Lobelia, Defender of Bag End MTG Card

Lobelia’s card draw ability adds consistent advantage, aiding in maintaining hand resources throughout the game. Can be a cornerstone in decks, enabling powerful combos and reinforcing Hobbit tribe synergy. While versatile and powerful, mana and discard costs are key considerations when including Lobelia in a deck.

Lobelia, Defender of Bag End - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)

Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
2023-06-23 - Number 429

Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
2023-06-23 - Number 110

Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
2023-06-23 - Number 27

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Legendary Creature — Halfling Citizen
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

When Lobelia enters the battlefield, look at the top card of each opponent's library and exile those cards face down. , Sacrifice an artifact: Choose one — • Until end of turn, you may play a card exiled with Lobelia without paying its mana cost. • Each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

Cards like Lobelia, Defender of Bag End

Lobelia, Defender of Bag End is a distinguished card in the Magic: The Gathering lineup, offering a unique blend of abilities. Its parallels are seen with cards like Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, which ensures creatures with power or toughness one or less cannot be blocked. Lobelia doesn’t grant unblockability, but it does allow a player to draw a card whenever a creature with power one or less attacks, providing a persistent card advantage in the right deck.

Looking to another comparable card, Mentor of the Meek offers a similar card draw mechanic but triggers whenever a creature with power two or less enters the battlefield. While it can synergize with token strategies and offers early game advantage, Lobelia’s focus on actual combat allows for more tactical play and requires a more thought-out approach to deck building.

The value of Lobelia in gameplay is highlighted when compared to these similar cards. While not as directly aggressive, it offers continuous card draw options in a focused build. The strategy and deck synergy enabled by Lobelia, Defender of Bag End certainly carve a niche for it in Magic: The Gathering’s extensive card pool.

Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lobelia, Defender of Bag End by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lobelia Defender of Bag End presents a unique edge in card efficiency. By offering a draw mechanism each time a specific condition is met, players consistently fuel their hand, staying ahead in the resource race.

Resource Acceleration: This card ensures a steady curve progression, significantly aiding in early-game resource ramping. It grants players extra resources under certain in-game triggers, potentially altering the tempo in their favor.

Instant Speed: The swiftness of this card is its hidden gem. Deployable at instant speed, it allows players to adapt to the battlefield on the fly. With the capability to respond to an opponent’s actions at critical moments, this card shines in reactive strategies and surprise plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of Lobelia Defender of Bag End is its discard requirement. This can sometimes be a hindrance, especially during the late game or when your hand is already running low. Having to let go of a potentially useful card to play Lobelia can deter some players from wanting to include it in their decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Another consideration for players is its specific mana cost. Lobelia’s mana cost includes green, which means it will mainly fit into decks that are centered around this color or that have a good mana base to accommodate it. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to only certain types of decks and strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, Lobelia comes with a comparatively high mana cost. For the abilities it provides, players might find other cards with similar effects but at a lower mana investment. This can make Lobelia less appealing when building an efficient deck, as players often look for cards that optimize their mana curve.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lobelia Defender of Bag End lends itself to multiple deck archetypes, adapting well within both aggressive and control strategies. Its defensive attributes can fortify your ground game, while supporting a varied spectrum of deck themes.

Combo Potential: With its unique ability to synergize with Hobbit tribe-specific interactions or cards that key off of defensive stats, Lobelia’s inclusion can unlock several powerful combinations and interactions, enhancing your deck’s overall strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment shaped by creature-based strategies, having a reliable defender like Lobelia can be crucial. It’s especially relevant in formats where Hobbits are abundant or strategies revolve around creating impenetrable defenses.

How to beat

Lobelia, Defender of Bag End positions itself as a unique creature card that offers an intriguing dynamic in MTG games. As a vigilant arbiter on the battlefield, Lobelia brings both offensive and defensive capabilities to the table. However, like any card in MTG, there are strategies you can employ to turn the tides in your favor.

A valuable tactic is to utilize spells that can bypass Lobelia’s defensive posture. Removal spells that exile or place Lobelia on top of the owner’s library can be particularly effective, as they sidestep her potential to retaliate or block attacks. Moreover, leveraging creatures with flying can prove advantageous, as Lobelia’s vigilance does not safeguard against aerial threats.

Finally, control decks have the advantage of using counterspells to preemptively deal with Lobelia before she can influence the game. Decks revolving around card advantage can outpace the steady defense she offers by overwhelming the player with options. When considering your game plan, blending removal, evasion, and control can provide a comprehensive approach to undermining Lobelia’s presence on the board.

BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG requires not just knowledge of individual cards like Lobelia Defender of Bag End, but also an understanding of strategy and synergy within your deck. As we’ve explored, Lobelia can be a powerhouse in the right context, offering card draw and resource acceleration while presenting challenges like high mana costs and stringent color requirements. If you’re intrigued by the possibilities this card introduces and the tactics to employ or defend against it, we invite you to deepen your MTG expertise with us. Discover comprehensive guides, advanced strategies, and a community of players ready to elevate their game. Unlock the potential of your deck and transform your gameplay with insight from BurnMana.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lobelia, Defender of Bag End MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Lobelia, Defender of Bag End and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lobelia, Defender of Bag End Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Caroline Gariba.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2023-06-23	Tales of Middle-earth Commander	LTC	429	2015	Normal	Black	Caroline Gariba
2	2023-06-23	Tales of Middle-earth Commander	LTC	110	2015	Normal	Black	Caroline Gariba
3	2023-06-23	Tales of Middle-earth Commander	LTC	27	2015	Normal	Black	Caroline Gariba

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lobelia, Defender of Bag End has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lobelia, Defender of Bag End card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2023-06-16	If Lobelia, Defender of Bag End leaves the battlefield, and later another Lobelia, Defender of Bag End enters the battlefield, it is a new object (even if the two were represented by the same card). You can't play cards exiled by the original Lobelia, Defender of Bag End with the second ability of the new Lobelia, Defender of Bag End.
2023-06-16	If the spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2023-06-16	If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost", you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.
2023-06-16	To play a card using the permission granted by the first mode of Lobelia, Defender of Bag End's activated ability, you must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can play a land from exile this way only during your main phase while the stack is empty, and only if you have an available land play remaining for the turn.
2023-06-16	You may look at these face-down exiled cards any time you wish. No other player may look at the face-down cards you exiled with Lobelia, Defender of Bag End, even if another player takes control of it.