Vulshok Sorcerer was a widely-played competitive card when it came out, based on the strength of its ping alone. Cunning Sparkmage was also strong on its own, and game-winning with Basilisk Collar.
Consider that Prodigal Sorcerer was also quite good when it first came out.
Even the lowly Mogg Fanatic was an all star when combat used the stack.
So pinging is good, especially when it's on a cheap and/or hasty body. Repeatable pinging can be really good, and gets much stronger with every additional pinger you have on board.
-X/-X effects are in many ways a stronger version of a ping/burn, especially where creature combat is concerned. Lowering a creature's power makes sure you can keep attacking or blocking without losing your own creatures, and sometimes means you don't even need to block. This flexibility is really valuable sometimes compared to a straight ping, especially when you have a planeswalker to protect.
Think of it this way. Pinging for one blanks a X/1 every turn when you aren't blocking, and -2/-1 can blank a 2/X vanilla repeatedly, on top of what pinging does. That's significantly stronger. A very large percentage of the creatures you'll want to protect your planeswalkers from are X/1 or 2/X, and Liliana stops them both.
Another thing to remember is that her ability lasts until your next turn, so it can be used offensively and defensively at the same time. You can protect your attackers and protect Liliana with a single activation! Just as many people overlooked this fact when evaluating Tamiyo, Field Researcher, I feel like many are overlooking this now.
So far we've established that Liliana, the Last Hope is at least comparable to Cunning Sparkmage. She can't ping opponents, but she does help your creatures to push damage through safely. This alone could be worth 1BB in certain archetypes, although it would be borderline. Her second ability pushes her over the top, however.
For -2, you can mill 2 and then Raise Dead. As some have noted, this is similar to drawing a card. In fact, it is much better as long as your deck supports it. Think of it as a stronger Thought Scour, one of the best graveyard enablers out there. Raise Dead in the right deck is stronger than drawing a card, since you get some selection and have a lower chance of getting a dead card. Because mill synergizes with recursion, the selection offered by this is actually a bit stronger. Raise Dead is worth one mana, and this is a little better than that. Thought Scour is worth one mana, and this is also a little better than that.
I believe it's fair to say that paying 1BB for this effect is a good deal in decks that want it, especially when it comes with a planeswalker attached.
Now, let's look at both abilities together. Liliana, the Last Hope does five things very well with just two abilities.
1) She kills X/1 creatures.
2) She deters attackers.
3) She pushes through blockers.
4) She fills your hand with gas.
5) She fills your graveyard.
Chandra's +1 can ping a creature for 1, ping a player for 1, and disable a blocker. Liliana's +1 can also kill X/1 creatures and helps to push through creature damage. On top of that, it protects you and Liliana, and can help deal with regenerators and indestructibles. The abilities are comparable.
Chandra's second ability costs no loyalty and draws you a card as long as you play it that turn. Liliana's costs 2 loyalty and also can give you a card, as well as mill you for 2. Both abilities can whiff, and will whiff more or less depending on your deck. Liliana's milling can be powerful if you can abuse your graveyard, and her ability is more reliable at drawing you gas as long as your deck has enough creatures.
In addition, you are not forced to cast the card she gives you that turn. Chandra's advantage is that her ability doesn't cost you loyalty, so you can use it every turn. For every card you draw with Liliana, you can draw 3 with Chandra, provided that she lives that long. Those turns aren't wasted with Liliana though, as you are still giving a creature Weakness, and if you are killing them outright, you are still gaining card advantage.
Chandra's ultimate, like Liliana's, can be powerful as long as you build around it. It's harder to activate though, since Chandra isn't as good at protecting herself.
It looks to me that Liliana, the Last Hope is at least as good as Chandra, Pyromaster, except she costs 1 less mana. How much better is this? That depends, but consider a few comparisons.
The cards in the first group are all considered to be good to excellent in multiple formats.
The cards in the second group are considered to be okay, but nothing special. They are not what you build your deck around.
The difference between a top-tier card and a filler card is often a single mana.
If Chandra, Pyromaster is an okay card, but nothing special, how good would it be if it cost one less mana?
Official now!
http://magic.wizards.com/en/access-magic-eldritch-moon-episode-3
As said, art epic, abilities are kind of... meh. Maybe in specific decks they can be great. I am not hyped over her.
People who say Liliana, the Last Hope isn't that good need to slow down and think about what you're getting for 1BB.
For 1RR, you get Vulshok Sorcerer. A more recent comparison is the 2R Cunning Sparkmage.
Vulshok Sorcerer was a widely-played competitive card when it came out, based on the strength of its ping alone.
Cunning Sparkmage was also strong on its own, and game-winning with Basilisk Collar.
Consider that Prodigal Sorcerer was also quite good when it first came out.
Even the lowly Mogg Fanatic was an all star when combat used the stack.
So pinging is good, especially when it's on a cheap and/or hasty body. Repeatable pinging can be really good, and gets much stronger with every additional pinger you have on board.
-X/-X effects are in many ways a stronger version of a ping/burn, especially where creature combat is concerned. Lowering a creature's power makes sure you can keep attacking or blocking without losing your own creatures, and sometimes means you don't even need to block. This flexibility is really valuable sometimes compared to a straight ping, especially when you have a planeswalker to protect.
Think of it this way. Pinging for one blanks a X/1 every turn when you aren't blocking, and -2/-1 can blank a 2/X vanilla repeatedly, on top of what pinging does. That's significantly stronger. A very large percentage of the creatures you'll want to protect your planeswalkers from are X/1 or 2/X, and Liliana stops them both.
Another thing to remember is that her ability lasts until your next turn, so it can be used offensively and defensively at the same time. You can protect your attackers and protect Liliana with a single activation! Just as many people overlooked this fact when evaluating Tamiyo, Field Researcher, I feel like many are overlooking this now.
So far we've established that Liliana, the Last Hope is at least comparable to Cunning Sparkmage. She can't ping opponents, but she does help your creatures to push damage through safely. This alone could be worth 1BB in certain archetypes, although it would be borderline. Her second ability pushes her over the top, however.
For -2, you can mill 2 and then Raise Dead. As some have noted, this is similar to drawing a card. In fact, it is much better as long as your deck supports it. Think of it as a stronger Thought Scour, one of the best graveyard enablers out there. Raise Dead in the right deck is stronger than drawing a card, since you get some selection and have a lower chance of getting a dead card. Because mill synergizes with recursion, the selection offered by this is actually a bit stronger. Raise Dead is worth one mana, and this is a little better than that. Thought Scour is worth one mana, and this is also a little better than that.
I believe it's fair to say that paying 1BB for this effect is a good deal in decks that want it, especially when it comes with a planeswalker attached.
Now, let's look at both abilities together. Liliana, the Last Hope does five things very well with just two abilities.
1) She kills X/1 creatures.
2) She deters attackers.
3) She pushes through blockers.
4) She fills your hand with gas.
5) She fills your graveyard.
She does a few other things too, such as allowing Dead Weight, Grasp of Darkness, and Languish to kill tougher creatures. She is very strong alongside Languish.
Her ultimate is okay, and with proper support can be activated, but isn't why you play her.
Let's compare her to Chandra, Pyromaster.
Chandra, Pyromaster costs 2RR and has 4 loyalty, while Liliana, the Last Hope costs 1BB and has 3 loyalty. This is comparable, but I give the edge to Liliana.
Chandra's +1 can ping a creature for 1, ping a player for 1, and disable a blocker. Liliana's +1 can also kill X/1 creatures and helps to push through creature damage. On top of that, it protects you and Liliana, and can help deal with regenerators and indestructibles. The abilities are comparable.
Chandra's second ability costs no loyalty and draws you a card as long as you play it that turn. Liliana's costs 2 loyalty and also can give you a card, as well as mill you for 2. Both abilities can whiff, and will whiff more or less depending on your deck. Liliana's milling can be powerful if you can abuse your graveyard, and her ability is more reliable at drawing you gas as long as your deck has enough creatures.
In addition, you are not forced to cast the card she gives you that turn. Chandra's advantage is that her ability doesn't cost you loyalty, so you can use it every turn. For every card you draw with Liliana, you can draw 3 with Chandra, provided that she lives that long. Those turns aren't wasted with Liliana though, as you are still giving a creature Weakness, and if you are killing them outright, you are still gaining card advantage.
Chandra's ultimate, like Liliana's, can be powerful as long as you build around it. It's harder to activate though, since Chandra isn't as good at protecting herself.
It looks to me that Liliana, the Last Hope is at least as good as Chandra, Pyromaster, except she costs 1 less mana. How much better is this? That depends, but consider a few comparisons.
Lightning Bolt vs Lightning Strike
Llanowar Elves vs Leaf Gilder
Fellwar Stone vs Darksteel Ingot
Tarmogoyf vs Leatherback Baloth
Terminate vs Murder
Counterspell vs Cancel
Concentrate vs Petals of Insight
Wrath of God vs End Hostilities
The cards in the first group are all considered to be good to excellent in multiple formats.
The cards in the second group are considered to be okay, but nothing special. They are not what you build your deck around.
The difference between a top-tier card and a filler card is often a single mana.
If Chandra, Pyromaster is an okay card, but nothing special, how good would it be if it cost one less mana?
Liliana, the Last Hope might turn out to be better than you expect!
Mono Red's Strengths and Mono White's Strengths
Really? This is worse than Liliana of the Dark Realms?
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/724244-mothership-spoilers-7-4-liliana-and-her-oath
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