Lilting Refrain MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 83
2000-08-02 - Number tvdl83sb
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
During your upkeep, you may put a verse counter on Lilting Refrain. Sacrifice Lilting Refrain: Counter target spell unless its caster pays an additional o X, where X is the number of verse counters on Lilting Refrain. Play this ability as an interrupt.
Cards like Lilting Refrain
Lilting Refrain enters the arena of Magic: The Gathering utility enchantments with a unique functionality. It draws parallels to other counter-inclined options like Delay, which similarly interrupts opponents’ plays but suspends the spell rather than countering it outright. Unlike Delay, Lilting Refrain gradually builds in strength, accumulating verse counters that enhance its denial capabilities over time.
Another card to consider in this space is Ertai’s Meddling, which delays targeted spells for a duration equal to the number of X mana invested. While it doesn’t offer the repetitive counter potential of Lilting Refrain, it can be a versatile spell interrupter in a pinch. Mystic Remora also shares the spotlight for its cumulative upkeep cost, but rather than countering, it provides card draw whenever an opponent casts a non-creature spell. This fish enchantment becomes a key engine of card advantage in longer games.
Assessing the strategic value, Lilting Refain stands as a noteworthy option for strategies focusing on gradual control. It not only halts opponents’ threats but also serves as a ticking time bomb, growing more intimidating with every verse counter. While its counterparts offer different advantages, Lilting Refrain’s unique buildup makes it a chord worth striking in the MTG control deck symphony.
Cards similar to Lilting Refrain by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lilting Refrain offers gradual but repeatable card utility by placing accumulation counters during each upkeep. This allows for a strategic build-up, potentially leading to a significant payoff that disrupts your opponent’s plans, contributing to long-term card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Lilting Refrain itself doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, it can be an invaluable tool in decks focused on proliferate strategies, where it accelerates the accumulation of counters, providing a faster route to its ultimate effect.
Instant Speed: As a suspend card, Lilting Refrain can be played at instant speed, delivering a surprise element in the gameplay. This enables players to wait for the most opportune moment to unveil it, catching opponents off guard and making it a versatile addition to any arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Lilting Refrain requires a certain precision in strategy, as putting it into your graveyard comes at the cost of discarding another card from your hand. This might deplete your resources more quickly than anticipated, hindering your mid-game plays.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s dependence on blue mana can be restrictive. Decks that don’t focus heavily on blue mana may find integrating Lilting Refrain awkward, restricting its play to more monochromatic or two-color decks that can reliably provide blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the competitive landscape of MTG, the mana investment Lilting Refrain demands can be quite steep for what it offers. For three mana upfront and a cumulative upkeep cost, players might be deterred, especially when other enchantments or spells in the same mana range could provide immediate or more impactful benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lilting Refrain can be slotted into a variety of blue-centric decks thanks to its suspend mechanism, which allows for strategic timing and mana allocation over several turns.
Combo Potential: This enchantment thrives in scenarios that involve countering key spells. Its recurring ability to counter spells can be leveraged in combos, particularly in control setups where delaying tactics pave the way to victory.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where spellslinger decks are prevalent, Lilting Refrain holds the power to disrupt opponents’ strategies effectively. The ability to have a counter ready after upkeep gives it a place in decks aimed to outlast and outmaneuver opposing tactics.
How to beat
Lilting Refrain is a sneaky card within the world of MTG that can throw players for a loop. As an enchantment with cumulative upkeep, it offers a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its ability to counter spells, unless opponents pay an additional cost proportional to the number of verse counters, can be a thorn in your side. However, there are several effective strategies to dismantle its power.
Consider acceleration tools to outpace the mana demands Lilting Refrain imposes. By ramping up your mana resources, you may absorb the additional costs without hindering your game plan. Alternatively, targeting it with enchantment removal before the counters stack up ensures it has minimal impact. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize can handle this swiftly. Deploying counter spells when Lilting Refrain is first cast can also prevent its setup, allowing you to maintain your tempo without interference.
Understanding the rhythm of your opponent’s strategy is key. Look out for the opportunity to force the activation of Lilting Refrain when it benefits you, such as on spells that are not central to your winning condition, preserving your critical plays for when the coast is clear.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lilting Refrain MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and World Championship Decks 2000, 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 Lilting Refrain and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Printings
The Lilting Refrain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Berry.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 83 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Berry | |
| 2 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | tvdl83sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Berry |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lilting Refrain 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 Lilting Refrain 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 | Adding a counter is optional. If you forget to add one during your upkeep, you cannot back up and add one later. |