Liliana's Reaver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Deathtouch
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Liliana’s Reaver boosts your board while depleting opponents’ hands, swinging card advantage your way.
  2. Token generation from the Reaver acts as a versatile resource, supporting various strategic plays.
  3. Quick removal is key to countering Liliana’s Reaver and maintaining control against its growing threats.

Text of card

Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.) Whenever Liliana's Reaver deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card and you put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield tapped.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Liliana’s Reaver comes equipped with the ability to create a Zombie token with its attack trigger. Every time it deals combat damage to a player, not only do you get a new token, which is a body on the board, but your opponent is also forced to discard a card. This double-edged sword slices through your opponent’s hand while bolstering your own army, tipping the scales of card advantage in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Liliana’s Reaver doesn’t directly create mana, the zombies it produces can be tactically used for other effects that require creatures, acting as a resource in their own right. Whether you’re sacrificing them for dark rituals or utilizing them for various synergies that reward you for having multiple zombies, these tokens can be a subtle form of accelerating your resource pool, setting the stage for overwhelming swarms.

Instant Speed: While Liliana’s Reaver operates at sorcery speed, this behemoth demands immediate answers. Every turn it remains unchecked, the reaver provides cumulative advantage. Opponents must quickly find a way to deal with it or face a horde of undead and a dwindling hand, granting you a significant lead in the delicate dance of resource management.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of Liliana’s Reaver is its ability that triggers when it deals combat damage to a player, forcing that player to discard a card. While advantageous, it requires the card to deal combat damage to gain this benefit, which can be a hurdle against decks with ample blockers or removal spells.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two black mana symbols, Liliana’s Reaver demands a significant presence of black mana sources within a deck. This can limit its inclusion to primarily black or black-heavy decks, potentially excluding it from more diverse multicolor strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, including two specific black mana, means that Liliana’s Reaver competes with other impactful four-cost creatures and spells. Some players might find its cost somewhat steep for the effect, especially when considering other cards that might provide immediate board impact or value without the need for combat damage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Liliana’s Reaver seamlessly integrates into various decks looking for ways to disrupt opponents while developing board presence. Its ability to create both card advantage and token creatures makes it multifaceted and a favorable choice in numerous strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies revolving around discard or zombie tribal themes. It complements decks that exploit opponents’ reduced hand size or that capitalize on an increasing number of undead minions.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Liliana’s Reaver excels. Its ability to swing the tide with both its deathtouch and token generation can turn the tables on an unsuspecting adversary, making it a worthy contender in your collection.


How to beat

Liliana’s Reaver is a potent card in the MTG arena that can turn the tide in favor of those who wield it wisely. This intimidating Zombie comes with the power to force opponents to discard cards while amassing a small army of undead through its deathtouch and token-generating abilities. When facing Liliana’s Reaver, it’s essential to disrupt its momentum before it overwhelms you.

Utilize spells that can remove creatures without having to engage them in combat to avoid triggering its token generation. Prioritizing these removals can conserve your creatures and hand size, maintaining control of the board. Additionally, taking advantage of instant-speed interactions allows players to respond on their opponent’s turn, making it difficult for the Reaver’s controller to predict and prepare for their actions.

Ultimately, denying the Reaver the chance to strike is key. Efficiently managing your resources and selecting the right moments to play your removal spells can minimize the impact of this formidable adversary, keeping you in the game and paving the way to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Victory in MTG often comes down to the strategic nuances of deck building and card selection. Liliana’s Reaver, with its potential for card advantage and token generation, is a dark horse capable of tipping the scales in your favor. It’s a perfect candidate for anyone looking to enhance a zombie-themed deck or to incorporate discard mechanics into their gameplay. This creature demands attention and an understanding of its synergies within the game’s intricacies. If you’re eager to command the undead and dismantle your adversary’s plans, let us guide you in maximizing the potential of Liliana’s Reaver in your deck. Embark on a path to mastery and dominate the battlefield with every shuffle and draw.


Cards like Liliana's Reaver

Liliana’s Reaver is a compelling creature card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the stage with grisly zombies such as the Dread Wanderer. Both creatures bring a distinctive presence to the battlefield, but Liliana’s Reaver offers a special synergy with its ability to force opponents to discard a card each time it deals combat damage. This ability is absent from the Dread Wanderer, which instead can return from the graveyard to your hand under certain conditions.

Another analogous card is the Burglar Rat, which immediately causes an opponent to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. While Liliana’s Reaver demands a successful attack for this effect, the rat does not rely on combat to deplete the opponent’s hand. However, it does lack the intimidation and ongoing threat posed by Liliana’s Reaver’s combination of deathtouch and discard.

Exploring the realm of repeatable discard mechanics, we compare the Reaver to Hypnotic Specter, an iconic card known for its own damaging, hand-disrupting abilities. Both cards create a sense of dread for opponents, forcing them to play around the potential loss of resources. In contrast to the 1/1 flying Specter, Liliana’s Reaver’s 4/3 body with deathtouch makes it an imposing force on the board, especially if left unchecked.

Each of these cards offers their own strategic advantages, but for MTG players looking to combine creature-based pressure with disruptive hand attack, Liliana’s Reaver carves out its own niche that’s hard to replicate.

Dread Wanderer - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dread Wanderer - Amonkhet Promos (PAKH)
Burglar Rat - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Hypnotic Specter - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Liliana's Reaver by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Magus of the Abyss - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Magus of the Abyss - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Liliana's Reaver MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014 and Commander 2014, 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's Reaver and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Liliana's Reaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2013-07-19 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-07-19Magic 2014M14 1032003normalblackKarl Kopinski
22014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1472015normalblackKarl Kopinski
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2512015normalblackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Liliana's Reaver has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-07-01 If the player’s hand is empty when the triggered ability resolves, you’ll still put a Zombie token onto the battlefield.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks