Severed Legion MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Fear
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Unblockable by non-black/artifact creatures, ensures consistent damage to opponents, supporting combat damage synergies.
  2. Easily slots into decks, effective mana spending, doesn’t require special mana types to summon.
  3. Presence applies pressure, influencing opponents to withhold mana, shaping the flow of the game.

Text of card

Fear (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.)

No one in Aphetto answers a knock at the door after sundown.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Even though Severed Legion doesn’t provide direct card draw or library manipulation, its unblockable nature ensures it can consistently deal damage to your opponent. In a deck built around card advantages like drawing upon dealing combat damage, Severed Legion can be an enabler for such effects, ensuring that your strategies reliant on connecting to an opponent’s life total can be executed without interruption.

Resource Acceleration: Severed Legion itself doesn’t produce additional mana or ramp you up directly. However, as a stable three-drop creature that requires no specific mana colors, it effortlessly fits into various deck types. It assures that your mana is spent on a reliable threat every time, allowing your other resources to be allocated elsewhere efficiently.

Instant Speed: Although the ability to cast spells at instant speed doesn’t apply to creatures like Severed Legion, its contribution comes from the threat it represents on the board. The knowledge that it can’t be blocked creates a subtle psychological pressure, prompting opponents to hold back mana for removal spells that might otherwise be used more aggressively or efficiently, effectively giving you more room to maneuver during your own turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Severed Legion doesn’t have a discard cost itself, it necessitates planning around discard mechanics to optimize your board state, potentially straining your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Securing the black mana necessary to summon Severed Legion may require a deck build that supports a heavy black mana curve, possibly reducing your deck’s flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Severed Legion is a commitment. You may find other creatures or spells that offer more utility or power for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Severed Legion in Your Collection

Versatility: Severed Legion’s simple yet effective fear ability allows it to slip past many blockers and fit into a variety of black-focused aggro or control decks that prioritize unblockable attackers.

Combo Potential: This card works well with mechanics that trigger upon dealing combat damage due to its evasion ability, enhancing strategies that capitalize on hitting the opponent directly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where combat-based interaction is prevalent, Severed Legion’s ability to consistently connect with opponents can give it a place in the meta, particularly in casual formats where evasion is a powerful asset.


How to Beat Severed Legion

Severed Legion, a card with an enticing evasion ability, proves to be a stealthy asset for black decks within Magic: The Gathering. This particular creature is known for its fear ability, allowing it to be unblockable except by artifact creatures and/or those that share its color. Overcoming such an elusive card requires strategic planning.

One effective tactic is utilising removal spells that do not rely on targeting it in combat. Board wipes like “Wrath of God”, for instance, can clear Severed Legion from the battlefield regardless of its evasion. Another approach is utilizing cards that force a player to sacrifice creatures, such as “Diabolic Edict,” sidestepping the need to target the Legion directly.

Alternatively, players can manage Severed Legion by overpowering it with faster, more aggressive strategies or racing past with more potent threats. Ensuring a robust defense line with artifacts or creatures outside of black’s scope can also nullify the Legion’s fear advantage. By focusing on these methods, overcoming a card with fear becomes a manageable task, streamlining your path to victory.


Cards like Severed Legion

Severed Legion steps into the battlefield of MTG with a distinct ability that makes it stand out amongst black creature cards. Its intimidation through fear mechanic allows it to be unblockable except by black and artifact creatures, drawing parallels with cards like Dauthi Slayer. While Dauthi Slayer also carries the shadow ability ensuring it can only be blocked by creatures with shadow, Severed Legion’s fear ability offers more versatility in being unblockable by a wider range of creatures.

Comparatively, Skittering Skirge brings a different angle to the black creatures with evasion theme. While it lacks any form of unblockability, the flying ability it possesses also provides an evasive edge, albeit susceptible to any creature with the capability to block flyers. However, the key difference lies in Skittering Skirge’s board impact, as it requires you to sacrifice it when you cast another creature spell, a drawback not shared by Severed Legion.

Lastly, Phantom Warrior shares the unblockable trait, yet it’s blue and requires no specific color of mana to defend against it. This subtle distinction is crucial as it alters deck-building considerations and the way these cards interact with opponents’ strategies. Nonetheless, Severed Legion remains a valuable asset in decks seeking reliable attackers that bypass most defenses with ease.

Dauthi Slayer - MTG Card versions
Skittering Skirge - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Slayer - Tempest (TMP)
Skittering Skirge - Urza's Saga (USG)
Phantom Warrior - Portal (POR)

Cards similar to Severed Legion by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Severed Legion MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Eighth Edition, 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 Severed Legion and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Severed Legion Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2010-06-04. Illustrated by Dany Orizio.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 1661997normalblackDany Orizio
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 163★2003normalblackDany Orizio
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1632003normalwhiteDany Orizio
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1772003normalblackDany Orizio
52007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 177★2003normalblackDany Orizio
62010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 332003normalblackDany Orizio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Severed Legion has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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