Savannah Lions MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 38
1993-10-04 - Number 39
1993-12-01 - Number 39
1993-12-10 - Number 39
1993-12-10 - Number 39
1994-04-01 - Number 39
1994-04-01 - Number 39
1994-06-21 - Number 39
1995-04-01 - Number 48
1995-04-01 - Number 48
2003-07-28 - Number 43★
2003-07-28 - Number 43
2005-07-29 - Number 41★
2005-07-29 - Number 41
2011-01-10 - Number 24
2018-03-16 - Number 33
2019-11-07 - Number 218
2022-11-28 - Number 38
2022-11-28 - Number 335
2022-12-02 - Number 237
2023-01-13 - Number 24
2023-01-13 - Number 270
2020-09-26 - Number A25-33
| Card sets | Released in 23 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Cat |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Cards like Savannah Lions
Savannah Lions holds a special place in Magic: The Gathering for those who favor aggressive tactics. As an early game creature, it has attributes mirrored by many subsequent cards in the game’s long history. Elite Vanguard is often brought into comparison with Savannah Lions due to its identical stats and cost – both are 2/1 creatures for one white mana. However, Elite Vanguard lacks the prestigious ‘Lion’ creature type, a subtle but notable difference for deck themes focusing on such traits.
Isamaru, Hound of Konda is another creature resembling Savannah Lions. With the same power and toughness, Isamaru brings the advantage of being legendary, and its additional subtype can synergize with various strategies that could revolve around legendary creatures. Despite these similarities, Savannah Lions remains a classic choice that harmonizes straightforward simplicity with efficient power level.
Assessing the Savannah Lions against its counterparts, its position as a forerunner in the creature curve for aggressive white decks is well-established. Other cards may offer slight variations or additional synergies, but Savannah Lions is a timeless piece, proving that in Magic: The Gathering, sometimes the original benchmark sets the standards for others to follow.
Cards similar to Savannah Lions by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Savannah Lions. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-White Midrange | Premodern | Misty Premodern Winter Finals | |
| Five-color Aggro | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Savannah Lions card is a low-cost creature card that provides value by being able to attack and defend early in the game. This card puts opponents on a timer from the get-go, potentially leading the way to a card advantage as it pressures your opponent to respond.
Resource Acceleration: With its low mana cost, Savannah Lions allows you to optimize your mana usage efficiently. It sets an aggressive pace, allowing for other higher-cost spells to follow up sooner, potentially accelerating your resource curve and overall game strategy.
Instant Speed: While Savannah Lions itself isn’t an instant, its mere presence can influence the pace of the game, forcing instant speed responses from an opponent. This can provide strategic advantages as you dictate the flow of play, potentially leading to advantageous exchanges and misplays by the opposing player.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Reworking your strategy to fit in a creature like Savannah Lions could mean possibly pivoting yourself away from a more synergistic build or control setup where every card in hand is crucial for maintaining board state or card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing a single white mana can be restrictive in multicolor decks, limiting the flexibility of your mana base and potentially forcing suboptimal plays if white mana isn’t readily available during your early turns.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a single mana for a 2/1 creature is mana efficient, the lack of additional abilities on this card when compared to other one-mana creatures in the current gameplay environment may not justify the card slot in a deck where each card needs to maximize value and versatility.
Reasons to Include Savannah Lions in Your Collection
Versatility: Savannah Lions, a classic creature, can seamlessly adapt to various strategies, primarily in decks that thrive on quick, aggressive starts. Their low mana cost makes them an efficient turn-one play.
Combo Potential: This card has a strong synergy with equipment and enchantments that bolster creatures, which can quickly turn it into a powerful threat on the board, despite its initial modest stature.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where early board presence can dictate the pace, Savannah Lions holds its ground. Particularly effective in metas with a prevalence of slower, control-based decks, this card can deliver crucial early damage.
How to beat
Savannah Lions is a classic creature card from Magic: The Gathering, prized for its cost-efficiency in white aggressive decks. Its prowess lies in the ability to deliver rapid attacks due to its low mana cost and decent power. Dealing with this early threat requires timely responses. Removal is key – spells like Fatal Push and Path to Exile can eliminate these lions efficiently. But pure removal isn’t the only way to trump these creatures.
Playing creatures with higher toughness can blockade these felines, deterring them from attacking without consequence. Consider Wall of Omens or Nyx-Fleece Ram as they offer solid defense while providing additional benefits upon entering the battlefield. Alternatively, controlling the pace of the game with sweepers such as Supreme Verdict or even using spot sweepers like Zealous Persecution can shift the advantage back to you.
Ultimately, addressing Savannah Lions comes down to disrupting the tempo of your opponent’s aggressive strategy. By including smart removal options, sturdier blockers, or even cards that change combat math to your favor, you can ensure that these iconic creatures are less of a threat to your pathway to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Savannah Lions MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Savannah Lions 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Savannah Lions Magic the Gathering card was released in 19 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 38 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 39 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 39 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 39 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 39 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 39 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 39 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 39 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 48 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 48 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 11 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 43★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 12 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 43 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 13 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 41★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 14 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 41 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 15 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 24 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 16 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 33 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 17 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 218 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 18 | The List | PLST | A25-33 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | ||
| 19 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 20 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 335 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 21 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 22 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 23 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 270 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Savannah Lions has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |