Liliana's Steward MTG Card
2020-07-03 - Number 111
2020-07-03 - Number 300
2022-12-02 - Number 436
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice Liliana's Steward: Target opponent discards a card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Servants at Vess Manor are chosen for their strong work ethic and respectful demeanor. Being alive is not required.
Cards like Liliana's Steward
Liliana’s Steward is a contractive piece in the realm of creature-based control cards. Its kin goes as far as the likes of Burglar Rat, which similarly forces an opponent to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. However, Liliana’s Steward offers something different, the potential to sacrifice itself to help search for a key card, Liliana Planeswalker, illustrating the dedicated support it brings to specific deck strategies.
Delving deeper, we encounter Yarok’s Fenlurker, another creature that exerts its presence by compelling an opponent to discard when it comes into play. Unlike Liliana’s Steward, it comes with an added ability to boost itself, providing not just a discard effect but also a potential threat on the board. Although not directly card-for-card comparable, Ostracize serves a similar purpose in the early game, selectively stripping a creature from an opponent’s hand, shaping the course of the game with its preemptive disruption.
To sum up, while many cards stand in the realm of discard effects in Magic: The Gathering, Liliana’s Steward’s allegiance to the Liliana Planeswalker and the strategic sacrifice element it introduces set it apart, making it a niche yet noteworthy option for players wielding the darker arts of control.
Cards similar to Liliana's Steward by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Liliana’s Steward’s ability to force an opponent to discard a card can disrupt their strategy while not costing you any cards, effectively serving as a form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: By compelling a discard, this card can facilitate resource acceleration for strategies that benefit from filling the graveyard. This can be particularly synergistic with decks utilizing reanimation or delve mechanics.
Instant Speed: While the card’s ability is not at instant speed, the low cost of Liliana’s Steward enables players to efficiently manage their resources and still deploy other instant-speed interactions within their turn or the opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of using Liliana’s Steward is the discard requirement. Although the ability to force an opponent to discard a card can be strategic, it does mean you’re utilizing resources to trigger an effect, which can put you at a disadvantage in terms of card economy, particularly if your hand size is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost is purely black mana, which can be restrictive. Decks not running black mana or those with a tight mana base might struggle to cast this card efficiently, limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the utility of Liliana’s Steward, it’s important to consider the investment. While it comes with an impactful effect, the initial mana cost might be seen as steep for a spell of this nature. In the realm of MTG, where tempo and efficiency are key, there are options for discard effects that come in at a lower mana cost, offering players a quicker way to disrupt opponents.
Reasons to Include Liliana’s Steward in Your Collection
Versatility: Liliana’s Steward can serve multiple functions in your deck. As a one-mana creature, it’s an early presence on the board that can be used for either early defense or as a sacrificial piece for larger strategies later in the game.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with other graveyard-centric cards. Its ability to make an opponent discard helps set up for powerful reanimation spells or synergizes with cards that capitalize on your opponent’s discards.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where hand advantage is crucial, forcing your opponent to discard a card can be a game-changer. Liliana’s Steward can disrupt your opponent’s hand, making it a smart inclusion against decks that rely heavily on specific card combinations.
How to Beat
Overcoming Liliana’s Steward in your MTG games requires strategic finesse and situational awareness. As a low-cost black creature card, Liliana’s Steward can pressure opponents early in the game, compelling them to discard a card of their choice when it’s sacrificed. The key to nullifying this advantage is maintaining a hand that can afford to lose less critical cards or using spells that can replenish your hand quickly.
Alternatively, prioritize removal of Liliana’s Steward before its ability can be activated. Use instant-speed removal spells to ensure that it never gets a chance to influence your strategy. It’s also worth considering graveyard interaction mechanics. Since discarding is a core part of the gameplay with cards like Liliana’s Steward, employing cards that profit from or recycle your graveyard can turn a seeming disadvantage into a robust tactical edge.
Remember, the steward is a creature of opportunity, not power. By negating those opportunities or repurposing the card’s effect to fuel your game plan, you’ll retain control and diminish the impact of your opponent’s early sacrifice plays.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Liliana's Steward MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Core Set 2021, 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 Liliana's Steward 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 Liliana's Steward Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 111 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 2 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 300 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 436 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana's Steward has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |