Leonin Abunas MTG Card


Leonin Abunas protects artifacts, maintaining the user’s advantage and ramping possibilities. It can be costly and specific, potentially narrowing deck inclusion and strategic plays. Offers substantial combo and meta relevance for artifact-centric decks in various formats.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 5

Text of card

Artifacts you control can't be the targets of spells or abilities your opponents control.

Only leonin clerics who can survive the Razor Fields for one turning of the suns can stand in the Cave of Light.


Cards like Leonin Abunas

In the realm of artifact protection within Magic: The Gathering, Leonin Abunas stands as a shining exemplar. Comparable cards include Indomitable Archangel and Padeem, Consul of Innovation. Indomitable Archangel shares a similar protective ability with its Metalcraft, which shields artifacts as long as you control three or more. However, it relies on a particular board state, unlike the unconditional cover from Leonin Abunas.

Another card, Padeem, Consul of Innovation, provides a blanket protection for artifacts and even offers card advantage to the player with the highest converted mana cost artifact. While Padeem only requires control of an artifact to take effect, Leonin Abunas ensures all your artifacts gain protection simply by being on the battlefield, which is a significant advantage in decks heavily relying on artifact synergy.

All things considered, Leonin Abunas proves to be a robust choice for players prioritizing artifact defense. Its ability to automatically shield your valuable artifacts without any conditions required positions it as a powerful utility in decks designed around artifact mechanics in Magic: The Gathering.

Indomitable Archangel - MTG Card versions
Padeem, Consul of Innovation - MTG Card versions
Indomitable Archangel - MTG Card versions
Padeem, Consul of Innovation - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Leonin Abunas comes into play providing a layer of protection for all the artifacts you control. This, in turn, can preserve your artifact-based card advantage by safeguarding key pieces from targeted removal, ultimately keeping your hand and field robust against disruption.

Resource Acceleration: By protecting mana-generating artifacts like mana rocks or those with untap abilities, Leonin Abunas ensures you maintain your crucial resource acceleration. A safe board means uninterrupted ramping, keeping you ahead in the mana curve and paving the way for swifter and more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: While Leonin Abunas itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it fortifies your ability to use other instant-speed interactions. With your artifacts secure, you can confidently invest mana into instant-speed spells and abilities, knowing your resources will remain as you maneuver through your strategy.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Leonin Abunas comes with a mana cost that requires a significant commitment to white mana, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that heavily feature white or have a mana base tailored to accommodate such costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana cost, Leonin Abunas can be seen as a costly investment, especially when you consider that there are other cards at a similar cost that may provide immediate board impact or protection for a wider variety of permanents.

Discard Requirement: Although Leonin Abunas itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its specific and comparatively high mana cost might limit your hand flexibility, forcing you to hold onto it until the right time rather than playing more immediately impactful cards from your hand.


Reasons to Include Leonin Abunas in Your Collection

Versatility: Leonin Abunas offers protection to other artifacts you control, enabling a shield across your valuable non-creature permanents. This versatility makes it a staple in artifact-centric decks within the Commander format and beyond.

Combo Potential: Its ability to guard artifacts pairs well with combos that rely on artifacts remaining untapped or on the battlefield. Leonin Abunas’ static effect can effectively “counterspell” targeted removal that would disrupt your intricate machine.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where strategies around artifacts are always in flux, Leonin Abunas becomes a meta-relevant card. It solidifies positions against decks packed with targeted removal or those that aim to dismantle your board state with pinpoint precision.


How to beat Leonin Abunas

Leonin Abunas is an impactful card that offers robust protection for artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. Classified similarly to cards such as Padeem, Consul of Innovation, which also guards your precious artifacts, Leonin Abunas adds a layer of defense by granting them hexproof, stonewalling targeted removal efforts from opponents. When you face this formidable protector, the usual direct artifact removal spells such as Shatter or Naturalize are rendered ineffective against the artifacts under its guard.

To navigate around this, the focus must shift to removing Leonin Abunas itself. Since it does not confer hexproof onto itself, any traditional creature removal spells, like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, can effectively take it off the board, negating its protective aura. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation also clear the path, blindly sweeping away all creatures, including the Abunas, without having to target it directly. Moreover, relying on counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak to prevent Leonin Abunas from ever entering the battlefield is a preemptive strategy that hinders your opponent’s setup from the onset.

In sum, while Leonin Abunas poses a solid protective challenge for artifact-heavy decks, a strategic approach focusing on creature management or preemptive denial can dismantle the obstacle it presents, maintaining the flow of your own game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is rich with cards like Leonin Abunas enhancing artifact-centric plays and providing tactical advantages. If artifact protection is at the core of your deck’s strategy, delving deeper into our content can expand your horizons. Embrace the journey towards deck optimization; let’s uncover more cards with unique synergies and protections to solidify your gameplay. Strengthening your magic arsenal is an ever-evolving process meant to match the dynamic MTG landscape. Enhance your understanding and adapt to emerging metas with us—your allies in mastering the artful game of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leonin Abunas MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Archenemy, 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 Leonin Abunas and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Leonin Abunas Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 82003NormalBlackDarrell Riche
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 12003NormalBlackDarrell Riche
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 212015NormalBlackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Leonin Abunas has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal