Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 188
2022-06-10 - Number 508
2022-06-10 - Number 402
2022-06-10 - Number 55
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Dragon Shaman |
| Abilities | Choose a background |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, target creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that spell's mana value. Choose a Background (You can have a Background as a second commander.)
Her hunger for power consumes what the fire cannot.
Cards like Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat
Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat introduces a unique dynamic to the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering creatures that synergize with Dragon cards. Tapping into the might of these mythical beasts, Livaan stands shoulder to shoulder with notable predecessors like Dragonlord’s Servant. Both cards reduce the casting cost of Dragon spells, although Livaan’s discount is broader, encompassing spells that reference Dragons instead of only Dragon creature spells. This gives players more flexibility and can accelerate the deployment of powerful effects tied to those references.
Another comparison can be drawn with Dragonspeaker Shaman, a card that also specializes in making Dragon creatures cheaper to cast. However, Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat, surpasses this ability by extending the cost reduction to any spell type—provided it aligns with Dragon synergies. Furthermore, Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat’s secondary ability to conjure a Dragon creature token after casting a spell that meets the criteria offers a tangible board presence that its counterparts lack.
These comparisons highlight Livaan’s strategic advantage in decks looking to unleash the full fury of Tiamat’s brood in a swift and cost-efficient manner, leaning into both utility and the creation of vast Dragon armies on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat excels in providing card advantage by tutoring for a multicolored dragon card, ensuring that you have access to powerful creatures when you need them.
Resource Acceleration: This card can ramp up your resources significantly. By potentially putting a dragon card onto the battlefield at a reduced cost, Livaan streamlines your game plan and accelerates your board presence.
Instant Speed: Despite Livaan’s abilities not being at instant speed, the strategic setup in a turn can be tantamount to having an instant card play, as it primes your next turns for powerful, game-changing moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat, the card advantage comes at a cost. Players must discard a card to trigger Livaan’s looting ability, which may force them to lose key pieces from their hand at critical moments, making it less ideal in situations where hand preservation is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Livaan’s casting cost demands a precise combination of mana types. This requisite can complicate its inclusion in decks that run more than two colors or those that cannot guarantee the required mana fixing to play it on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its abilities, Livaan competes with other cards in the same slot that might offer immediate impact or more robust abilities. Therefore, its cost-effectiveness is a point to ponder when considering it for a deck that aims to make the most out of every turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat, brings adaptability to any deck, seamlessly integrating with strategies that capitalize on multi-color cards and dragon synergies.
Combo Potential: This card’s intrinsic ability to fetch a dragon card amplifies its potential in combos, particularly in decks designed to summon and utilize the power of Tiamat and other formidable dragons.
Meta-Relevance: For players contending with an ever-evolving meta, Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat maintains relevance, especially in environments where dragon decks or multi-faceted strategies prevail.
How to beat
Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This potent card is known for its synergy with Dragon spells and can quickly turn the tides if left unchecked. To effectively neutralize Livaan, focus on removal spells that can bypass potential protective measures. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile offer a direct solution, providing a swift removal of this particular threat without triggering its abilities.
Control decks have an advantage here, as they can hose down Livaan’s ramp-up with counterspells. Negate and Dovin’s Veto are fitting examples, able to stop the casting or activation of key abilities that could swing the momentum in your opponent’s favor. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of Dragons reaching the field as Livaan gets more dangerous with each Dragon spell cast. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear multiple threats simultaneously, reducing the impact of Livaan’s passive abilities.
Considering these strategic points, disrupting Livaan’s momentum and stopping Dragon spells from resolving are crucial to maintaining control and emerging victorious against a deck featuring Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 188 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ioannis Fiore | |
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 508 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ioannis Fiore | |
| 3 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series | ACLB | 55 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 402 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff Miracola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-06-10 | An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders. |
| 2022-06-10 | Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library. |
| 2022-06-10 | Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate. |
| 2022-06-10 | If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens. |
| 2022-06-10 | If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander. |
| 2022-06-10 | Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway). |
| 2022-06-10 | You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors. |