Loyal Guardian

Legality

Format Legality
Tiny Leaders Legal
1v1 Commander Legal
Magic Duels Legal
Leviathan Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Commander / EDH Legal

Printings View all

Set Rarity
Commander 2018 (C18) Uncommon

Combos Browse all

Loyal Guardian

Creature — Rhino

Trample

Lieutenant — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.

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Price & Acquistion Set Price Alerts

C18

$0.33 () TCG Player
$0.35 CardKingdom
£0.45 Chaos Cards

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Loyal Guardian Discussion

bushido_man96 on ::Izoni::

4 days ago

Get rid of Demonlord Belzenlok. Exiling your cards is not what you want to do with Izoni. Loyal Guardian is kind of meh, so I'd drop it for something that better fits what you want to do. I think I'd ditch Necrotic Ooze for something more consistent, like Murder or Go for the Throat, or Naturalize for artifact/enchantment removal.

Burnished Hart and Tortured Existence would be good additions to make. Tortured Existence basically allows you to turn your graveyard into a toolbox. Brawn is a creature you want to put into your graveyard, along with a card like Filth if you can find ways to abuse it (Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Blanket of Night, even Mystic Compass). I think I would personally run fewer cards like Cultivate and Overgrowth for more mana dorks, like Blood Pet and Blood Vassal, who work well with your graveyard theme, and Birds of Paradise and even Elves of Deep Shadow. These mana dorks help your curve out with early drops, and they can be sac fodder down the road if you need it. Good cards for sacrifice decks include Dictate of Erebos and Grave Pact. A card like Fecundity provides even more card draw.

Hope these help you out!

KANIGAMI on Rampaging Monstrosities

6 days ago

Yeah, I considered adding some of them when I was building the deck, Loyal Guardian is already there, and at some point I decided not to include the others.

SufferFromEDHD on Rampaging Monstrosities

6 days ago

I think it's pretty good. One card that thwarts all targeted removal. The cards you suggested would be better as Battlefront Krushok, Bloodspore Thrinax, Loyal Guardian, Mindless Automaton, Triskelion or Walking Ballista.

SynergyBuild on Stop Kicking Things!

6 days ago

123 cards, you need to drop 23, here are my picks:

Bloodstone Goblin, Death's Presence, Contagion Engine, Saproling Infestation, Loyal Guardian, Sporeback Troll, Explosive Vegetation, Increasing Savagery, Retreat to Kazandu, Shape of the Wiitigo, Hunting Triad, Jugan, the Rising Star, Artifact Mutation, Soul's Might, Solidarity of Heroes, Rishkar, Peema Renegade, Joraga Warcaller, Strength of the Tajuru, Ring of Kalonia, Managorger Hydra, Ring of Valkas, Alpha Authority, Song of Freyalise, Forced Adaptation, and Rampant Growth

xDr_Schnugglesx on Fun guy

1 month ago

Hi.

Cuts

Avacyn, Angel of Hope doesn't seem super on theme or really that useful. I mean, yeah, it's really good. But it's also 8 mana and for 8 mana I feel like you should be winning the game. Not just protecting your 1/1s or whatever you have out.

Pallid Mycoderm, Rot Shambler, Savage Thallid, Sporecrown Thallid, Sporemound, Sporesower Thallid, and Sporoloth Ancient. I think all of them are either overcosted for what they offer, or don't offer enough. I think the best out of these is Sporemound, but I'm not sure it's good enough. You don't really ramp all that hard, and you'll have so many 1/1s anyway that I don't think it'll matter if you get a couple extra. I think these could all be replaced by more 'value' oriented cards.

Verdant Force is simply overcosted. Remove.

Trostani, Selesnya's Voice is out of place. Populating a 1/1 for 3 mana and a tap is a bad feeling, and gaining 1 life from each is trivial and could be done with Suture Priest or any soul sister (and better too). Also Trostani's mana cost is steeper than it seems (from experience).

Death's Presence is extremely overcosted for what it's trying to do here. You already have Mazirek and Cathars' Crusade for your combo win. This is worse than both.

Fungal Plots is just kinda weak. I'm super against self-gy hate, and this is no exception. You're paying 4 mana and a card for a 1/1, and then you can maybe sac 2 more creatures for some life and a draw. There are much better options for card advantage AND tokens (I'll get into it later).

Grave Pact OR Dictate of Erebos, but not both. I vote Dictate because of the easier mana cost and also Flash (plus $$$$).

Intangible Virtue is out of place. An army of 2/2 vigilance's isn't amazing, especially because your saprolings WANT to die (to slimefoot and Blood Artist and others), so tapping to attack isn't an issue. You already have other, better, team buffs so I don't really think this fits.

Night Soil is just kinda meh. It's a tougher restriction than it seems (both from the same yard).

Along with this, I don't like Necrogenesis in general, but at least it gy-hates opponents and is something you can do if you have mana left up. An early cut if you still wanna cut some stuff, but fine to leave.

Primal Vigor can backfire hard. I don't think it's worth tbh. Also the mana cost is steep for something that doesn't do anything by itself.

True Conviction is just super out of place, and that mana cost is super rough. Absolutely cut. If you were gonna have a mana cost with WWW, it's gonna be Avacyn (but it's gonna be neither).

Verdant Embrace is just too costly for what it does and what you need. If it was like 3 mana and didn't give the +3/+3, that would work, but as is it's too costly and you'll almost certainly not get a lot of value from it because people will murder the creature it's on immediately.

Honestly, I've never liked Second Harvest. It's a terrible card if you're losing and if you cast it and win, you probably would've already won anyway. It seems like win-more to me. Most cards that do nothing on their own I think are kinda meh.

I have no idea how to feel about Vona's Hunger. I'd consider removing just because if you're using this to clear a board, they're gonna keep their best shit anyway, and this is pretty trash against other token decks. The mana cost and instant speed is a nice +, but I'm not sure it's enough here.

Akroma's Memorial should be Eldrazi Monument full-stop. Giving 1/1s a bunch of keywords is useless unless those keywords are either infect or indestructible. This gives neither.

You have a lot of lands. I like running fewer lands (35) but having about ~10 sources of ramp. I'll try to figure some out as we progress.

Fungal Sprouting does nothing on it's own and I am having a tough time envisioning it being really useful. Getting 5 1/1s is great for Ghave, but for 4 mana and sorcery speed, I feel you could be doing more. It's fine for now, but consider it an early cut if needed.

Saproling Symbiosis is a hard no. It's a worse Second Harvest and I hate that card too.

Thelonite Hermit is a no. You're paying 8 mana over 2 turns for 4 1/1s that will be 2/2s for like 2 seconds. Hornet Queen is cheaper and gives you better tokens.

Glare of Subdual. This is a tough one. On the one hand, tapping down the voltron player (Seth's cats or my dragons or Zac's Tuvasa) is super dope. On the other hand, tapping is not removal and it relies on you having a creature to spare to tap. It's also 4 mana. I'd probably remove. If it was 1WG, I'd think it was good.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc  Flip is a tough one too. I think if you end up with 30+ creatures, then absolutely go for it. Any less and I think you can do better.

I strongly recommend not having more than 8 enchantments. You have 16 right now and that's just too many without some heavy enchantment recursion.

Okay. We got through it boys. Let's go to our suggestions and recommendations. This next section will include cards in your maybe board that I think are good and should go to mainboard.

Suggestions

Anafenza, the Foremost, because who doesn't like incidental GY hate on an aggressively costed body. 3 mana for a 4/4 that GY hates is something that your opponents need to answer, and more often than not their removal will be worth more to them than Anafenza is worth to you.

Elenda, the Dusk Rose is a card I've always wanted to work and this might be it. Being able to sac a huge board and then herself seems like great value. The issue with Elenda is that she can be exiled, but your commander is a sac outlet which protects against that. I think she could be a powerhouse in this deck ESPECIALLY because her tokens have lifelink. Never underestimate lifelink on tokens.

Juniper Order Ranger is just gravy. 5 mana for a boi that gets progressively larger and boosts your board is something that needs to be answered to. This will either force a boardwipe or spot removal and honestly either a win for you.

Shalai, Voice of Plenty is good. Really good. I don't think it's bad to put it in this deck.

Spike Weaver is a 100% must include. Spore Frog for 1 mana at instant speed multiple times? It's just bonkers (and this is coming from experience).

Retribution of the Ancients is super interesting and could be a powerhouse. I'm inclined to include it as instant speed removal that works on indestructible things at a minimum cost to yourself seems very good. Sure, you'll be using 3-5 counters each time, but ideally that won't be an issue since. Also it's at a mana cost price you just can't do better than.

Everything from maybeboard I didn't mention is a no.

End of Maybeboard Recommendations

Uhh, where's my babe Elspeth, Sun's Champion at?? 6 mana for either a conditional boardwipe that won't hit you that often, or for 3 token bois seems like a good deal. And if you manage to ult, you win. No one can stop a flying army of 3/3s.

Eldrazi Monument. We already talked about it but just wanna have it written down here.

Pir, Imaginative Rascal. Fucking gravy. Works with Ghave super well but also Elspeth and also your dudes who put spore counters on themselves. This is a must include. I'm kind of surprised he wasn't already in the list tbh.

Fecundity can be absolutely nutty. Sure, it helps your opponents, but it is very unlikely it'll help them more than it helps you. Also a may trigger so it won't hurt you if you don't want it to.

Dark Prophecy is also insane, tho the self damage could become hazardous. I'll recommend some things to combat this as the card is a powerhouse, even with the BBB mana cost. Remember, being at 5 life and winning is the same as being at 40 life and winning.

Loyal Guardian is a new card which could do work. Early cut, but I'll put it here if you need to fill out your creatures.

Eternal Witness is good. It's a staple. I hate that it's so important, but it just is. Consider also Skullwinder if you just wanna be different.

Heroic Intervention is the single best protection spell in green. It's basically a green Teferi's Protection for your turn and it cannot be overstated how good it is at the right time. It is the difference between "I win next turn" and "Man nice boardwipe, GG." And for 2 mana too. It's bonkers. Must include.

Anguished Unmaking. You're in Orzhov colors so you need to use them. Maybe the best spot removal ever printed, barring Assassin's Trophy from GRN.

Cryptolith Rite is disgusting. You've played slivers so you know how good Gemhide is. This is too. I think this is a must.

Zulaport Cutthroat is nice redundancy for your combo win and also nice incidental lifegain (which helps counteract Dark Prophecy's life cost).

Forgotten Ancient is bonkers. Will always become a threat and require removal. It's just good.

Hangarback Walker is solid. Dump whatever mana you have into it, gives you something to do EoT, and you'll almost always get the death trigger since your commander is a sac outlet.

Rishkar, Peema Renegade is basically a second Cryptolith Rite. It's just good and low mana cost.

Scavenging Ooze. Graveyard hate is good, and incidental synergy with counter is even better. Just a super efficient card and usually comes something that needs to be removed sooner rather than later. Using the ability as an instant in response to a 'return from graveyard' spell is a joy.

Abzan Charm is good at any point of the game. Removal, counters, card advantage. Maybe the best charm out of all of them. Cannot be overstated. This is a must include.

You have no boardwipes. What the hell. You need at least 4 in almost every deck, but you will be fine with 3 here since you have Elspeth and Dictate of Erebos. I recommend Day of Judgment, Merciless Eviction (best boardwipe ever printed ever), Austere Command (wipe everything but your 0 CMC tokens and you'll usually open a board up for swings) and Living Death. More on Living Death below.

Living Death is a pet card of mine. Mostly because of how bonkers it is. 5 mana for a boardwipe that makes everyone sac their hexproof/indestructible creatures, and then get's you everything you need back. Ideally you'll have something like Aura Shards or Dictate out as you cast this to thin your opponents board afterwards. Also, with Anafenza, Necrogenesis, Scavenging Ooze and Bojuka Bog, you should be getting more value back than anyone else consistently.

Dread Return is good. 4 mana to bring something back is the going rate and saccing 3 creatures to bring something back is double upside since more often than not saccing creatures is good. With Blood Artist that gains you 3 life and someone loses 3, with Fecundity or Dark Prophecy, you just drew 3 cards for FREE. Stupid.

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed if you have the money. Mikaeus, the Lunarch if you don't. Neither are super required, but both are good.

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is always always always a powerhouse. Clears the board and puts you absurdly far ahead in terms of board presence. If you have the money, put it in.

I know you're not huge on tutors, but Razaketh, the Foulblooded and Sidisi, Undead Vizier are good. Can help find answers or just combo pieces to close out a long game. If you only want one, put Razaketh because at the end of the day, an 8/8 flample for 8 is good.

Carrion Feeder is good because instant speed sac outlets with incidental counter value is good. Sac a creature, get a counter, remove counter to get another creature is good. Essentially, with Fecundity/Dark Prophecy, Ghave, and Carrion Feeder out, they read "Pay 1 mana, draw a card" and that's good. Add in Blood Artist and it's even better, and add in Pir and Ashnod's and you win. 5/6 card combos are still combos. Also Carrion is a 1 mana sac outlet and that's really good.

Requiem Angel is a card I've always wanted to use but never found the place. This might be it, chief. Essentially doubling your token count for ability activations and sac triggers, plus turns your measly 1/1 saps into 1/1 fliers, which is a huge boost.

I'd remove Aura Mutation and replace it with both Putrefy and Mortify. The reason is that I often find myself holding onto Aura Mutation hoping to get good value from it, but oftentimes I should just use it on a 2 drop enchantment like Cryptolith Rite or something. Mortify and Putrify also double as modal cards, making them never a dead card if you draw them.

You need more ramp. There is no way around it. But you need more. Cultivate, Kodamas, Nature's Lore, Farseek, etc etc. No mana rocks besides Sol Ring. You're green, use it. You could also run things like Primal Druid that give value when they die, since this is a sacrifice deck. I'd scryfall "dies/enter search library land battlefield" and choose your favorite.

Mindless Automaton just seems fun. Depending on how easy it is to put counters on stuff, this may work. Early cut for sure.

Thats all I got for now. I'll comment again if I think of more.

x1214Tango on Amazing Grace How Sweet the Lands

1 month ago

Blackerlotus13 yeah i am needing to grab a Ob Nixilis, the Fallen and i have played with The Gitrog Monster and i will probably end up putting him back in the deck now that i have it at lot more tuned to recursion, but back when it was a new deck to me i didnt have much recursion other than Lord Windgrace's -3 now that i have some reliable ways to get lands back he is going to be a staple piece now to just take a piece out i will most likely take out Loyal Guardian as its ok but The Gitrog Monster would be better. in fact i just swapped them lol i really do appreciate all the help fellow windgrace players have done to make this deck better and i will defiantly take a look at your deck and

x1214Tango on Amazing Grace How Sweet the Lands

1 month ago

Beln Filth looks good i will look to see what i can swap out with it to get in in there as far as the Loyal (insert) cards go the Loyal Subordinateis the best as it drains the board, the Loyal Apprentice is a 2 drop that when my commander is out generates creatures that have flying which is very important as i very few ways to interact with flyers outside of this and my next point which is Ishkanah, Grafwidowfor 5 mana i get 4 creatures with reach (up to 7 if Doubling Season is out and i can then drain opponents for number of spiders i have if i have nothing to use mana on it allows for me to still do something even if i top deck something that doesnt help me

and Primeval Titan is banned in commander so i cant run that so that is why i run those i will most likely be swapping the loyal that i dont use i am thinking about taking out Loyal Guardian For Filth

do you have any thoughts on tuning the mana base any? I should be getting my Tectonic Edge soon so ill update this once that is here as well

greatdevourer on Rise From Your Grave *PLZ HALP*

1 month ago

I think you need an Eternal Scourge for this deck.

AH HA! I finally see figured out what this deck is really needing. More punch.
Specifically, this deck should be maximizing the 'creature enters the battlefield' effects.
You are creature one or more token copies of a creature.
Those creatures should not just sit there looking at you like an idiot. Make those token work.
I know that the token come into play tapped and attacking, but by using the ETB triggers those tokens will be doing double duty.
Another thing I noticed while looking at what other people are doing with this deck is the use of +1/+1 counters to power things.
Not sure if that is a direction this deck need to go, so I'm not going to use that too much.
With that new idea in mind, lets look at some swaps.
OUT: Budoka Gardener, Charnelhoard Wurm, Emissary of Grudges, Indulgent Tormentor, Rubblehulk, Scute Mob, Scuttling Doom Engine, Seedborn Muse, Zendikar Incarnate
Not sure about: Loyal Apprentice, Loyal Guardian, Loyal Subordinate, Rampaging Baloths

IN, with no particualr order:
(I'm going to list more cards than we take out so that you have some options to consider.)
Wood Elves, note that the Forest does not have to be a basic Forest. We can fecth a dual or shock land.
Eternal Witness, to get back any other card.
Greenwarden of Murasa, another option for card recursion.
Solemn Simulacrum, land fetch and card draw ine one.
Broodmate Dragon, because dragons.
Garna, the Bloodflame, for more graveyard recursion.
Fleshbag Marauder and/or, Merciless Executioner to help control the board. We can use the sac
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, fattie with life draining ability.
Mindslicer, so that we can make people's lives suck.
Pilgrim's Eye, land search and flying chump blocker. the poor man's Solemn Simulacrum
Hoarding Dragon, because it never hurts to get useful artifacts.
Netherborn Phalanx, this one has always been good to me in group games. Really punishes the token player.
Puppeteer Clique, so that we can eat and exile opponenet's creatures.
Dire Fleet Daredevil, why not cast other people's spells?
Balustrade Spy, screw your deck.
Avalanche Riders, screw your land.
Sadistic Hypnotist, screw your hand.
Entomber Exarch, give us some nice options. It is a bit weak, but useful and cheap.
Bogardan Hellkite, becuase damage is almost always good. But I'm not sure about the mana cost on this one.
Molten Primordial, let's use our sacrifice outlets on other peoples stuff.
Viscera Seer, so that we can filter the top deck when we sacrifice creatures.
Hornet Queen, tokens making tokens, now with deathtouch.
Feldon of the Third Path, create tokens of creatures that don't get exiled.
Kresh the Bloodbraided or Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper as alternate commanders and good creatures.

Not creatues but need to be in the deck:
Warstorm Surge, let's turn each token into direct damage in addition to it's ETB.
Path of Discovery, why not explore the deck?
Evolutionary Leap, I'm not sure about this one, I like the ability to fetch more creatues from the deck, but we may need more dicard outlets to really make this work for use.
Goblin Bombardment, cheap to cast, multiple uses, may help finish off the last opponent.

So, let me know what you think.
Great. Thanks. Now after helping you with this deck, I'm going to have to finish my jund deck. I'll see if I can get my list up in a couple of days.

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