Lich's Caress MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Number | 105 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Josh Hass |
Key Takeaways
- Lich’s Caress offers card advantage by eradicating opponent creatures and influencing board control.
- Mana requirements and cost highlight the need for strategic deck construction and play.
- Its versatility and combo potential make it a viable pick for black-focused decks in various metas.
Text of card
Destroy target creature. You gain 3 life.
A lich must consume mortal souls to feed its eternal life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lich’s Caress enables you to remove an opponent’s creature from the battlefield, effectively reducing their threats and potentially disrupting their strategy. Through this, you maintain superiority in terms of available resources on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Although Lich’s Caress itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, clearing the board of potential blockers can pave the way for your creatures to attack without obstruction, which can lead to gaining the upper hand faster.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Lich’s Caress doesn’t benefit from instant speed flexibility. However, its casting during one’s main phase allows for strategic planning, which when paired with knowledge of your opponent’s deck can become a significant tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Lich’s Caress does not necessitate discarding as part of its casting cost, it is vital to be aware of such potential drawbacks in other cards that may shift the balance in a tightly contested game where each card in hand is an invaluable asset.
Specific Mana Cost: Lich’s Caress requires two black mana in its cost, making it somewhat restrictive. Decks that run multiple colors might find it challenging to have the necessary black mana exactly when they want to cast it, which could delay pivotal moments in gameplay or even prevent the card from being included in diverse multicolor deck builds all together.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of five mana to cast, this card may be seen as having a high investment for the effect of simply destroying a creature and gaining some life. Players often consider alternative removal spells that can be cast for less mana, optimizing the chance to affect the board state more rapidly and efficiently.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lich’s Caress brings robustness to black-focused decks, excelling in varieties that prioritize creature control. Its ability to eliminate threats and stabilize life points makes it adaptable in many scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies enacting life gain triggers or requiring spells for graveyard accumulation. Its dual nature complements synergies where destroying creatures can lead to advantageous outcomes.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly shifting meta, Lich’s Caress remains relevant as a staple removal tool. If creatures are dominating play, this card’s inclusion can help tip the scales back to a balanced state, offering a strategic edge in creature-heavy matchups.
How to beat Lich’s Caress
Lich’s Caress presents an intriguing challenge in MTG with its combination of creature destruction and life gain. When it hits the board, not only does it eliminate a creature, but it can also shift lifetotals, underlining its strategic value in black control decks. Adapting your gameplay to counteract this card involves a multi-pronged approach.
Consider diversifying the threats on your board. Avoid over-committing to the board with high-value creatures that could turn into easy targets for Lich’s Caress. Counter spells such as Negate or Dispel can preemptively tackle this removal card, while cards with hexproof or indestructible serve as robust defenses against any form of targeted removal, including this particular spell.
To effectively ‘beat’ Lich’s Caress, it’s crucial to recognize the setup before it happens. Maintaining a keen awareness of your opponent’s available mana and held cards, particularly in the mid to late game when Lich’s Caress is most likely to be cast, will help you anticipate and prepare for this card, potentially turning the tide in your favor. Navigate carefully, and you can mitigate the impact of Lich’s Caress and retain control of the game.
Cards like Lich's Caress
Lich’s Caress is an intriguing spell in MTG that embodies both removal and life gain elements. It reminds experienced players of the classic Murder card, a straightforward and potent creature elimination tool. Unlike Murder, Lich’s Caress brings the additional advantage of gaining 3 life, making it a two-pronged card beneficial in both offensively dealing with threats and bolstering your own survivability.
Another comparable card is Vraska’s Contempt, which also provides the utility of exiling a target creature or planeswalker while giving the caster life. The exile component of Vraska’s Contempt is particularly valuable against graveyard-reliant decks. Though it costs one more mana, the versatility and finality of exile can justify the higher cost in some deck strategies. Additionally, Essence Extraction offers a similar feel, with direct damage to a creature and a life gain that stabilizes your board presence; however, Lich’s Caress’s ability to destroy a creature outright can be more advantageous in handling larger threats.
In sum, while comparing Lich’s Caress with cards of similar functions, its combination of creature removal and life gain packed into one card highlights its role as a robust choice for decks aiming to maintain control and sustain against opponents in MTG.
Cards similar to Lich's Caress by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lich's Caress MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Lich's Caress and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lich's Caress has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lich's Caress card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Lich’s Caress tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain any life. |
