Gravebreaker Lamia — ruling 1

Gravebreaker Lamia’s last ability doesn’t give you permission to cast cards from your graveyard. You need something else allowing you to do so, such as the escape keyword ability.

Gravebreaker Lamia : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Gravebreaker Lamia is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Lifelink When this creature enters, search your library for a card, put it into your graveyard, then shuffle. Spells you cast from your graveyard cost less to cast.

Complete guide

Gravebreaker Lamia is a versatile enchantment creature that acts as both a tutor and a cost-reducer for your graveyard strategies. By placing a key card directly into your graveyard and making it cheaper to cast, this Snake Lamia sets up powerful recursive plays.

A Grave Entry

When Gravebreaker Lamia enters the battlefield, its triggered ability allows you to search your library for any card and put it into your graveyard. This is a powerful form of 'entombing' that doesn't restrict you to specific card types, allowing you to find creatures, spells, or even lands that have utility in the graveyard. After finding the card, you must shuffle your library.

Reducing the Cost of the Dead

The Lamia's static ability reduces the cost of spells you cast from your graveyard by {1}. It is important to note that this ability does not grant you the permission to cast cards from your graveyard; you must already have a mechanic like Escape, Flashback, or an effect from another card that allows such a play. The reduction applies to the total cost, including any additional costs required by those mechanics.

Common Pitfalls

Players often mistake Gravebreaker Lamia for a card that grants graveyard casting. Remember, it only makes those spells cheaper once you have a way to cast them. Additionally, because it is an Enchantment Creature, it is susceptible to both creature removal and enchantment removal, which can unexpectedly remove your cost reduction before you cast your spells.

Strategic Timing

You should play Gravebreaker Lamia when you have a follow-up play ready in the graveyard or when you need to find a specific silver bullet for a recursive engine. Since it has Lifelink, it also serves as a decent defensive body that can help you stabilize your life total while you set up your graveyard value.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Search

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Snake' or 'Lamia' chosen as the creature type, Gravebreaker Lamia's enter-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. This allows you to search for two different cards and put them both into your graveyard, effectively doubling your setup potential.

Value Chains

Solemn Simulacrum

When Gravebreaker Lamia enters, you can search for Solemn Simulacrum and put it into your graveyard. If you have an effect that allows you to cast creatures from your graveyard, the Lamia will reduce the cost of Solemn Simulacrum to {3}. When the Golem eventually enters and dies, you get the land and the card draw, maximizing the value of the card the Lamia tutored.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Gravebreaker Lamia

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Gravebreaker Lamia’s last ability doesn’t give you permission to cast cards from your graveyard. You need something else allowing you to do so, such as the escape keyword ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.