Budget Alternatives to Liliana, the Necromancer
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Liliana, the Necromancer ($13.21)? 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 Liliana, the Necromancer at a Glance
Liliana, Waker of the Dead
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 less mana (4 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #reanimate-creature.
Liliana, Death Wielder
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 2 more mana (7 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #cost-ignorer, #planeswalker-deck-face-card.
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #removal-creature.
Liliana, the Necromancer
30-day $13.21–$13.21 · +0% (10 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-22
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Liliana, the Necromancer and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liliana, the Necromancer (Original) | Legendary Planeswalker | $13.21 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Liliana, Death Wielder | Legendary Planeswalker (7 MV) | $0.36 | $12.85 | 97% | Very strong match |
| #2 Liliana, Death's Majesty | Legendary Planeswalker (5 MV) | $0.42 | $12.79 | 97% | Very strong match |
| #3 Liliana, Untouched by Death | Legendary Planeswalker (4 MV) | $1.86 | $11.35 | 86% | Very strong match |
| #4 Liliana, Waker of the Dead | Legendary Planeswalker (4 MV) | $3.10 | $10.11 | 77% | Very strong match |
| #5 Ob Nixilis Reignited | Legendary Planeswalker (5 MV) | $0.40 | $12.81 | 97% | Very strong match |
| #6 Vraska, Scheming Gorgon | Legendary Planeswalker (6 MV) | $3.18 | $10.03 | 76% | Strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Liliana, the Necromancer
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Liliana, Death Wielder
(Legendary Planeswalker — Liliana • 7 MV)
+2: Put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature. −3: Destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it. −10: Return all creature cards from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 2 more mana (7 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #cost-ignorer, #planeswalker-deck-face-card.
- • Costs $0.36 (97% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 2 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Liliana, Death's Majesty
(Legendary Planeswalker — Liliana • 5 MV)
+1: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. Mill two cards. −3: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types. −7: Destroy all non-Zombie creatures.
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #cost-ignorer, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $0.42 (97% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 6 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Liliana, Untouched by Death
(Legendary Planeswalker — Liliana • 4 MV)
+1: Mill three cards. If at least one Zombie card is milled this way, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. −2: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of Zombies you control. −3: You may cast Zombie spells from your graveyard this turn.
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 less mana (4 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $1.86 (86% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Overlaps 6 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Liliana, Waker of the Dead
(Legendary Planeswalker — Liliana • 4 MV)
+1: Each player discards a card. Each opponent who can't loses 3 life. −3: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of cards in your graveyard. −7: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of combat on your turn, put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains haste."
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 less mana (4 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $3.10 (77% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Overlaps 7 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Ob Nixilis Reignited
(Legendary Planeswalker — Nixilis • 5 MV)
+1: You draw a card and you lose 1 life. −3: Destroy target creature. −8: Target opponent gets an emblem with "Whenever a player draws a card, you lose 2 life."
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #removal-creature.
- • Costs $0.40 (97% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 7 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Vraska, Scheming Gorgon
(Legendary Planeswalker — Vraska • 6 MV)
+2: Creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. −3: Destroy target creature. −10: Until end of turn, creatures you control gain deathtouch and "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, that player loses the game."
Matches Liliana, the Necromancer's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #planeswalker-deck-face-card, #removal-creature.
- • Costs $3.18 (76% savings over Liliana, the Necromancer)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Liliana, the Necromancer'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 Liliana, the Necromancer Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Liliana, the Necromancer'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 $13.21 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liliana, the Necromancer 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 Liliana, the Necromancer?+
Liliana, Waker of the Dead ($3.10) is the best overall alternative to Liliana, the Necromancer ($13.21), saving $10.11 (77% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Liliana, the Necromancer in MTG?+
Cards like Liliana, the Necromancer include Liliana, Death Wielder ($0.36), Liliana, Death's Majesty ($0.42), Liliana, Untouched by Death ($1.86), Liliana, Waker of the Dead ($3.10). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Liliana, the Necromancer?+
Liliana, Death Wielder ($0.36) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 97% compared to Liliana, the Necromancer.
Why would a player want a replacement for Liliana, the Necromancer?+
At $13.21, Liliana, the Necromancer 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 Liliana, the Necromancer?+
The closest pick, Liliana, Waker of the Dead, still has limits: overlaps 7 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
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