Lim-Dûl's Hex MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1995-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ice Age |
| Set code | ICE |
| Number | 146 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Liz Danforth |
Text of card
During your upkeep, Lim-Dûl's Hex deals 1 damage to each player. Each player may pay o B or o3 to prevent the damage to himself or herself.
"The weak shall fall. The strong shall remain." —Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer
Cards like Lim-Dûl's Hex
Lim-Dûl’s Hex is a card that brings a unique spin to the persistent effect genre within Magic: The Gathering. Resembling other damage-over-time effects like Pestilence, Lim-Dûl’s Hex allows you to consistently ping opponents for small amounts of damage. Unlike Pestilence that requires a creature on the board to stay active, Lim-Dûl’s Hex’s upkeep cost is its only demand for continuation.
In comparison, we have cards like Sulfuric Vortex that also offer a steady life drain feature, but unlike Lim-Dûl’s Hex, it blocks life gain and affects all players. Another similar card would be Pyrohemia, which operates similarly to Pestilence but sits within red’s portion of the color pie. Pyrohemia’s flexibility comes at the expense of creatures on the board, aligning with red’s destructive nature against Lim-Dûl’s Hex’s black-aligned necromantic stability.
Understanding the nuance between these cards is essential for deck-building, as each has its advantages based on the strategy employed. While Lim-Dûl’s Hex might not be as aggressive or limiting as Sulfuric Vortex or require the board presence of Pyrohemia, its consistency and lower key presence can be subtly powerful in prolonging the suffering of opponents, especially in games that drag on.
Cards similar to Lim-Dûl's Hex by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lim-Dûl’s Hex provides ongoing disruption against your opponent’s board, potentially hampering their strategy turn after turn. This can lead to an indirect form of card advantage as it limits the effectiveness of your opponent’s creatures, potentially saving your spells and resources for other threats.
Resource Acceleration: While Lim-Dûl’s Hex itself does not directly accelerate resources, its low mana cost allows players to set it up early and still have mana available for other plays. Deploying threats and answers without falling behind on board presence can be pivotal in pacing the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Lim-Dûl’s Hex at instant speed provides you with flexibility, keeping your opponent guessing. By threatening to weaken their creatures at any moment, you can significantly alter their combat decisions and other actions, maintaining a level of control over the flow of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lim-Dûl’s Hex necessitates the discarding of a card to maintain its effect, a significant setback when your hand is already depleted or when every card in hand is crucial for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting requires one black mana, making it less flexible for multicolor decks that may struggle with consistent access to black mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one black, Lim-Dûl’s Hex’s continuing cost can be deemed inefficient compared to other enchantments or spells that might deliver similar or more impactful results with less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Lim-Dûl’s Hex in Your Collection
Versatility: This card serves as a utility player in many black decks, providing consistent damage across the board. With its ability to make each player lose 1 life during upkeep, it can quietly chip away at an opponent’s life total while maintaining board presence.
Combo Potential: Lim-Dûl’s Hex has synergy with life-drain strategies and can amplify the impact of other cards that profit from loss of life or player life totals changing. Integrating it into a setup that exploits these mechanics can be particularly devastating.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right meta conditions, where longer games are prevalent, Lim-Dûl’s Hex could become a key component in controlling the pace and pressure of the match. This gradual life whittling can be the edge needed to break stalemates or secure wins in attrition-based matchups.
How to beat
Lim-Dûl’s Hex presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This enchantment can slowly whittle down an opponent’s life total, securing a persistent threat throughout the game. To effectively counter Lim-Dûl’s Hex, one must consider various strategies that enhance their resilience against such repeated life loss.
One approach is to utilize life gain cards. Incorporating spells that offer you a steady stream of life points can offset the damage caused by Lim-Dûl’s Hex and prolong your stay in the game. Enchantment removal spells are also a highly effective strategy. Cards that can directly destroy or exile enchantments can remove Lim-Dûl’s Hex from the field, neutralizing its threat immediately.
Moreover, the key to overcoming Lim-Dûl’s Hex lies in swift and decisive action. Fast-paced decks that can outpace the constant drain of Lim-Dûl’s Hex might render it irrelevant by ending the game before its effect becomes detrimental. As always, knowing when to play your cards and anticipating your opponent’s moves will greatly influence your success against persistent enchantments like Lim-Dûl’s Hex.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lim-Dûl's Hex MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Lim-Dûl's Hex 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 Lim-Dûl's Hex has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |