Budget Alternatives to Liliana, Waker of the Dead
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Liliana, Waker of the Dead ($3.10)? 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, Waker of the Dead at a Glance
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Matches Liliana, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #repeatable-crime.
Chainer, Dementia Master
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Liliana, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
Liliana, Death's Majesty
Matches Liliana, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #repeatable-removal.
Liliana, Waker of the Dead
30-day $3.10–$3.10 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Liliana, Waker of the Dead and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liliana, Waker of the Dead (Original) | Legendary Planeswalker | $3.10 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Ob Nixilis Reignited | Legendary Planeswalker (5 MV) | $0.40 | $2.70 | 87% | Very strong match |
| #2 Liliana, Death's Majesty | Legendary Planeswalker (5 MV) | $0.42 | $2.68 | 86% | Strong match |
| #3 Liliana, Untouched by Death | Legendary Planeswalker (4 MV) | $1.86 | $1.24 | 40% | Very strong match |
| #4 Liliana, Death Wielder | Legendary Planeswalker (7 MV) | $0.36 | $2.74 | 88% | Very strong match |
| #5 Cemetery Desecrator | Creature (6 MV) | $0.43 | $2.67 | 86% | Strong match |
| #6 Chainer, Dementia Master | Legendary Creature (5 MV) | $0.29 | $2.81 | 91% | Partial match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Liliana, Waker of the Dead
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
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, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #opponent-loses-life, #repeatable-crime.
- • Costs $0.40 (87% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 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, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $0.42 (86% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
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, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (4 MV). Shares the #group-slug mechanic (accelerates the game by applying consistent damage pressure to all opponents).
- • Costs $1.86 (40% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 8 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
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, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker card type and costs 3 more mana (7 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #removal-toughness.
- • Costs $0.36 (88% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 3 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 3 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Cemetery Desecrator
(Creature — Zombie • 6 MV)
Menace When this creature enters or dies, exile another card from a graveyard. When you do, choose one — • Remove X counters from target permanent, where X is the mana value of the exiled card. • Target creature an opponent controls gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the mana value of the exiled card.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Liliana, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 2 more mana (6 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #removal-toughness, #repeatable-crime, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $0.43 (86% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Chainer, Dementia Master
(Legendary Creature — Human Minion • 5 MV)
All Nightmares get +1/+1. {B}{B}{B}, Pay 3 life: Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. That creature is black and is a Nightmare in addition to its other creature types. When Chainer leaves the battlefield, exile all Nightmares.
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Liliana, Waker of the Dead's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
- • Costs $0.29 (91% savings over Liliana, Waker of the Dead)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Liliana, Waker of the Dead'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, Waker of the Dead Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Liliana, Waker of the Dead'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 $3.10 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liliana, Waker of the Dead 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, Waker of the Dead?+
Ob Nixilis Reignited ($0.40) is the best overall alternative to Liliana, Waker of the Dead ($3.10), saving $2.70 (87% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Liliana, Waker of the Dead in MTG?+
Cards like Liliana, Waker of the Dead include Ob Nixilis Reignited ($0.40), Liliana, Death's Majesty ($0.42), Liliana, Untouched by Death ($1.86), Liliana, Death Wielder ($0.36). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Liliana, Waker of the Dead?+
Chainer, Dementia Master ($0.29) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 91% compared to Liliana, Waker of the Dead.
Why would a player want a replacement for Liliana, Waker of the Dead?+
At $3.10, Liliana, Waker of the Dead 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, Waker of the Dead?+
The closest pick, Ob Nixilis Reignited, 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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