Talion, the Kindly Lord MTG Card
2023-09-08 - Number 215s
2023-09-08 - Number 215p
2023-09-08 - Number 215
2023-09-08 - Number 301
2023-09-08 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Faerie Noble |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying As Talion, the Kindly Lord enters the battlefield, choose a number between 1 and 10. Whenever an opponent casts a spell with mana value, power, or toughness equal to the chosen number, that player loses 2 life and you draw a card.
Cards like Talion, the Kindly Lord
Talion, the Kindly Lord adds a unique twist to the collective of legendary creatures in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). It draws close parallels with cards like Sigarda, Host of Herons, due to its ability to offer protection to the player. Yet, Talion shines with its specific benevolent nature, as it can prevent all damage that would be dealt to players on their turn, fostering a sense of sanctuary not common among other legends.
Examining a comparable card, Karlov of the Ghost Council emanates a similar protective aura, granting life gain bonuses that can stabilize a player’s standing in the game. However, Karlov’s strength lies in the accumulation and leverage of +1/+1 counters, unlike Talion’s unwavering shield against damage. Rhys the Redeemed also resonates with Talion in the aspect of generating tokens, but Rhys focuses more on an offensive swarm strategy, standing apart from Talion’s defensive orientation.
To summarize, Talion, the Kindly Lord secures a robust position within the pantheon of MTG’s defensive legends, carving out a niche with its extraordinary safeguarding capabilities, which not only filters through a player’s strategy but also shapes the dynamics of the game.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Talion, the Kindly Lord. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4c Control | Standard | 4c Control | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 15, 2024 |
 | UB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024 | |
 | Esper Midrange | Standard | Esper Midrange | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
 | Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Community Turnier 4/2023 |
 | Dimir Faeries | Standard | Dimir Faeries | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
 | Five-color Midrange | Explorer | MTGA |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Talion, the Kindly Lord offers players an opportunity to gain significant card advantage. By possessing an ability that potentially allows for recurring creature cards from the graveyard to your hand, this can ensure a steady flow of resources and maintain pressure on your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is a key factor with Talion. The Lord’s built-in mechanics can empower your mana base by turning the creatures you control into additional lands. This accelerates your game, allowing for more significant plays earlier on and enabling a faster route to victory.
Instant Speed: Although Talion himself does not directly harness instant speed, his abilities complement a strategy that is reactive at instant speed. Given his role in a deck, he ensures that you always have creatures at the ready to utilize those instant speed spells efficiently, maximizing your mana and turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Talion asks players to discard another card in order to harness its abilities. This can lead to a depletion of valuable hand resources, which may put players at a disadvantage, especially in the late game where card advantage becomes crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Talion requires a precise combination of mana types that may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks. This restrictiveness can be a hindrance when trying to maintain a flexible and adaptable mana base during gameplay.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Talion’s mana value might be seen as steep for its offerings. When considering the curve of a deck, there are alternatives that could provide similar benefits without the high cost, leading to potentially more optimized plays at lower mana thresholds.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Talion, the Kindly Lord is a dynamic addition to a wide array of MTG decks, bringing unique options for deck builders. Its ability to offer both offensive and defensive benefits with its transformative nature ensures it can adapt to numerous situations.
Combo Potential: Talion’s capacity to change forms opens up a plethora of synergistic interactions with other cards. Players can engineer intricate combinations leveraging both sides of this powerful card, manipulating graveyard resources or taking advantage of sacrificing mechanics for strategic gains.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that constantly evolves, incorporating a card like Talion can be a savvy move. Its utility in dealing with a variety of threats and enhancing board state makes it well-suited to compete against prevalent deck types, securing its place in a well-rounded collection.
How to beat Talion, the Kindly Lord
Talion, the Kindly Lord emerges as a distinctive card with its dual nature in the Magic: The Gathering universe. By offering an efficient life gain and providing creature buffs, Talion presents a strategic resource. The challenge lies in its potential transformation into the menacing Talir, Who Escapes Death, bolstering your opponent’s graveyard synergies.
To outmaneuver this formidable card, targeted removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can be key. They not only bypass Talion’s ability to return from the graveyard but also prevent the transformation altogether. Furthermore, graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void restrict Talion’s resurrection capability. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the playing field, should Talion already preside over a strengthened board.
Strategically, leveraging instant-speed interaction ensures control over Talion before it can alter the game’s course. It’s crucial to disrupt your opponent’s plan and seize the right moment to neutralize Talion, the Kindly Lord or its other half, Talir, Who Escapes Death, before the balance tips in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Talion, the Kindly Lord MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine Promos and Wilds of Eldraine Promos, 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 Talion, the Kindly Lord 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
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Printings
The Talion, the Kindly Lord Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Promos | PWOE | 215s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justyna Dura | |
| 2 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Promos | PWOE | 215p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justyna Dura | |
| 3 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justyna Dura | |
| 4 | Wilds of Eldraine Art Series | AWOE | 60 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 5 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 301 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Olena Richards |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Talion, the Kindly Lord has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Talion, the Kindly Lord card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-09-01 | Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a spell don't affect that spell's mana value. |
| 2023-09-01 | For spells with in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine if the spell's mana value is the chosen number. For example, if the chosen number is 4, a spell with mana cost cast with X equal to 2 would cause Talion's last ability to trigger. |
| 2023-09-01 | The numbers you may choose include 1 and 10. |