Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Abilities	Hellbent
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	60
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Lyzolda offers card advantage and life gain, maximizing player resources during games.
Instant speed abilities allow strategic responses to opponents’ actions.
Specific mana requirements could limit deck compatibility.

Text of card

Hellbent — As long as you have no cards in hand, if a source you control would deal damage to a creature or player, it deals double that damage to that creature or player instead. Hellbent — At the beginning of your end step, if you have no cards in hand, each of your opponents discards a card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch boasts an ability that allows you to sacrifice another creature to draw a card if it’s red or gain 2 life if it’s black, generating significant card advantage and flexibility during gameplay. Maintaining a full hand can be crucial to outpace opponents and this ability puts you in an advantageous position.

Resource Acceleration: By levering the card’s ability to sacrifice creatures, you can streamline your deck’s strategy, accelerating your resources to more quickly execute your game plan. This can be particularly effective in decks that are designed to utilize the graveyard or generate tokens, as it can convert expendable creatures into valuable game resources.

Instant Speed: Lyzolda’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering the tactical advantage of responding to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This can upset their strategy by removing a creature in response to an action or by drawing into an answer when most needed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch demands you to sacrifice a creature to activate her ability. This can be a drawback, especially if you don’t have expendable creatures on the battlefield or you’re struggling to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Her activation cost is color-intensive, needing both black and red mana. This specificity can restrain her inclusion in multicolored decks that may not always have the exact mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including both red and black, Lyzolda’s mana investment is significant compared to other cards that can provide similar effects without the stringent color requirement or lower cost alternatives that may not be as situational.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar card proves highly adaptable across a variety of deck builds. Its ability to provide both direct damage to opponents and card draw can be a strategic asset in different gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: The Avatar card can serve as a linchpin in sophisticated combo strategies, especially when used alongside other cards that enable sacrificing creatures for added benefit, thus turning a simple action into a powerful chain of events.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are commonplace, having Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar in your deck means you’re well-equipped to handle opponents’ creatures while sustaining your card advantage, making it a relevant choice in many competitive scenes.

How to beat Lyzolda, the Blood Witch

Lyzolda, the Blood Witch can be a real challenge in MTG duels, commanding respect from her opponents. This formidable Avatar brings a mixture of sacrifice and card advantage to the table, creating a persistent threat if left unchecked. To effectively neutralize Lyzolda, it’s essential to limit her ability to sacrifice creatures for value. One strategy is to control the board by removing her fodder before she can capitalize on it.

Cards with exile effects are particularly potent, as they prevent resurrection mechanics which could bring back creatures for Lyzolda to sacrifice again. Instant speed removal forces the Lyzolda player to act preemptively or lose their opportunity for value. Enchantment-based control elements are also effective, restricting the ability to sacrifice or negating the damage and card draw benefits she provides.

Ultimately, beating Lyzolda requires a mixture of foresight and timing, disrupting her combination of abilities before they can culminate in an overwhelming advantage. Keep the board clear, and her witchcraft will falter, paving the way to victory.

Cards like Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar

In the diverse universe of MTG card abilities, Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar carves out a unique niche. She shares design space with cards like Judith, the Scourge Diva. Both creatures offer a sacrifice outlet that can impact the board by dealing damage. However, while Judith confers a passive buff to your creatures alongside a post-mortem ping, Lyzolda requires a direct sacrifice to trigger her ability, offering greater control in exchange for a more deliberate setup.

Another card that echoes some of Lyzolda’s vibes is Mayhem Devil. Although not offering direct benefit from sacrificing creatures, Mayhem Devil retaliates whenever a player sacrifices anything, be it creature, artifact, or a land, giving it a broader reactionary scope. Whereas Lyzolda’s ability expressions are more narrowed and controlled, but potent in designated sacrifice strategies.

All things considered, within MTG’s tapestry of sacrificially themed cards, Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar stands as a testament to a well-balanced act of power and precision. Her ability to selectively dictate the timing and means of reaping both damage and card advantage makes her a compelling choice for players crafting decks with sacrifice mechanics at their core.

Judith, the Scourge Diva - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, 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 Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Avatar and other MTG cards:

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