you know a card is edh gold when it has built-in hexproof just cuz
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
It's time to build the most unspeakably evil EDH deck ever with this guy.
hot4boys
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
the le reddit r/mtg army and its leejun loves this card! 5 stars if you agree!
RiftenBlack
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In the context of Standard, this is really bad card. What are we going to copy - a Thragtusk? There's just very little I want to copy out of Standard reliably. In casual though, he's good.
kazenpaus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my desire."
Yozuk
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I Really like this guy. As a Commander he is extremely hard to deal with because of his hexproof. Not only that he is a 3/3 body on turn 4 which isn't too shabby. Plus if you are countering spells, milling or killing you can turn him into an even more dangerous version of that threat. Not only that, he can keep changing into other forms. He is going to be fun to use for sure.
ndrew68
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I will make and EDH deck for this bad boy
Purplerooster
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
This guy reminds of Bill Bellecheck. They both wear hoodies and cheat to win.
"No one of THIS WORLD can stop me!" "Sure, yeah, planeswalk into my plane, Jace, Gideon, whatever, I don't even care anymore"
DarthParallax
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
"I will ensure this Guildpact, which has stood for ten thousand years, is split in ten. My manipulations will not fail."
"Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again!"
"Your faith in your friends is your weakness!"
When I make "Decks of Evil", I simply don't NOT pick Nicol Bolas as my Commander. However.
I also can't NOT include "Darth Sidious" o.O
This card will definitely have its place. I like how he can fight, or at least warp, whole games all on his own, without the NEED to build around him if I choose to do other silly things in the same deck. :) Not to mention Red gives you plenty of access to some nice Evil Stealing cards that Lazav will enjoy having cast on your opponent's creatures, just because he likes it when you do dick things to your opponent. 3:)
Oh. Yeah. and Assemble the Legion. I also need to build a 4-color deck with this guy, apparently -_- Friggin manabase...friggin Star Wars obsession....But I MUST! >:D
4wolf359
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Mimeoplasm EDH: Why be one creature, when you can be any of them?
SuicidalTendancies
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Unless I'm missing something, I think this is the only single card that can get you Phage the Untouchable from somewhere other than your hand, without losing you the game. She never enters the battlefield. She's just there.
And/Or, and I'm not sure about this one, its name would still be Lazav, but the ability it would have is "When Phage the Untouchable enters the battlefield, if you didn't cast it from your hand, you lose the game." There would be no permanents named Phage the Untouchable even if it did count as ETB.
Other things can do it by countering triggered abilities or stopping the turn, but that involves multiple cards.
Master, I come before you as your humble servant. "What is thy bidding, my Master?"
EmptyMirage
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
"What is this? What are you doing, my son?" "Succeeding you, Father."
mpitcock
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Darth Sidious, this is where you went after that nasty fall. Still in command I can see.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's a neat little card. I think he will go well in certain sideboards, but he is too dependant on what your opponent is playing to maindeck, I think.
Xycolian
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Sakashima the imposter
I wonder how this/these cards' names would resolve if sakashima was targeted by Lazav's ability
Keiya
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@SuicidalTendancies: In regards to your second paragraph, whatever Lazav decides to be a copy of, you would essentially replace all instances where the original card name appears with "Lazav, Dimir Mastermind" -- otherwise, stuff like triggered abilities (i.e. Whenever Phage does combat damage to a player, that player loses the game) would not trigger, as there is "no Phage" on the field. But in your earlier scenario, you're right; at the time Lazav would transform into Phage, he wouldn't reenter the battlefield at that point so the ETB ability never triggers.
MANABURNWASGOOD
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
YES! I really like this guy...he is the black blue milling commander i've been looking for!
And when a card's text contains its name, it really means "this card". So this guy would gain all such abilities just like the original creature had them.
Three_Toe
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
something something dark side, something something complete.
You know the funny thing about this guy...you don't even have to be the one to put the creature in the yard. You're opponent can do it for you, if they're really that crazy.
In questioning the Phage thing....Wouldn't all instances of "Phage" be replaced with "Lazav"? Therefore, wouldn't the text read "When Lazav, Dimir Mastermind deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game."?
MyrBattlecube
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
"Uh! Lazav! Lazav!" "This better be important because I'm trying to enjoy my tea." "Th-th-there's a Boros in the Undercity!" *spits tea* PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT "A BOROS in the UNDERCITY? (several expletives later) ALREADY?"
Madarakita
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have found this Mastermind to be a highly successful General in EDH. He's comparatively cheap, has one of the best protective abilities, and he's hilarious to use against a reanimator-themed EDH deck. (Copied an opponent's Sheoldred, Whispering One with him and proceeded to have fun.)
Or to describe it along with the current nickname; it was gooooooood.
But seriously, when you're playing Mill EDH, you need something to keep your opponents at bay. You need a consistent way to get some power of some sort. You don't more mill cards.
Oh dear, Shang Tsung. What are you doing in my Magic?
Definitely one of the interesting guild leaders. Not to mention he is already quite sturdy himself.
ConsoleCleric
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(4 votes)
"The time has come! Execute Order 66."
Smoke_Stack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@sonorhC am I missing something? cuz any creature that would go into an opponent's graveyard with Undead Alchemist is exiled. You wouldn't get the abilities because the creature is exiled before it hits the yard. I mean, tell me I'm wrong and I'll be putting Lazav in my undead Alchemist deck straight away :)
edit: so Ive seen people kinda complaining about Lazav not being that good and I'm inclined to agree... if you play standard. I play more modern/legacy and I've come to the conclusion that Lazav is decent if your opponent's are relying on fatty creatures to do the dirty work. You could mill an entire standard Boros deck and if they're not playing Aurelia, Lazav is worthless. If, like me, you play against people who like to use big creatures (like Sheoldred) Lazav is your best friend. Just my two cents
Binaro
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
"I'm an evershifting shapeshifter shifting shape. You can't target me through my awesome cape."
Hakkology
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card...
At first i was biased but i've seen what this card can do. There is no limit to what this can do. The more powerful you are, even more powerful it gets. In the hands of a good player, this card should be better compared to Geist of Saint Traft.
Hexproof and any ability that goes into graveyard ? It's too powerful against a control deck with weaker creatures, equals an aggro deck with strong creatures in it with hexproof. Just make sure to keep a Mana Leak or Murder around.
Tried playing this with Dracogenius in a Grixis deck, my opponents quit the match before its over :).
Ali-Baba
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Flavor-wise, his abilities suggest he uses the powers of his guild to scour memories and minds to the brink of insanity. He then pieces together the information and memories he has extracted to transform himself into passable fakes of the people he wishes to become, to further his plans and the agenda of the Dimir. All the while he remains aloof and completely untouchable.
In other words, you get him out, mill them until you get a good creature, and proceed to beat them with their own, now hexproof, creature.
This guy creates a new layer of dread if you have No Mercy on the field.
Also, for even more fun shenanigans, have Lazav out and cast Sakashima the Imposter as a clone of Lazav then mill/kill/counter creature cards/spells ;) haha
CodeZX
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
In EDH, play a Sakashima the Impostor after playing this guy, copying him. Giggle madly as you copy anything you mill out of their deck or kill. Because having two Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre is funny.
Tivoko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just add a bit of bribery and sacrifice to have a good time.
GhostCounselor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Awesome card, but there's one thing a lot of people need to know about him...
A lot of players who I have played with who use Lazav have been under the assumption that Lazav can become Gideon if you somehow mill Gideon or destroy him. Unfortunately, this isn't possible. Gideon cannot be declared to be a creature when he's in the graveyard, and even when he's a creature he's still a planeswalker. So Lazav cannot become Gideon, no matter what happens to Gideon.
Still, you can have a lot of great fun with Lazav. Good EDH general who will cause a lot of headaches for others.
MICKEY.KNOX
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is one the most amazing and fun cards I've ever used. Immediately built an EDH under him. Sometimes its so unreal how good he can be. Dont underestimate this guy unless you run a creatureless deck. If you run good critters, its now time to be very afraid of your own deck...
KvotheBloodless
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Type your comment here.That is a guild leader. Damn. And awesome. Gonna have to convert the Cipher deck I have to mill and run four of these.
And, Badass Art
raptorman333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@flavioal28: You basically got your wish with Breaking//Entering if you weren't counting mind sculpt
LordOfGraves
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@mostlylost no, he has stats and abilities as printed if flickered somehow because it is considered a new permanent with no memory or ties to any previous permanents of the same name played so far that game
Xineombine
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's a living, Breathing Mimic vat, BUT EVEN BETTER 5/5
MostlyLost
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Quick rules question: if Lazav gets exiled but comes back (either by getting flickered or by copying a creature that exiles itself like Aetherling or Obzedat), is it still a copy when it comes back?
@LordOfGraves I'm an idiot, I should've known that. Thanks.
Demonic_Math_Tutor
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Sidious in fact cloned himself into a younger clone body upon his death after falling down the reactor shaft.
No death for you.
@Gabok: Don't forget Ral
troll_berserker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With the new M14 legends rule, hexproof commanders like Lazav just got a whole lot better in EDH.
MechaKraken
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Don't forget, the card says "from anywhere" when the creature hits the graveyard. This means Lazav can also go great in mill decks, taking the form of creatures your opponent hasn't even played yet!
@Xycolian: If Sakashima the Impostor copied Lazav, he would enter as a hexproof copy of whatever (if anything) Lazav was imitating, but Sakashima's ability would ensure that he was still named Sakashima and had ": Return Sakashima the Impostor to its owner's hand at the begininng of the next end step."
If a permanent gains another permanent's abilities, you replace all instances of the latter permanent's name with the former. So Sakashima would have Lazav's ability to copy creatures going to the graveyard but would instead say "...except its name is still Sakashima the Impostor..." so he would always be named Sakashima no matter what.
However, after using that ability become another creature, Sakashima would lose his self-bouncing ability, because he only gains that when he enters the battlefield as a copy of something via his native copy ability.
xlebec
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
How do you get a hexproof version of Avacyn, Angel of Hope out on turn 5? Well, my brother did it against my angel deck with nothing but this guy and a Mind Sculpt. 5/5.
jfre81
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I was out of the game when the first Ravnica block came around, but I'm surely glad I didn't miss this one. I was kinda hoping he was worth more when I looked it up, but it looks like I can afford a couple more, one for a new EDH deck and one for a regular deck that already likes to use people's graveyards against them. It's also capable of getting Lazav out on second turn.
With Lazav, you just need one more creature to make Phenax a creature. The big synergy between Lazav ability and Milling ability of Phenax is insane. You mill your opponent --> Your Lazav gets bigger ---> You mill even more. I know people like to link Consuming Aberration with Phenax so often but I personally don't believe Consuming Aberration is good enough in T2 since it dies to so many removal spells. Lazav is different cause he has a hexproof. He has a big potential.
cotf1692
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@kestrelio I thought so too, I was so excited for using Forbidden Alchemy with him to draw and make him something scary, but then I read the card again to see that it says "opponent's"
I do love him however. Everyone sees him and thinks "Mill deck!" But Lazav is more than that, he is essentially a love letter to everything that is blue black. Discard and kill spells transform him too! He can handle himself in a control deck without worrying about a mill focus, which can't be said about most other blue black rares in todays standard.
allyourbase
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you can hook this guy up with some indestructible (Darksteel Plate, anyone) then casting Life's Finale will put your opponent in the hospital because it is literally back-breaking.
darthdj31
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm, sure would be interesting to work with Evil Twin
Comments (68)
"Sure, yeah, planeswalk into my plane, Jace, Gideon, whatever, I don't even care anymore"
"Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again!"
"Your faith in your friends is your weakness!"
When I make "Decks of Evil", I simply don't NOT pick Nicol Bolas as my Commander. However.
I also can't NOT include "Darth Sidious" o.O
This card will definitely have its place. I like how he can fight, or at least warp, whole games all on his own, without the NEED to build around him if I choose to do other silly things in the same deck. :) Not to mention Red gives you plenty of access to some nice Evil Stealing cards that Lazav will enjoy having cast on your opponent's creatures, just because he likes it when you do dick things to your opponent. 3:)
Oh. Yeah. and Assemble the Legion. I also need to build a 4-color deck with this guy, apparently -_- Friggin manabase...friggin Star Wars obsession....But I MUST! >:D
And/Or, and I'm not sure about this one, its name would still be Lazav, but the ability it would have is "When Phage the Untouchable enters the battlefield, if you didn't cast it from your hand, you lose the game." There would be no permanents named Phage the Untouchable even if it did count as ETB.
Other things can do it by countering triggered abilities or stopping the turn, but that involves multiple cards.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
"Succeeding you, Father."
I wonder how this/these cards' names would resolve if sakashima was targeted by Lazav's ability
nemesis of reason and
wrexial got a new playmate!
Can't wait to see him perform in EDH.
And when a card's text contains its name, it really means "this card". So this guy would gain all such abilities just like the original creature had them.
Aurelia, the Warleader
Angelic Skirmisher
Worldspine Wurm
Griselbrand
just a few card your opponents don't want to see him become
Buried alive
Entomb
Hidden Horror
Just to name a few.
Suddenly, this guy seems hilarious vs reanimator.
"This better be important because I'm trying to enjoy my tea."
"Th-th-there's a Boros in the Undercity!"
*spits tea* PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT
"A BOROS in the UNDERCITY?
(several expletives later)
ALREADY?"
Or to describe it along with the current nickname; it was gooooooood.
But seriously, when you're playing Mill EDH, you need something to keep your opponents at bay. You need a consistent way to get some power of some sort. You don't more mill cards.
Step 2) Counter Baddie.
Step 3) Laugh.
Eg. "Gisela, Blade of Goldnight. Ok?"
"Nah, Essence Scatter that. Oh, and my dude is swinging for 10 in the air next turn now."
Definitely one of the interesting guild leaders. Not to mention he is already quite sturdy himself.
edit: so Ive seen people kinda complaining about Lazav not being that good and I'm inclined to agree... if you play standard. I play more modern/legacy and I've come to the conclusion that Lazav is decent if your opponent's are relying on fatty creatures to do the dirty work. You could mill an entire standard Boros deck and if they're not playing Aurelia, Lazav is worthless. If, like me, you play against people who like to use big creatures (like Sheoldred) Lazav is your best friend. Just my two cents
At first i was biased but i've seen what this card can do. There is no limit to what this can do. The more powerful you are, even more powerful it gets. In the hands of a good player, this card should be better compared to Geist of Saint Traft.
Hexproof and any ability that goes into graveyard ? It's too powerful against a control deck with weaker creatures, equals an aggro deck with strong creatures in it with hexproof. Just make sure to keep a Mana Leak or Murder around.
Tried playing this with Dracogenius in a Grixis deck, my opponents quit the match before its over :).
All the while he remains aloof and completely untouchable.
In other words, you get him out, mill them until you get a good creature, and proceed to beat them with their own, now hexproof, creature.
To Quote from Ignite the Cloneforge!
"Heroes innovate. Villains duplicate."
Also, for even more fun shenanigans, have Lazav out and cast Sakashima the Imposter as a clone of Lazav then mill/kill/counter creature cards/spells ;) haha
A lot of players who I have played with who use Lazav have been under the assumption that Lazav can become Gideon if you somehow mill Gideon or destroy him. Unfortunately, this isn't possible. Gideon cannot be declared to be a creature when he's in the graveyard, and even when he's a creature he's still a planeswalker. So Lazav cannot become Gideon, no matter what happens to Gideon.
Still, you can have a lot of great fun with Lazav. Good EDH general who will cause a lot of headaches for others.
Sometimes its so unreal how good he can be. Dont underestimate this guy unless you run a creatureless deck. If you run good critters, its now time to be very afraid of your own deck...
And, Badass Art
no, he has stats and abilities as printed if flickered somehow because it is considered a new permanent with no memory or ties to any previous permanents of the same name played so far that game
@LordOfGraves I'm an idiot, I should've known that. Thanks.
No death for you.
@Gabok: Don't forget Ral
On that note, he would go great in decks paired up with Geth, Lord of the Vault, and Chainer, Dementia Master for their ability to take creatures from the opponents graveyard as well.
If a permanent gains another permanent's abilities, you replace all instances of the latter permanent's name with the former. So Sakashima would have Lazav's ability to copy creatures going to the graveyard but would instead say "...except its name is still Sakashima the Impostor..." so he would always be named Sakashima no matter what.
However, after using that ability become another creature, Sakashima would lose his self-bouncing ability, because he only gains that when he enters the battlefield as a copy of something via his native copy ability.
With Lazav, you just need one more creature to make Phenax a creature. The big synergy between Lazav ability and Milling ability of Phenax is insane. You mill your opponent --> Your Lazav gets bigger ---> You mill even more. I know people like to link Consuming Aberration with Phenax so often but I personally don't believe Consuming Aberration is good enough in T2 since it dies to so many removal spells. Lazav is different cause he has a hexproof. He has a big potential.
I thought so too, I was so excited for using Forbidden Alchemy with him to draw and make him something scary, but then I read the card again to see that it says "opponent's"
I do love him however. Everyone sees him and thinks "Mill deck!" But Lazav is more than that, he is essentially a love letter to everything that is blue black. Discard and kill spells transform him too! He can handle himself in a control deck without worrying about a mill focus, which can't be said about most other blue black rares in todays standard.