Abomination of Llanowar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Horror
Abilities Menace, Vigilance
Power *
Toughness *

Key Takeaways

  1. Abomination of Llanowar’s power scales with your Elf count, offering immense card advantage in Elf decks.
  2. Its presence accelerates resources, allowing for earlier and more formidable gameplay maneuvers.
  3. Instant speed interactions with this card can unexpectedly bolster its strength during combat.
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; menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Abomination of Llanowar's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Elves you control plus the number of Elf cards in your graveyard.

"Run!" screamed its living mouths. "Come!" cried its dead ones.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Abomination of Llanowar leverages the sheer number of Elf creatures you control, magnifying its power and toughness for each one. This synergy doesn’t only create a formidable creature on the battlefield, but it also equates to significant card advantage as each Elf you play or already have in play instantly contributes to this creature’s dominance.

Resource Acceleration: In a dedicated Elf deck, the Abomination of Llanowar can be a catalyst for resource acceleration. Elves as a tribe are known for their ability to produce excess mana, and when you have a commanding presence like the Abomination on the field, you’ll likely have ample mana to deploy the rest of your hand, allowing for powerful plays much earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: While the Abomination of Llanowar itself does not operate at instant speed, its presence inherently incentivizes and benefits from instant speed interactions. With the Abomination, you can effectively utilize your elves in combat, and then at instant speed, play effects that can add to your elf count before damage resolves, therefore increasing the Abomination’s power and toughness mid-combat or in response to removal attempts, making it a tricky target for your opponents to handle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Abomination of Llanowar harnesses the power of elves in your graveyard, getting those cards there might require strategic discards, potentially depleting your hand and resources available for other plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This commander’s casting cost demands both black and green mana, necessitating a dual-color deck build and potentially limiting its inclusion to only Golgari elf synergies rather than broader mono-green elf decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one black and one green, Abomination of Llanowar can be a considerable investment in the early game where deploying quicker board presences might be more pivotal to your strategy.


Reasons to Include Abomination of Llanowar in Your Collection

Versatility: Abomination of Llanowar stands out as a card that adapts to a wide array of strategies. Its power and toughness are equal to the number of Elf creatures and Elf cards in your graveyard, making it a formidable creature in Elf tribal decks as well as graveyard-focused strategies.

Combo Potential: This creature thrives in synergistic interactions, particularly with cards that populate the board with Elves or fill your graveyard with creatures. Its potential to become a massive threat as the game progresses makes it a perfect fit for combos that look to exploit high creature counts.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where tribal decks are prevalent or in environments that support graveyard mechanics, Abomination of Llanowar can be a significant game changer. Its relevance in these settings ensures that it can often dominate the battlefield and become a key player in your deck’s success.


How to beat

Abomination of Llanowar presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This particular card harnesses the power of each Elf you control, growing in might for each one present. As a vigilant and menacing creature, it commands attention and requires a strategic approach to defeat. To triumph over this formidable elf horror, it’s vital to disrupt the synergy it relies on. Removing key elf creatures from the board or negating the abilities that bolster its strength are two effective tactics.

Board wipes can serve as a reset button, clearing multiple threats, including the Abomination. Direct damage spells or those that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can whittle down the elf population, diminishing the Abomination’s power. Enchantment-based removals that neutralize without destroying, like Pacifism, are also valuable tools. Such strategies help manage the board and maintain a clear path to victory.

Understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategies, while fortifying your deck with answers to elf-centric threats, will aid in overcoming the Abomination of Llanowar. This multifaceted approach can ensure your success against this and other powerful cards that thrive on creature synergy.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG means embracing every advantage available. With Abomination of Llanowar, you wield a card that grows with your elvish legion, becoming a force to reckon with. It demands strategy and foresight as every Elf played fortifies its power. But it’s not without its challenges, requiring diligent mana balancing and graveyard tactics. Perfecting your Elf deck with Abomination at the helm could be your path to domination. Curious about optimizing this Golgari giant or countering its threat? Dive deeper with us for an enriched play experience and hone your strategy to triumph in your next duel.


Cards like Abomination of Llanowar

Abomination of Llanowar stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique embodient of Elf synergy. As a parallel, consider Tana, the Bloodsower, which also thrives on creature-count for power boosts. While Tana benefits from dealing combat damage to produce Saproling tokens proportional to its power, Abomination of Llanowar utilizes the sheer number of Elves in the graveyard to amplify its might, hence the gameplay revolves around a robust tribal presence rather than token generation.

Delving into similar territory, we find Izoni, Thousand-Eyed, another card that leverages the graveyard. Izoni’s power arises from filling the graveyard with creatures and then capitalizing on this with Insect token creation and an activated ability for card advantage. It requires a careful setup compared to the more straightforward approach of Abomination of Llanowar, which is continuously powered by its Elf-centric strategy.

Ultimately, while each card offers its own advantages in the realm of creature-based strategies within Magic: The Gathering, Abomination of Llanowar secures a noteworthy position with its potential for rapid and relentless growth in an Elf deck, ensuring that as the graveyard fills, its strength surges correspondingly.

Tana, the Bloodsower - MTG Card versions
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Tana, the Bloodsower - Commander 2016 (C16)
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Abomination of Llanowar by color, type and mana cost

Harald, King of Skemfar - MTG Card versions
Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager - MTG Card versions
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Shambling Shell - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Dryad - MTG Card versions
Stalker Hag - MTG Card versions
Hag Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Quillspike - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Stonefare Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Dreg Mangler - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Quagmire Druid - MTG Card versions
Catacomb Sifter - MTG Card versions
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Mournwillow - MTG Card versions
Charnel Troll - MTG Card versions
Pitiless Gorgon - MTG Card versions
Harald, King of Skemfar - Kaldheim (KHM)
Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Shambling Shell - The List (PLST)
Wormwood Dryad - Time Spiral (TSP)
Stalker Hag - Eventide (EVE)
Hag Hedge-Mage - Eventide (EVE)
Quillspike - Eventide (EVE)
Glissa, the Traitor - Commander's Arsenal Oversized (OCM1)
Stonefare Crocodile - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
Dreg Mangler - Return to Ravnica Promos (PRTR)
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Quagmire Druid - Commander 2013 (C13)
Catacomb Sifter - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Shaman of the Pack - Explorer Anthology 2 (EA2)
Mournwillow - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Charnel Troll - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Pitiless Gorgon - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Abomination of Llanowar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Abomination of Llanowar and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Abomination of Llanowar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Vincent Proce.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 863002015normalblackVincent Proce
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2652015normalblackVincent Proce
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5852015normalblackVincent Proce
42021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 812015normalblackVincent Proce

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Abomination of Llanowar has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 As long as Abomination of Llanowar is on the battlefield (and still an Elf) or in your graveyard, its ability will count itself.
2020-11-10 The ability that defines Abomination of Llanowar's power and toughness applies in all zones, not just the battlefield.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks