hollows by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Liege of the Hollows gifts players with the possibility of squirrels! When it dies, each player may pay any amount of mana to create that many Squirrel tokens. Depending on the board state, this can quickly turn into a substantial army for you, overshadowing your adversaries with sheer numbers.
Resource Acceleration: Squirrel tokens hold more value beyond the cute facade. They serve as an essential resource for various purposes, such as sacrificing for mana, using them to power up spells, or enabling synergies with other cards that benefit from having a multitude of creatures on the field.
Instant Speed: The ability of Liege of the Hollows is triggered upon its death, a phenomenon that can be orchestrated at instant speed with the help of other cards. This leverages your tactical advantage, allowing you to potentially flood the board with tokens at the end of an opponent’s turn or right before your own, thus sidestepping sorcery-speed sweepers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Liege of the Hollows requires the player to discard a card, which may not always be beneficial, especially in tight situations where each card in hand is vital for strategy execution.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana alignment to cast, costing two green mana and two of any color. This requirement can be restrictive, especially in multi-colored decks where green mana may not be as readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to put Liege of the Hollows into play is four mana, which can be on the higher side for its abilities. Players might find more cost-effective creatures or spells that serve a similar purpose without the added mana strain.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Liege of the Hollows offers a distinctive angle to gameplay, allowing for strategic death triggers in creature-centric decks.
Combo Potential: When it dies, it grants players the ability to create numerous Squirrel tokens, setting the stage for synergistic plays with cards that thrive on creature quantity.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where sacrifice strategies are prevalent, the ability to turn a creature’s demise into an army of tokens can be exceptionally powerful.
How to Beat
Liege of the Hollows poses an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with its ability to bring an army of Squirrel tokens when it dies. Handling this card cleverly is crucial for maintaining control of the game. Like other creatures that have beneficial death triggers, the key is to mitigate its effect or avoid killing it without a strategy in place.
To counter this card effectively, one could use exile effects to remove it from play without triggering its ability. This prevents the flood of tokens that could overwhelm you. If Liege of the Hollows does make it to the graveyard, grave hate cards can eliminate the threat of recurrence. Another tactic is to employ spells or abilities that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures at a time of your choosing, ensuring you can deal with the Squirrels on your terms.
Overall, strategic planning and the timely use of specific removals or control elements can keep Liege of the Hollows from tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor. Keeping a cool head and the right cards in hand will help you outsmart and outplay this woodland threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Liege of the Hollows MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Liege of the Hollows 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Liege of the Hollows 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 Liege of the Hollows card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | The player whose turn it is pays any amount of mana they want, then each other player in turn order does the same, then all the Squirrel tokens are put onto the battlefield at the same time. |