Lavabelly Sliver MTG Card


Lavabelly Sliver enhances draws and board presence through robust tribal synergies. It significantly accelerates mana resources, facilitating quicker, powerful plays. Instantly impacts the battlefield, giving Slivers immediate abilities upon entry.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Sliver creatures you control have "When this creature enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker and you gain 1 life."

Warm enough to incubate eggs or incinerate those who would eat them.


Cards like Lavabelly Sliver

Lavabelly Sliver offers a unique spin on the Sliver creature type in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Much like other Slivers, it has the intrinsic tribal synergy that allows it to empower and benefit from the presence of others of its kind. Where it shines is in providing a direct damage ability whenever a Sliver enters the battlefield under your control, similar to the impact of cards like Impact Tremors, which doesn’t discriminate on creature type for its damage effect.

However, where Lavabelly Sliver sets itself apart is in its ability to bolster the health of the player with each creature’s arrival, akin to the effect provided by creatures like Suture Priest. Suture Priest rewards you for playing creatures and punishes opponents for doing the same, yet it lacks the tribal cohesion that Slivers are renowned for.

In evaluating the Sliver archetypes and direct damage creature strategies, Lavabelly Sliver emerges as an attractive option. It simultaneously advances board state and life totals, a combination that Suture Priest and Impact Tremors separately provide. Thus, Lavabelly Sliver is a card that integrates well within the broad strategy of MTG’s Sliver decks, reinforcing its standing in tribal builds.

Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions
Suture Priest - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions
Suture Priest - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lavabelly Sliver by color, type and mana cost

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Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder - MTG Card versions
Queen Kayla bin-Kroog - MTG Card versions
Duergar Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order - MTG Card versions
Hearthfire Hobgoblin - MTG Card versions
Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Boros Reckoner - MTG Card versions
Anax and Cymede - MTG Card versions
Iroas's Champion - MTG Card versions
Depala, Pilot Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Resolute Survivors - MTG Card versions
Tajic, Legion's Edge - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions
Vikya, Scorching Stalwart - MTG Card versions
Aisha of Sparks and Smoke - MTG Card versions
Zirda, the Dawnwaker - MTG Card versions
Akiri, Fearless Voyager - MTG Card versions
Kargan Warleader - MTG Card versions
A-Kargan Warleader - MTG Card versions
Venerable Warsinger - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Lavabelly Sliver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
SliversSlivers ModernSliversModern Challenge 64 2023-12-24

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lavabelly Sliver offers unique tribal synergy, stacking effects with each Sliver played. This empowers not just the board, but the hand as well, since each Sliver becomes a potentially more impactful draw.

Resource Acceleration: By giving all Slivers the ability to tap for mana, Lavabelly Sliver effectively accelerates your resource access. It helps you cast high-cost spells quicker, or even enables casting multiple spells in a turn.

Instant Speed: Although Lavabelly Sliver itself is not an instant, it instantly confers its abilities upon other Slivers when it enters the battlefield. This instant upgrade to your Sliver horde can surprise opponents with sudden mana availability or even lethal damage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Lavabelly Sliver demands strategic hand management since you’ll only benefit when you have a Sliver to play, which might deplete your hand quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and white mana, the card can strain your mana base, possibly necessitating a dual land or mana-fixing card to consistently cast it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a total cost of three mana, including both colored mana symbols, makes this card more of a mid-game play which could be too slow against decks that aim to win early.


Reasons to Include Lavabelly Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Lavabelly Sliver brings a unique twist to any Sliver deck, enabling a new angle of play through direct damage. As it grants all your Slivers the ability to ping an opponent or planeswalker while bolstering your life total, it complements various strategies from aggressive to control.

Combo Potential: In combination with slivers that produce mana or those that multiply the number of Slivers on the battlefield, Lavabelly Sliver can turn into a formidable win condition. A well-timed cascade of Slivers entering play can swiftly tilt the balance in your favor with a flurry of direct life point hits.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its ability to disrupt opponent strategies by picking off key planeswalkers and creatures with its direct damage, Lavabelly Sliver holds its own in many matchups. Moreover, in a meta that sees a lot of creature-based synergies, its ping effect can be critical in maintaining board control.


How to beat

Lavabelly Sliver presents a unique challenge for players familiar with Magic: The Gathering. This creature card not only strengthens your Sliver tribe but also delivers direct damage to opponents and heals you thanks to its enter the battlefield effect. To counter this multi-faceted threat, one effective tactic is to manage the battlefield. This means using removal spells as soon as Lavabelly Sliver or any of its enablers are played. Sweepers like Wrath of God can clear out multiple Slivers before their synergy becomes overwhelming.

Another strategy is to disrupt your opponent’s mana. Since Slivers are spread across multiple colors, land destruction or color-specific counterspells can hinder your opponent’s ability to cast Lavabelly Sliver. Cards like Blood Moon limit your opponent’s access to multicolor mana sources and can be pivotal.

Finally, consider using cards that negate abilities or combat damage. Cards such as Tocatli Honor Guard or Hushbringer can prevent the enter the battlefield damage from ever occurring. In the end, the key to conquering a Lavabelly Sliver lies in timely responses and strategically dismantling its support network on the board.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the evolving game of MTG with cards like Lavabelly Sliver that redefine your deck’s capabilities. This card exemplifies the power of tribal synergy and the impact of well-timed plays. Whether you’re assembling a formidable Sliver army or exploring unique combinations for resource acceleration, understanding the nuances of such dynamic cards is critical. Our team encourages you to continue learning and experimenting with different strategies to stay ahead of the competition. Delve into our detailed guides and discussions to maximize your gameplay with Lavabelly Sliver and other impactful cards. Elevate your MTG experience with us today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lavabelly Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons, 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 Lavabelly Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lavabelly Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Mark Behm.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913551997NormalBlackMark Behm
22019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 2072015NormalBlackMark Behm
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6652015NormalBlackMark Behm
42021-06-18Modern Horizons 1 TimeshiftsH1R 291997NormalBlackMark Behm
52021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 7012015NormalBlackMark Behm
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9272015NormalBlackMark Behm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lavabelly Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal