Mtenda Lion MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	230
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Stuart Griffin

Key Takeaways

Combines early-game presence and potential card advantage despite requiring a careful discard strategy.
Excels in mono-white decks, but specific mana needs may limit versatility in multi-color lineups.
A competitive edge versus blue spells offers unique interactions in the strategic landscape of MTG.

Text of card

If Mtenda Lion attacks, defending player may pay o U to have it deal no combat damage this turn.

"The lion drank that lake right up! In thanks, he gave Siti the power to speak with lions and make them leave the goats alone." —Afari, *Tales*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Mtenda Lion itself doesn’t generate direct card advantage, its low casting cost makes it a viable inclusion in an efficient creature-based deck. When synergized with certain mechanics or effects, it can contribute to an overall card advantage strategy by maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: With its aggressive mana cost of just one generic and one white mana, this creature aids in resource acceleration by occupying the board early in the game. By applying pressure quickly, Mtenda Lion allows you to dictate the tempo and make the most of your mana each turn.

Instant Speed: Despite Mtenda Lion not having flash, instant speed spells in your deck can greatly complement this card. The lion can attack without fear while backup spells protect your strategy or disrupt opponents during their turn, making each move with the lion more impactful.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Mtenda Lion requires a bit of strategy as it comes with the need to discard another card. This can be a setback when you’re playing with a hand that has essential cards you’d prefer to keep, limiting the effectiveness of your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Mtenda Lion is very particular, needing one white and one generic mana. This could be restrictive, especially in multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana available at the crucial moments, potentially delaying the play or making it impossible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Mtenda Lion is a unique card, some players might argue that its cost is on the higher side for its offerings. As a 2/1 creature, other cards in the same mana range could potentially give you more strength on the board or come with additional abilities that offer greater flexibility or advantage.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mtenda Lion offers agility in deck building due to its low-cost, rapid deployment, and evasion capabilities, providing early game advantages or pressuring control-oriented opponents.

Combo Potential: This card harmonizes with strategies that capitalize on creature count, summoning speed, and those that harness the Plainswalker ability to amplify momentum on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks reliant on slower, more cumbersome creatures, Mtenda Lion shines by outpacing the opponent’s defenses and maintaining an assertive board presence that aligns well with the agile nature of some of the recent competitive environments.

How to beat

Mtenda Lion presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield with its ability to gain a burst of speed at a potentially low cost. This creature card’s strength lies in its swift tempo, allowing players to put early pressure on their opponents. However, like many aggressive creatures, Mtenda Lion has its vulnerabilities.

To successfully navigate against this card, understanding timing is key. Counterspells such as Essence Scatter provide a first line of defense against Mtenda Lion, stopping it before it can assert its presence on the field. If the lion has already made its way onto the battlefield, removal spells that can deal with creatures at a low mana cost, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can be exceptionally effective. It’s also advantageous to have blockers in place that can withstand Mtenda Lion’s attack and dispatch it without sustaining too much damage to your own lineup.

Another tactic is to exploit the lion’s downside: when the lion’s triggered ability resolves without paying the mana cost, it must return to the owner’s hand. This can be used to your advantage, preventing the player from developing a stable board state. Adaptability and smart resource management are key to overcoming the speed and agility of Mtenda Lion.

Cards like Mtenda Lion

Mtenda Lion is a unique offering in the fast-paced realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. This creature aligns closely with other one-mana drops like Elite Vanguard due to its aggressive stats for a low cost. However, Mtenda Lion comes with a quirk: it boasts a benefit when specifically facing blue spells, gaining a temporary buff when targeted by them.

Comparably, Savannah Lions, a classic card, shares the same cost and power/toughness ratio. Yet it doesn’t have an upside against blue spells, rendering Mtenda Lion slightly more advantageous in matchups against blue decks. In another lens, Isamaru, Hound of Konda also enters the fray as a one-mana creature but offers a higher baseline power and toughness without a conditional trigger.

Assessing Mtenda Lion’s adaptability gives it a niche yet potentially impactful role. It rewards players who adeptly maneuver around blue spells, enabling it to outclass its counterparts temporarily. While its stats are on par with similar cost creatures, its specific interaction with blue spells provides it with a distinctive edge, embodying the dynamic strategies that Magic: The Gathering gameplay thrives upon.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda - MTG Card versions

Savannah Lions - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Mtenda Lion by color, type and mana cost

Embodiment of Spring - MTG Card versions

Pixie Illusionist - Dominaria United (DMU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mtenda Lion MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Mtenda Lion and other MTG cards: