Lazotep Reaver MTG Card


Lazotep Reaver - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Beast
Abilities Amass
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number96
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byCraig J Spearing

Key Takeaways

  1. Lazotep Reaver grants immediate board presence, efficiently deploying two bodies with a single cast.
  2. Its token creation synergizes with sacrifice and devotion strategies, enhancing your gameplay versatility.
  3. Despite its benefits, the Reaver’s specific mana cost and discard synergy requirement may limit its utility.

Text of card

When Lazotep Reaver enters the battlefield, amass Zombies 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)

Despite their many forms, the Eternals worked in chilling harmony, unburdened by instinct or emotion.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Lazotep Reaver enters the battlefield, it creates an additional 1/1 black Zombie creature token. This action effectively places two creatures on the board, enhancing your board presence and providing the benefit of card advantage as you’re receiving two assets for the cost of one card.

Resource Acceleration: Including Lazotep Reaver in an MTG deck can synergize with strategies that capitalize on having multiple creatures. The extra token can serve various purposes, such as being sacrificed for an additional mana source or enabling mechanics like ‘devotion’ to accelerate your resources and affect the game more rapidly.

Instant Speed: Although Lazotep Reaver itself is a creature spell and not cast at instant speed, it can indirectly benefit from flash mechanics within the game. Playing Lazotep Reaver post-combat or after an opponent’s end step, when enabled by other cards that grant your creatures flash, adds an element of surprise and strategic depth, enhancing the potential impact of this modest two-drop card.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leveraging Lazotep Reaver effectively might compel players to incorporate discard synergies, which can pose a setback when their hand is already depleted or the discard does not advance their board state or strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The Reaver’s cost demands a commitment to black mana, which can constrain deck-building options and may not optimize mana bases in multicolored decks, potentially causing delays or casting issues in critical turns.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Reaver’s cost of two mana is not exorbitant, in the realm of early-game creatures, there are alternatives that might represent a better value or more impactful presence on the board for a similar or lesser mana investment.


Reasons to Include Lazotep Reaver in Your Collection

Versatility: Lazotep Reaver boasts flexibility that makes it a suitable addition to a plethora of deck builds. Its ability to amass one, resulting in a 1/1 Zombie token, allows for immediate board presence and increased creature count upon casting, enhancing strategies that capitalize on creature quantity.

Combo Potential: With its amass ability, this card smoothly integrates into decks focused on token generation and sacrifice mechanics. It efficiently sets the stage for combos by offering two bodies for the price of one card, effectively advancing engine-based playstyles that thrive on having multiple creatures to exploit.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and immediate impact on the board upon entry, it has a place in fast-paced games that demand quick development of board state. In a meta where early game presence can dictate the flow of play, Lazotep Reaver provides a strategic advantage in speed and resourcefulness, making it a prudent choice for players aiming to stay competitive.


How to beat

Lazotep Reaver is an unassuming but quietly versatile card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Many players recognize it for its low-cost efficiency and the ability to quickly bolster army strength by producing an additional Zombie creature token upon entry. This seemingly minor advantage can be pivotal in the early game, providing a two-fold defensive line or an expanded offensive front.

Overcoming the tactical edge provided by Lazotep Reaver hinges on timing and strategy. Removal spells that can eliminate more than one creature become significantly valuable, as they address the inherent card advantage gained by the Reaver’s secondary ability. Sweepers like Cry of the Carnarium or Shatter the Sky can neutralize the additional token and the Reaver itself, without falling behind in resource management.

Furthermore, instant-speed interaction is key. Zarotep Reaver’s true potential lies in the element of surprise and its capability to block flying creatures when augmented. Ensuring you leave mana open to deal with the Reaver and its token can frustrate an opponent’s plan to catch you off guard. Utilizing this approach can mitigate the Reaver’s impact, keeping the Zombified advantage to a minimum.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering is an ever-evolving challenge that extends far beyond a single duel. With cards like Lazotep Reaver, the strategic depth of your deck can expand significantly. This card offers not just an addition to your board state, but also a stepping stone to intricate combos and plays that could define the outcome of your matches. If boosting your creature count or delving into token strategies piques your interest, then adding this card to your collection is a wise move. Dive deeper with us, enhance your deck with purposeful choices, and stay ahead of the game. Your journey towards MTG mastery is only just beginning.


Cards like Lazotep Reaver

Lazotep Reaver is a unique creature in the Magic: The Gathering arena, akin to dual-purpose cards that offer more than just a body on the battlefield. It’s similar to cards like Doomed Dissenter, which also provides a secondary creature upon a specific condition – in the Dissenter’s case, when it dies. However, Lazotep Reaver presents an immediate bonus by creating a 1/1 zombie token with no additional trigger needed.

Another card that echoes this ability to swell ranks is Sultai Emissary. This card also creates a token upon dying, but the token’s power hinges on manifesting the top card of your library. Though this adds an element of surprise, it doesn’t match the straightforward simplicity of Lazotep Reaver’s guaranteed token generation. Garrison Cat is yet another related card, leaving behind a 1/1 creature token when it dies, ensuring that your board presence is maintained even when facing adversity.

Between these options, Lazotep Reaver stands out for its reliability and the immediate impact it has by bolstering forces without delay. It fits comfortably into decks that capitalize on token generation, bringing a solid presence both in terms of offense and defense.

Doomed Dissenter - MTG Card versions
Sultai Emissary - MTG Card versions
Garrison Cat - MTG Card versions
Doomed Dissenter - Amonkhet (AKH)
Sultai Emissary - Ugin's Fate (UGIN)
Garrison Cat - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Cards similar to Lazotep Reaver by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
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Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lazotep Reaver MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Lazotep Reaver and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lazotep Reaver has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 Army is a new creature type. It’s possible to control a nontoken Army (perhaps a creature with the changeling ability) and, through combinations of other cards, it’s possible to control multiple Army tokens. When instructed to amass, you may put +1/+1 counters on any of your Army creatures, and you may choose a different one each time.
2019-05-03 If you don’t control an Army, the Zombie Army token that you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.

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