Savannah Lions MTG Card


Integral for early attack strategies, Savannah Lions sets a rapid, aggressive tempo in gameplay. Cost-effective and influential in mana usage, heightening deck’s pace with affordable spells. Dictates opponent responses, leveraging instant speed advantages during critical game moments.
Card setsReleased in 23 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat
Power 2
Toughness 1

Cards like Savannah Lions

Savannah Lions holds a special place in Magic: The Gathering for those who favor aggressive tactics. As an early game creature, it has attributes mirrored by many subsequent cards in the game’s long history. Elite Vanguard is often brought into comparison with Savannah Lions due to its identical stats and cost – both are 2/1 creatures for one white mana. However, Elite Vanguard lacks the prestigious ‘Lion’ creature type, a subtle but notable difference for deck themes focusing on such traits.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda is another creature resembling Savannah Lions. With the same power and toughness, Isamaru brings the advantage of being legendary, and its additional subtype can synergize with various strategies that could revolve around legendary creatures. Despite these similarities, Savannah Lions remains a classic choice that harmonizes straightforward simplicity with efficient power level.

Assessing the Savannah Lions against its counterparts, its position as a forerunner in the creature curve for aggressive white decks is well-established. Other cards may offer slight variations or additional synergies, but Savannah Lions is a timeless piece, proving that in Magic: The Gathering, sometimes the original benchmark sets the standards for others to follow.

Elite Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Isamaru, Hound of Konda - MTG Card versions
Elite Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Isamaru, Hound of Konda - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Savannah Lions by color, type and mana cost

Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
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Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
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Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange PremodernMisty Premodern Winter Finals
Five-color AggroFive-color Aggro PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Savannah Lions card is a low-cost creature card that provides value by being able to attack and defend early in the game. This card puts opponents on a timer from the get-go, potentially leading the way to a card advantage as it pressures your opponent to respond.

Resource Acceleration: With its low mana cost, Savannah Lions allows you to optimize your mana usage efficiently. It sets an aggressive pace, allowing for other higher-cost spells to follow up sooner, potentially accelerating your resource curve and overall game strategy.

Instant Speed: While Savannah Lions itself isn’t an instant, its mere presence can influence the pace of the game, forcing instant speed responses from an opponent. This can provide strategic advantages as you dictate the flow of play, potentially leading to advantageous exchanges and misplays by the opposing player.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Reworking your strategy to fit in a creature like Savannah Lions could mean possibly pivoting yourself away from a more synergistic build or control setup where every card in hand is crucial for maintaining board state or card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Costing a single white mana can be restrictive in multicolor decks, limiting the flexibility of your mana base and potentially forcing suboptimal plays if white mana isn’t readily available during your early turns.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a single mana for a 2/1 creature is mana efficient, the lack of additional abilities on this card when compared to other one-mana creatures in the current gameplay environment may not justify the card slot in a deck where each card needs to maximize value and versatility.


Reasons to Include Savannah Lions in Your Collection

Versatility: Savannah Lions, a classic creature, can seamlessly adapt to various strategies, primarily in decks that thrive on quick, aggressive starts. Their low mana cost makes them an efficient turn-one play.

Combo Potential: This card has a strong synergy with equipment and enchantments that bolster creatures, which can quickly turn it into a powerful threat on the board, despite its initial modest stature.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where early board presence can dictate the pace, Savannah Lions holds its ground. Particularly effective in metas with a prevalence of slower, control-based decks, this card can deliver crucial early damage.


How to beat

Savannah Lions is a classic creature card from Magic: The Gathering, prized for its cost-efficiency in white aggressive decks. Its prowess lies in the ability to deliver rapid attacks due to its low mana cost and decent power. Dealing with this early threat requires timely responses. Removal is key – spells like Fatal Push and Path to Exile can eliminate these lions efficiently. But pure removal isn’t the only way to trump these creatures.

Playing creatures with higher toughness can blockade these felines, deterring them from attacking without consequence. Consider Wall of Omens or Nyx-Fleece Ram as they offer solid defense while providing additional benefits upon entering the battlefield. Alternatively, controlling the pace of the game with sweepers such as Supreme Verdict or even using spot sweepers like Zealous Persecution can shift the advantage back to you.

Ultimately, addressing Savannah Lions comes down to disrupting the tempo of your opponent’s aggressive strategy. By including smart removal options, sturdier blockers, or even cards that change combat math to your favor, you can ensure that these iconic creatures are less of a threat to your pathway to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Savannah Lions MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Savannah Lions and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Savannah Lions Magic the Gathering card was released in 19 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 381993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 391993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 391993NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 391993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 391993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 391993NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 391993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 391993NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 481993NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 481993NormalWhiteDaniel Gelon
112003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 43★2003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
122003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 432003NormalWhiteCarl Critchlow
132005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 41★2003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
142005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 412003NormalWhiteCarl Critchlow
152011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 241997NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
162018-03-16Masters 25A25 332015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
172019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2182015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
182020-09-26The ListPLST A25-332015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
192022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 382015NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
202022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3351997NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
212022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 2372015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
222023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 242015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
232023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2701997NormalBlackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Savannah Lions has restrictions

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