Leonin Relic-Warder: A Comprehensive Review

A Game-Changing Artifact Controller

The Leonin Relic-Warder is a powerhouse of a card that has revolutionized the way we think about artifact control in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to exile and return cards, this creature offers unparalleled flexibility and potential for combo synergy. In this review, we'll delve into the intricacies of its abilities, explore its strategic uses, and examine its impact on various deck archetypes.

Controlling Artifacts with Ease

The Leonin Relic-Warder is a 2/2 creature that costs {W}{W}, making it relatively expensive but highly impactful. Its type line as a Cat Cleric indicates its potential as a beater or removal piece, but it's the two primary abilities on the card that make it truly special.

The first ability allows the player to exile an artifact or enchantment when the creature enters the battlefield. This means that Leonin Relic-Warder can effectively serve as a one-card solution for removing problematic artifacts, such as those with high power or toughness like Doom Blade, or more complex ones, like Jace, the Mind Sculptor. The exiled card remains in exile until the creature leaves the battlefield.

The second ability returns the exiled card to its owner's control when the creature leaves the battlefield. This creates an interesting dynamic where players must carefully consider whether to keep their artifacts and enchantments on the board or exile them with Leonin Relic-Warder. For example, if a player has Chandra, Torch of Defiance in play, they may choose to exile it to prevent damage from its triggered ability.

This two-way interaction also creates opportunities for card advantage. When Leonin Relic-Warder leaves the battlefield and returns an exiled card, its owner gains control over a potentially powerful artifact or enchantment that was previously unusable.

Strategic Applications and Synergies

The Leonin Relic-Warder is most effective in decks focused on artifact destruction or token generation. In these archetypes, it provides a direct way to remove unwanted artifacts while also generating card advantage through the return of exiled cards.

Some potential strategies include:

• Artifact-heavy aggro: Leonin Relic-Warder can serve as an early game beater and removal piece, allowing players to quickly establish board presence.
• Token generation: By exiling and returning tokens like Goblin Guide or Huntmaster of the Skith from previous games, players can generate new creatures with each pass of the Relic-Warder.
• Combo-focused decks: The two-way interaction on Leonin Relic-Warder creates an opportunity for clever combos. For example, a player may exile a creature with an ability like Aurelia, the Warleader's ability to give themselves trample.

Some notable synergy partners include:

• Doom Blade, which can generate a powerful token when combined with Relic-Warder's exiling ability.
• Ajani's Pridemate, which creates additional tokens and increases the effectiveness of artifact destruction in combo decks.
• Elvish Mystic, which provides an additional mana source for artifact-heavy aggro strategies.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

The Leonin Relic-Warder is versatile enough to fit into various deck archetypes, but it's most impactful in:

• Artifact destruction: By removing unwanted artifacts, players can prevent opponents from generating card advantage or creating powerful combos.
• Token generation: The exiling and returning abilities create an opportunity for endless token creation.
• Combo-focused decks: Cleverly leveraging the two-way interaction to generate combo pieces.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Leonin Relic-Warder is a top-tier card in competitive Magic: The Gathering, particularly in Standard formats where artifact destruction and token generation are crucial. Its ability to control artifacts and enchantments makes it an excellent addition to decks focused on disrupting opponents' strategies.

Some notable tournament results featuring Leonin Relic-Warder include:

• Top 4 finishes at the 2020 Magic World Championship.
• Consistency in high-tier events like the Pro Tour and Grand Prix.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

When Leonin Relic-Warder exiles an artifact or enchantment, it remains in exile until the creature leaves the battlefield. If a player would exile a card that is already exiled by another effect, they should take into account the priority of those effects.

Cards with abilities like Aurelia, the Warleader's ability can have their effects triggered when the exiled card is returned to the board.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

The art for Leonin Relic-Warder features a proud cat warrior standing on a pedestal, holding a relic. This image embodies the card's theme of protection and artifact management.

Flavor-wise, the Leonin are a clan of feline warriors in Magic: The Gathering known for their reverence of ancient artifacts and relics. Leonin Relic-Warder is an extension of this theme, showcasing the clan's focus on preserving historical relics while simultaneously controlling their power.

Historically, the card was first printed in the 2016 set, Amonkhet. Since then, it has become a staple in various deck archetypes due to its versatility and impact.

Conclusion

The Leonin Relic-Warder is an exceptional addition to any white-based deck, offering unparalleled control over artifacts and enchantments. Whether used for artifact destruction or token generation, this powerful creature deserves consideration in any Magic: The Gathering strategy.

In combination with its impressive tournament results and versatility across various deck archetypes, Leonin Relic-Warder has solidified its place as a top-tier card in the world of competitive Magic: The Gathering.