Loyal Subordinate MTG Card


Drains life consistently in multiplayer formats, creating significant advantage without additional cards. Triggers upkeep life loss automatically, complementing decks reliant on life loss mechanics. Requires a strong creature base and specific mana to fully harness its potential in gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Lieutenant,Menace
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

Menace Lieutenant — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, each opponent loses 3 life.

Zombies work best when they're fed appropriately, so it's prudent to let them eat on the job.


Cards like Loyal Subordinate

Loyal Subordinate is a unique creature in MTG that stands out in commander decks helmed by a black-aligned leader. Resembling creatures like Gray Merchant of Asphodel for their ability to drain life from opponents, Loyal Subordinate is distinctive in its requirement of having your commander on the battlefield to trigger its life loss ability at your upkeep.

Another card worth comparing is Poison-Tip Archer, which also deals with indirect ways of reducing opponents’ life totals. While not as strict in its trigger condition, Poison-Tip Archer hinges on creatures dying to deal its effect, showing a broader, yet more situational, impact than the disciplined aggression of Loyal Subordinate. Vindictive Vampire serves a similar purpose but is more limited in scope, targeting only your own creatures’ demise, which offers both a narrower and possibly more controllable strategy.

Analyzing the synergy and requirements for these cards, Loyal Subordinate has a solid niche in decks that can consistently keep a commander on the field, echoing a powerful presence each turn that rivals other life-draining cards in the MTG universe.

Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions
Poison-Tip Archer - MTG Card versions
Vindictive Vampire - MTG Card versions
Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions
Poison-Tip Archer - MTG Card versions
Vindictive Vampire - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Loyal Subordinate ensures a consistent life loss for opponents during your upkeep, giving a persistent edge in multiplayer games. This can gradually tilt the balance in your favor, effectively working as an advantage that doesn’t require additional card investments.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the Subordinate synergizes with decks that benefit from life loss mechanics, potentially accelerating your strategy by unlocking conditions for powerful effects or enabling morbid abilities.

Instant Speed: The Subordinate’s ability triggers automatically at the beginning of your upkeep, which means it functions without the need for casting spells at instant speed. Although the card itself is not an instant, it complements instant-speed strategies by providing a guaranteed effect that opponents must consider on each of your upkeeps, indirectly influencing their play decisions during their own turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Loyal Subordinate requires a consistent legion of creatures to fully capitalize on its ability. Without a substantial creature presence, the effectiveness of this card might not be fully realized, making it a situational inclusion in a deck.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s need for one black mana can be restrictive for multicolor decks or those with a stringent mana base. Ensuring the right mana mix to play Loyal Subordinate on curve can sometimes be challenging for players.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana including two generic and one black, some players may find Loyal Subordinate a touch expensive for the effect it brings to the table. In formats where the pace is fast, the cost-benefit ratio of playing this card might not always align with player strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Loyal Subordinate lends itself to a variety of black-centered control or reanimator decks, giving it a broad utility across multiple play styles. Its ability to consistently chip away at opponents’ life totals makes it an asset even when not directly participating in combat.

Combo Potential: With its Lieutenant ability, this card thrives alongside other creatures with a similar battle-ready condition, bolstering strategies that capitalize on synergy and collective strength. The life-loss effect synergizes with other cards that benefit from opponents losing life.

Meta-Relevance: Particularly in formats where the command zone dynamics are at play, Loyal Subordinate’s recurring ability can be critical in maintaining pressure on each opponent, aligning well with strategies that prioritize consistent life point attrition in slower, more interactive games.


How to beat

Loyal Subordinate is a notably formidable creature in the Commander format of Magic: The Gathering, particularly in decks with the Lieutenants mechanic or around the myriad themes of zombies. The recurring loss of life it can impose during your upkeep is a persistent threat that opponents must swiftly address. However, like many persistent threats in the game, there are reliable strategies to counteract its abilities.

Dealing with Loyal Subordinate effectively hinges on removing it from the battlefield. Instant spot removal spells are key, allowing you to react on your turn or even during your opponent’s upkeep before the life loss triggers. Cards such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile are efficient, handling the Subordinate regardless of its power or toughness. Moreover, countering the card as it’s being cast with spells like Cancel or Dissolve ensures it doesn’t hit the field in the first place. Board wipes like Wrath of God can also be decisive, clearing out Loyal Subordinate along with other threatening creatures on the board.

It’s also important to disrupt the presence of a commanding creature on the opponent’s side, as Loyal Subordinate’s ability only activates when your opponent has the commander on the field. Keeping their commander at bay will render Loyal Subordinate’s damaging ability inert, alleviating the pressure it can put on your life total. By staying vigilant and prepared with removal or control elements, you can mitigate the challenge posed by Loyal Subordinate and maintain the upper hand in your matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG strategy with cards like Loyal Subordinate can transform the tide of battle in your favor. Recognizing the advantages of life loss mechanics and strategically playing around potential cons are skills that refine your gameplay. Whether it’s integrating this distinctive creature into a control deck or leveraging its lieutenant ability for consistent damage, there’s room to innovate and excel. We encourage you to delve deeper into MTG deck-building techniques, discover synergies, and adapt to meta shifts with cards similar to Loyal Subordinate. To elevate your deck building and learn more about utilizing unique creatures effectively, stay engaged with us for insights and tips that will guide you to victory in your next match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loyal Subordinate MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2018, 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 Loyal Subordinate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Loyal Subordinate Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 707352015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 162015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
32023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 202015Art seriesBorderlessKev Walker
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1722015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loyal Subordinate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-07-13 If you don’t control your commander as the lieutenant ability resolves, you won’t get its effect.
2018-07-13 If you have multiple commanders, you need to control only one for the lieutenant effect to happen.
2018-07-13 The lieutenant effect happens only once each combat, even if you somehow control multiple commanders (perhaps because you have two commanders with a partner ability from the Battlebond™ set).