Leonin Arbiter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Leonin Arbiter emphasizes tempo, stunting opponents’ ability to search libraries unless a cost is paid.
  2. This card’s constant effect acts as an oppressive deterrent that impacts game strategies persistently.
  3. Flexible in deck building, it counters prevalent tutor-dependent strategies in MTG’s competitive scenery.

Text of card

Players can't search libraries. Any player may pay for that player to ignore this effect until end of turn.

"Our people are torn by infighting. Until the two sides reconcile, our laws can carry no meaning."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Leonin Arbiter uniquely manages the card advantage by limiting fetched lands. Though it doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it hampers opponents from thinning their decks, which can indirectly lead to a relative increase in the quality of your draws.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of adding mana, but it does give you a significant tempo boost. By restricting your opponents’ ability to search their libraries unless they pay additional costs, you can gain the upper hand by making better use of your mana.

Instant Speed: While Leonin Arbiter doesn’t operate at instant speed, its continuous effect is analogous to a powerful deterrent that’s always ‘on,’ akin to an ever-present board threat that disrupts opponents’ strategies around the clock.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leonin Arbiter’s ability can sometimes force you to make tough decisions about keeping essential cards in hand versus the ability to search libraries.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white mana and generic mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-color decks that require a more flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing only two mana, in competitive play where efficiency is key, other two-mana creatures may offer more immediate board presence or value.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Leonin Arbiter shines in various deck builds, fitting seamlessly into strategies that involve manipulating opponents’ resources. Its ability to restrict searches makes it a valuable addition to any deck that aims to control the game tempo.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards like “Ghost Quarter” or “Path to Exile,” Leonin Arbiter elevates disruption, forcing opponents to either pay the cost or suffer greater consequences, strengthening control and land destruction archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: With numerous decks relying on tutoring effects or fetching lands, the Leonin Arbiter stands as a robust choice against prevalent tutor-dependent strategies, maintaining its relevance in the fluctuating MTG landscape.


How to beat

Leonin Arbiter is a powerful piece in MTG, known for its unique ability to control opponents’ strategies by restricting their search of libraries unless they pay an additional cost. To counter this card, smart play and strategic deck building are crucial. A simple yet effective method is direct removal spells. Cards such as Path to Exile or Murder can handle Leonin Arbiter before its ability impacts the game significantly.

Another approach is to prioritize playing land drops and saving mana to pay for Arbiter’s cost when needed. This way, you can maintain access to your deck’s full potential without falling victim to the Arbiter’s restriction. Furthermore, consider using alternative methods for card advantage that don’t involve searching the library, such as drawing or scrying, to circumvent the need to search your library entirely.

Deck manipulation spells like Ponder or Brainstorm can also provide similar utility without triggering Arbiter’s taxing ability. In essence, a mix of proactive removal, mana efficiency, and non-search card advantage methods form a robust strategy to overcome the challenges posed by Leonin Arbiter in any MTG matchup.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the depths of MTG strategy, Leonin Arbiter represents an intriguing card for anyone looking to disrupt opponents and control the game flow. With its own brand of resource denial and potential for potent combos, it’s a card that commands respect on the battlefield. Whether you’ve experienced its game-changing effects or are curious about integrating it into your deck, the Leonin Arbiter’s strategic value is undeniable. For those keen on strengthening their control decks or simply seeking to add a challenging element to the game, we encourage you to dig deeper into tactics and deck-building insights. Dive into our comprehensive resources for a more in-depth analysis and discover how to optimize your MTG gameplay with Leonin Arbiter. Embark on your path to becoming a formidable opponent today.


Cards like Leonin Arbiter

Leonin Arbiter shines in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature that affects gameplay in a profound way. Known for its ability to restrict players from searching their libraries unless they pay for it, Leonin Arbiter is often compared to Aven Mindcensor. Both creatures are disruptive, but Aven Mindcensor limits the search to the top four cards only, rather than a total prevention unless a cost is paid. This difference often tips the scale in favor of Leonin Arbiter in decks designed to significantly hamper an opponent’s search strategies.

Another card that players might weigh against it is Stranglehold, an enchantment that outright denies the search of libraries. While Stranglehold offers a more comprehensive blockade, it comes with a higher mana cost compared to Leonin Arbiter. The Arbiter’s creature type also allows for synergy in a tribal deck, offering strategic flexibility. Additionally, its low casting cost makes it a favorable early game play, applying pressure right off the bat.

Overall, Leonin Arbiter holds a competitive edge among cards with similar abilities. Its combination of a low mana cost and the significant impact on opponents’ strategies ensures its place as a formidable tool in player’s decks within Magic: The Gathering.

Aven Mindcensor - MTG Card versions
Stranglehold - MTG Card versions
Aven Mindcensor - MTG Card versions
Stranglehold - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leonin Arbiter MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Commander 2017, 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 Leonin Arbiter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Leonin Arbiter Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Shelly Wan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 142003NormalBlackShelly Wan
22017-08-25Commander 2017C17 642015NormalBlackShelly Wan
32020-09-26The ListPLST C17-642015NormalBlackShelly Wan
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 162015NormalBlackShelly Wan
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4182015NormalBlackShelly Wan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Leonin Arbiter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-01-01 A player who has paid may search any library when instructed to do so that turn, not just their own library.
2011-01-01 Effects that instruct you to reveal or look at cards from the top of you library will still work. Only effects that use the word “search” are affected.
2011-01-01 If a player pays , that enables only them to ignore Leonin Arbiter’s effect that turn. Each other player is still affected by it.
2011-01-01 If an effect says “Search your library . . . then shuffle your library,” you shuffle you libraries even though you can’t search.
2011-01-01 If an effect says “You may search your library . . . If you do, shuffle your library” or “You may search your library . . . then shuffle your library,” you can’t choose to search, so you won’t shuffle.
2011-01-01 If there are multiple Leonin Arbiters on the battlefield, a player must pay for each one before being able to search libraries that turn.
2011-01-01 Once a player has paid , they may search libraries that turn as many times as they are instructed to do so.
2011-01-01 Paying doesn’t let a player pick up a library and search it — it just allows them to ignore Leonin Arbiter’s effect that turn. That player can search a library only if another spell or ability instructs them to do so.
2011-01-01 Paying to ignore Leonin Arbiter’s effect is a special action. Any player may take this special action any time they have priority. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.
2011-01-01 Since players who haven’t paid can’t search, they won’t be able to find any cards in a library. The effect applies to all players and all libraries. If a spell or ability’s effect has other parts that don’t depend on searching for or finding cards, they will still work normally.

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