Budget Alternatives to Havengul Lich
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Havengul Lich ($0.69)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Versatile Deck Staple role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Havengul Lich at a Glance
Gravespawn Sovereign
Matches Havengul Lich's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
Memory Vampire
Matches Havengul Lich's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast, #repeatable-crime.
Gisa and Geralf
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Havengul Lich's Creature and costs 1 less mana (4 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast, #reanimate-creature.
Havengul Lich
30-day $0.69–$0.69 · +0% (10 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-22
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Havengul Lich and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havengul Lich (Original) | Creature | $0.69 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Gravespawn Sovereign | Creature (6 MV) | $0.36 | $0.33 | 48% | Strong match |
| #2 Memory Vampire | Creature (6 MV) | $0.30 | $0.39 | 57% | Strong match |
| #3 Gisa and Geralf | Legendary Creature (4 MV) | $0.36 | $0.33 | 48% | Very strong match |
| #4 Whispersteel Dagger | Artifact (3 MV) | $0.31 | $0.38 | 55% | Strong match |
| #5 Zul Ashur, Lich Lord | Legendary Creature (2 MV) | $1.13 | $0.00 | 0% | Strong match |
| #6 Magus of the Will | Creature (3 MV) | $0.37 | $0.32 | 46% | Strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Havengul Lich
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Gravespawn Sovereign
(Creature — Zombie • 6 MV)
Tap five untapped Zombies you control: Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.
Matches Havengul Lich's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
- • Costs $0.36 (48% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Memory Vampire
(Creature — Vampire Detective • 6 MV)
Flying Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, any number of target players each mill that many cards. Then you may collect evidence 9. When you do, you may cast target nonland card from defending player's graveyard without paying its mana cost.
Matches Havengul Lich's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast, #repeatable-crime.
- • Costs $0.30 (57% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Gisa and Geralf
(Legendary Creature — Human Wizard • 4 MV)
When Gisa and Geralf enters, mill four cards. Once during each of your turns, you may cast a Zombie creature spell from your graveyard.
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Havengul Lich's Creature and costs 1 less mana (4 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $0.36 (48% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Whispersteel Dagger
(Artifact — Equipment • 3 MV)
Equipped creature gets +2/+0. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you may cast a creature spell from that player's graveyard this turn, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell. Equip {3}
Acts as a Artifact alternative to Havengul Lich's Creature and costs 2 less mana (3 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast.
- • Costs $0.31 (55% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Zul Ashur, Lich Lord
(Legendary Creature — Zombie Warlock • 2 MV)
Ward—Pay 2 life. (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays 2 life.) {T}: You may cast target Zombie creature card from your graveyard this turn.
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Havengul Lich's Creature and costs 3 less mana (2 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast.
- • Costs $1.13 (0% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Magus of the Will
(Creature — Human Wizard • 3 MV)
{2}{B}, {T}, Exile this creature: Until end of turn, you may play lands and cast spells from your graveyard. If a card would be put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, exile that card instead.
Matches Havengul Lich's Creature card type and costs 2 less mana (3 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gives-castable-from-graveyard, #reanimate-cast.
- • Costs $0.37 (46% savings over Havengul Lich)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Overlaps 3 of 11 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Havengul Lich's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Havengul Lich Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Havengul Lich's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $0.69 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Havengul Lich Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Havengul Lich?+
Gravespawn Sovereign ($0.36) is the best overall alternative to Havengul Lich ($0.69), saving $0.33 (48% savings), rated a strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Havengul Lich in MTG?+
Cards like Havengul Lich include Gravespawn Sovereign ($0.36), Memory Vampire ($0.30), Gisa and Geralf ($0.36), Whispersteel Dagger ($0.31). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Havengul Lich?+
Memory Vampire ($0.30) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 57% compared to Havengul Lich.
Why would a player want a replacement for Havengul Lich?+
At $0.69, Havengul Lich represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Havengul Lich?+
The closest pick, Gravespawn Sovereign, still has limits: costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
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