Loyal Unicorn MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Unicorn
Abilities Lieutenant, Vigilance
Power 3
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants attack advantage by shielding your creatures from combat damage while commanding.
  2. Improves deck speed and pressure through unblocked creature assaults.
  3. Allows creatures to remain untapped, boosting defense and reaction times.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance Lieutenant — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn. Other creatures you control gain vigilance until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Loyal Unicorn’s ability to prevent your creatures from being blocked that turn if you control your commander ensures you can maintain pressure and potential card advantage with uninterrupted attacks.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing all of your creatures to bypass enemy lines, the Loyal Unicorn can lead to a faster game progression, putting you in a stronger position earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although the Loyal Unicorn doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, its vigilance ability indirectly allows you to keep your creatures untapped and ready to respond instantly to threats during your opponent’s turn, effectively improving your reactive capabilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Loyal Unicorn doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it is important for players to consider that holding onto it until reaching the necessary mana could lead to discarding other valuable cards. Balancing your hand to keep this card while maintaining a strong board presence can be a tactical challenge.

Specific Mana Cost: The Loyal Unicorn demands a specific mana setup of three generic and one white mana. This cost makes it exclusive to white or white-inclusive decks, potentially excluding it from a wider array of deck types that could benefit from its abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana value of four, this card enters the battlefield at a stage where the game could already be determined by faster-paced decks or lower-cost creatures. In such scenarios, the Loyal Unicorn may arrive too late or consume resources that could be allocated to more immediate threats or defenses.


Reasons to Include Loyal Unicorn Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Loyal Unicorn offers a flexible support role in Commander and other multiplayer formats. Its ability to grant your creatures vigilance ensures they can attack without leaving you defenseless, an excellent tool for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with abilities that trigger when your creatures deal damage, by ensuring your wide board can attack each turn without risking your defenses. Coupled with other “Lieutenants,” you can optimize its effect for a powerful and protected battlefield presence.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where board presence is critical, Loyal Unicorn shines by maintaining pressure on your opponents while fortifying your defenses. Its role in bolstering your army helps maintain relevance against various control and creature-based strategies making it a smart addition to decks focusing on sustained board state.


How to beat

Loyal Unicorn is a creature that carries significant strategic benefits in MTG, promoting a more aggressive approach by letting your creatures attack without worry. With its vigilant ability ensuring your creatures remain untapped and its commander benefits, it becomes a linchpin in many white-colored decks.

When facing an opponent with Loyal Unicorn in play, consider using cards that force sacrifices or apply exile effects to bypass its protective ability. Spot removal spells are less effective due to Loyal Unicorn’s lieutenant ability triggering only if you control your commander. Control the board with cards like ‘Wrath of God’, which can clear the creatures regardless of their vigilance status. Prioritize taking out the commander to limit Loyal Unicorn’s impact or use effects that alter combat outcomes like ‘Settle the Wreckage’. Adjust your strategy to minimize the Unicorn’s influence and remember, maintaining board control is crucial to neutralize the advantages it grants.

Ultimately, while Loyal Unicorn can be a formidable card in a synergistic deck, understanding its mechanics and incorporating ways to dismantle the synergy are key to overcoming this challenge in your MTG plays.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG isn’t just about the cards you play; it’s about understanding their synergies and strategic value within your deck. The Loyal Unicorn serves as a prime example of a card that can bolster your offensive while shielding your defenses. If you are seeking to enhance your commander deck and enjoy a playstyle that balances aggression with protection, incorporating Loyal Unicorn into your collection could be a wise move. Dive deeper into the depths of MTG strategy, discover new card interactions, and optimize your gameplay for the battlefield ahead. Unleash the full potential of your deck with Loyal Unicorn and set yourself apart in your next duel. Learn with us as we explore the many ways to secure victory in the realm of MTG.


Cards like Loyal Unicorn

The Loyal Unicorn card stands as a noteworthy creature within MTG’s myriad of supporting cards. Often brought up in discussion alongside concordant creatures, Loyal Unicorn can be paralleled with Baird, Steward of Argive in terms of its ability to protect your team. While Baird imposes a tax on opponents’ creatures that attack you or a planeswalker you control, Loyal Unicorn’s ability eliminates combat damage to creatures you control during your turn as long as you control your commander.

Mention must also be made of Brave the Sands, which shares a defensive utility by granting your creatures vigilance and the ability to block additional creatures. However, Loyal Unicorn edges out with its emphasis on offensive strategies, allowing you to commit to an all-out attack without worrying about losing your creatures in combat. Additionally, creatures like High Sentinels of Arashin that boost themselves and other creatures don’t offer the comprehensive protection provided by Loyal Unicorn, making the Unicorn a unique asset for commander-focused decks.

Ultimately, Loyal Unicorn excels in its role within the MTG universe, especially for players who align their strategy around their commanders. Its exceptional ability to safeguard your battling creatures while still allowing a full-forced strike provides a tactical advantage often sought by commander players.

Baird, Steward of Argive - MTG Card versions
Brave the Sands - MTG Card versions
High Sentinels of Arashin - MTG Card versions
Baird, Steward of Argive - Dominaria (DOM)
Brave the Sands - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
High Sentinels of Arashin - Khans of Tarkir Promos (PKTK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loyal Unicorn MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2018, 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 Loyal Unicorn and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Loyal Unicorn Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 707292015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 42015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
32020-09-26The ListPLST C18-42015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 402015normalblackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loyal Unicorn has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 If you don’t control your commander as the lieutenant ability resolves, you won’t get its effect.
2018-07-13 If you have multiple commanders, you need to control only one for the lieutenant effect to happen.
2018-07-13 Loyal Unicorn’s effect will prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to creatures you control, even if those creatures weren’t on the battlefield or weren’t creatures when the effect resolved.
2018-07-13 Once Loyal Unicorn’s lieutenant ability has resolved while you control your commander, its effects persist this turn even if you lose control of your commander or Loyal Unicorn.
2018-07-13 The lieutenant effect happens only once each combat, even if you somehow control multiple commanders (perhaps because you have two commanders with a partner ability from the Battlebond™ set).

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