Lu Xun, Scholar General MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 48
2009-09-07 - Number 42
2013-11-01 - Number 49
2017-06-09 - Number 41
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Horsemanship |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Horsemanship When Lu Xun successfully damages your opponent, you may draw a card.
Cards like Lu Xun, Scholar General
In the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering, Lu Xun, Scholar General carves out a niche as a formidable card, particularly in Commander format. It holds some resemblance to Thada Adel, Acquisitor in the way that both have the ability to profit their users for dealing combat damage to a player. While Thada Adel allows players to search an opponent’s library for an artifact card and exile it, Lu Xun provides a straightforward bonus of card draw.
Another card that echoes Lu Xun’s capacity for card advantage is Edric, Spymaster of Trest. Even though Edric requires an army of creatures to attack and not just one, it potentially draws an abundance of cards, benefiting the aggressor regardless of whom the creatures are attacking. Conversely, the Scholar General’s ability is limited to itself, yet it is undeniably easier to assure at least one card draw per cycle with its intrinsic unblockability.
In this comparative landscape, Lu Xun stands out due to its consistent ability to bypass defenses and guarantee card advantage turn after turn, a trait of distinct significance for players looking to maintain momentum and resources in a match.
Cards similar to Lu Xun, Scholar General by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lu Xun, Scholar General ensures a consistent card draw mechanism each time it deals combat damage to a player. This ability enhances your strategy by offering you more options and keeping your hand filled with resources, pivotal for outmaneuvering opponents.
Resource Acceleration: While Lu Xun himself doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure tokens, the consistent card draw can lead to more land drops and spells that do, effectively accelerating your resource base over time and allowing more room for impactful plays earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: Although Lu Xun operates at sorcery speed, his ability to create card advantage compliments well with instant-speed spells in your deck. This synergy lets you maximize your turns by playing spells during your opponent’s turn, all while Lu Xun continually threatens card advantage during your combat phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Lu Xun, Scholar General often comes with the challenge of meeting its discard conditions which can put a strain on your hand, especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of blue and other mana types, making it a less flexible choice for decks that might not have a stable mana base or balance of colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lu Xun’s overall cost can be burdensome in swift-paced games, where using four mana can be detrimental when trying to establish board presence or keep up with opponents’ threats.
Reasons to Include Lu Xun, Scholar General in Your Collection
Versatility: Lu Xun, Scholar General is a commander that fits into a variety of blue-based deck strategies. His ability to grant unblockable ensures he reliably deals combat damage and helps maintain card draw consistency.
Combo Potential: His ability pairs well with equipment and enchantments that trigger upon dealing combat damage, thereby enabling potent combos and synergies within the deck.
Meta-Relevance: A card that can consistently bypass opponent defenses becomes even more crucial in metas dominated by ground-based creatures, allowing you to apply pressure while drawing into answers and key pieces of your strategy.
How to beat Lu Xun, Scholar General
Lu Xun, Scholar General is a crafty commander that can provide consistent card advantage in Magic: The Gathering commander games. When Lu Xun deals combat damage to an opponent, his ability to draw a card makes him a target that your opponents will quickly want to address. To successfully counter Lu Xun’s influence, it’s essential to disrupt his ability to connect with players.
One effective method is to ensure you have ample creature removal at your disposal. This could range from spot removal spells like Murder to board wipes like Damnation. It’s also useful to have creatures with reach or flying that can block Lu Xun, preventing that crucial combat damage. Alternatively, employing enchantments that limit attacking, such as Ghostly Prison or Propaganda, can prove to be an effective deterrent.
Maintaining a strong presence on the board and being ready to respond to Lu Xun’s attacks can neutralize the card advantage he offers. Remember to always be vigilant, as your opponents may have tricks up their sleeves to protect their commander or make him unblockable. Stay ahead of the game, and you’ll find that Lu Xun, Scholar General, while a formidable opponent, can be outmaneuvered.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lu Xun, Scholar General MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Lu Xun, Scholar General and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Lu Xun, Scholar General Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Xu Xiaoming.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 48 | 1997 | Normal | White | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 42 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 3 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 49 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 4 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 41 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lu Xun, Scholar General has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lu Xun, Scholar General card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Despite the similarities between horsemanship and flying, horsemanship doesn’t interact with flying or reach. |
| 2009-10-01 | Lu Xun’s second ability triggers whenever it deals damage to an opponent for any reason. It’s not limited to combat damage. |