Liliana, Waker of the Dead MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Liliana
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Liliana Waker of the Dead enhances strategic play with her versatile loyalty abilities, impacting the battlefield dynamically.
  2. Her ability to force discards enhances graveyard play, synergizing with black’s theme of resource manipulation.
  3. Liliana shines in formats like Pioneer and Commander, offering valuable control for long-term advantage and board presence.

Text of card

+1: Each player discards a card. Each opponent who can't loses 3 life. −3: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of cards in your graveyard −7: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of combat on your turn, put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains haste."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Liliana Waker of the Dead allows players to continually strip their opponent’s hand, gaining a significant advantage in terms of cards. The ability to choose a card type and force each opponent to discard a card of that type increases your card advantage over your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Liliana’s second ability is a plus-ability that pushes resource acceleration. Once she’s on the board, she helps you ramp up your swamp mana which is beneficial as it reduces the number of lands you need for future plays, accelerating your game strategy.

Instant Speed: Although Liliana Waker of the Dead does not possess instant speed, her abilities to deal damage and force opponents to discard cards can occur at sorcery speed, leaving your opponent less opportunity to react or to form a counter-strategy on their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Liliana Waker of the Dead necessitates you to discard a card for her +1 ability. This could potentially leave you at a disadvantage if your hand gets low, forcing tough decisions about which resources to relinquish.

Specific Mana Cost: Liliana’s casting cost, demanding two black mana, can restrict your ability to include her in multicolored or non-black orientated decks, potentially limiting her versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana, Liliana Waker of the Dead is a somewhat expensive card. There are alternatives with lower mana costs available that could potentially provide more favorable tempo or resource controls.


Reasons to Include Liliana Waker of the Dead in Your Collection

Versatility: Liliana Waker of the Dead carries immense flexibility, she fits seamlessly into various deck types. Her powerful abilities to leverage graveyard resources work exceptionally well in decks that thrive on late-game dominance.

Combo Potential: Liliana’s power to bring creatures back from the graveyard and effectively deal with enemy creatures opens up for numerous strategic combinations. Utilize her unique skills to construct synergies that will catch your opponent off-guard.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the central role graveyard strategies have in the present meta, Liliana Waker of the Dead can be incredibly impactful. Her abilities resonate profoundly, whether in mid-range warfares or long-drawn control fights, providing you with significant board advantage.


How to Beat Liliana Waker of the Dead

Battle strategies in the wondrous realm of Magic: The Gathering can often hinge on one’s ability to expertly tackle powerful adversary cards like Liliana Waker of the Dead. Known for her commanding abilities and formidable presence, it is pivotal to counter her influence on the battlefield.

One practical strategy is maintaining a robust creature presence. Since her -3 ability depends on the number of your creatures present, mitigating creature loss would thwart her power. Utilizing instants that rapidly spawn creatures could help buffer against her abilities.

Instant spells that can counteract abilities and Planeswalker cards are likewise invaluable. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can halt Liliana’s magic, balancing the scales in your favor. Timing these counters against -4 abilities helps preserve your life points.

From another perspective, consider cards that directly destroy Planeswalkers. Direct damage or spells like Hero’s Downfall provide direct routes to neutralize Liliana. Remember, successfully combating Liliana Waker of the Dead requires anticipation of her potentially game-changing abilities alongside tactical application of your counters.


Conclusion

In conclusion, delving into the depths of Magic the Gathering is an endless quest for knowledge and power. Liliana Waker of the Dead is just one piece in the sprawling puzzle of the game, offering unique abilities to challenge both veterans and newcomers alike. To truly thrive in MTG, staying curious and well-informed is key. Deepen your understanding of the game mechanics, meta strategies, and deck synergies. Let your aspirations of greatness fuel your passion for the game. We invite you to continue your journey with us, enhancing your skills and embracing the lore. For more insights and strategies, step further into the world of MTG with us and claim your next victory.


Cards like Liliana, Waker of the Dead

Liliana, Waker of the Dead is a potent card in the realm of Planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering. One might find similarities between this card and iconic cards like Liliana of the Veil or Liliana, the Last Hope. Both cards, like Liliana, Waker of the Dead, feature the signature Liliana’s style of forcing opponents to discard and resurrection of creatures from the graveyard, respectively.

Another card comparable is Elspeth, Sun’s Nemesis which, while fundamentally focused on enhancing your creatures, nonetheless, delivers similar resurrection mechanics as the fourth ability. Then, there’s Chandra, Torch of Defiance, another four-mana Planeswalker like Liliana, Waker of the Dead. Though emphasizing direct damage and ramping, its fourth ability, reigniting the graveyard, gives a parallel feel.

To conclude, Liliana, Waker of the Dead commands a unique spot in the teeming world of MTG Planeswalkers. Yet, when mulling over similarities and differences, it definitely has shared elements with the aforementioned counterparts, making it an interesting card for all MTG players who value versatility and strategic trade-offs.

Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - Innistrad (ISD)
Liliana, the Last Hope - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Liliana, Waker of the Dead by color, type and mana cost

Liliana, Untouched by Death - MTG Card versions
Sorin the Mirthless - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Dark Realms - MTG Card versions
Davriel, Soul Broker - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Untouched by Death - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Sorin the Mirthless - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Liliana of the Dark Realms - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Davriel, Soul Broker - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Liliana, Waker of the Dead MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Core Set 2021, 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 Liliana, Waker of the Dead and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Liliana, Waker of the Dead Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 859362015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2822015normalborderlessMagali Villeneuve
32020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2972015normalblackAnna Steinbauer
42020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1082015normalblackAnna Steinbauer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana, Waker of the Dead has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 A player who has a card in hand can't choose to lose 3 life instead of discarding a card.
2020-06-23 As Liliana's first ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then each other player in turn order does the same. Then all the chosen cards are discarded at the same time. Finally, each opponent who couldn't discard a card loses 3 life.
2020-06-23 Creatures put onto the battlefield with Liliana's emblem gain haste indefinitely.
2020-06-23 If you have no cards in hand, you just don't discard anything. You don't lose 3 life. Other players still discard if able.
2020-06-23 In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any permanents you control from Liliana's emblem are exiled.
2020-06-23 The value of X is determined only as Liliana's second ability resolves. Once that happens, the value of X won't change later in the turn even if the number of cards in your graveyard changes.

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