Leonin Warleader – MTG Card Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

Leonin Warleader is clearly modelled on Hero of Bladehold from Mirrodin Besieged, and performs much the same function in decks. The threat to opponents snowballs the longer he stays on the table and the more chances he gets to attack, and while the opponent can minimize it to a certain extent if they deal with him early, even one pair of tokens can support not only further attacks but strategies like the Soul Sisters archetype. Don’t forget that his mana cost is also a little deceptive: Llanowar Elves is finally back in Standard.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
EDH/Commander: 4/5

Leonin Warleader’s immediate rate may be just up to par (a 4/4 for 4 is maybe slightly less than you’d expect, particularly with no combat abilities), but where the cat shines brightest is if you get to attack with him. Making a pair of 1/1 creatures with lifelink each time you attack, creatures that are also attacking with the Warleader, is quite powerful, and it’s a good way to try and power through a board state (since, even if they die, you probably get 2 life out of each swing). The downside is that the Warleader himself is, while serviceable in combat, still susceptible himself to being blown up; 4 toughness puts him out of most burn spells’ reach, but a block can definitely ruin his day that way.

Constructed: 3.75
Casual: 4
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 3
Commander: 3.5