Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 1

If Liliana dies at the same time as one or more creatures you control, her first ability triggers for each of those creatures.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 2

If Liliana somehow becomes a creature and dies, her first ability will trigger.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 3

As Liliana's second loyalty ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses two creatures they control, then each other player in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time. If any player can choose only one creature, that player does so.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 4

As Liliana's last ability resolves, the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's somehow an opponent's turn, that opponent) makes all of their choices for it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the unchosen permanents are sacrificed at the same time.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 5

The permanent types are artifact, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker. Supertypes, like legendary, aren't permanent types.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General — ruling 6

While making choices for Liliana's last ability, if a permanent has more than one permanent type, it can count for any of them. For example, you could choose an artifact creature as the artifact you're sparing, another creature as the creature, and an enchantment creature as the enchantment. Similarly, you could choose an enchantment creature as both the creature and the enchantment that you're sparing, even if you control another creature and/or another enchantment.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Liliana, Dreadhorde General 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

Whenever a creature you control dies, draw a card. +1: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. −4: Each player sacrifices two creatures of their choice. −9: Each opponent chooses a permanent they control of each permanent type and sacrifices the rest.

Complete guide

Liliana, Dreadhorde General is a powerhouse planeswalker that dominates the battlefield by generating card advantage and forcing difficult choices upon your opponents. Whether you are building an army of the undead or dismantling your opponent's board state, her presence ensures you stay ahead in the resource race.

Drawing from Death

Liliana's passive ability is her most potent tool: whenever a creature you control dies, you draw a card. This triggers regardless of how the creature died, whether in combat, through a sacrifice effect, or via a removal spell. Importantly, if Liliana is destroyed at the same time as your creatures (for example, by a spell that destroys all nonland permanents), her ability still triggers for each of those creatures, filling your hand as she leaves the field.

Resolving the Sacrifices

When you activate Liliana's -4 ability, each player must sacrifice two creatures. This starts with the active player choosing their creatures, followed by each other player in turn order. Once all choices are made, all selected creatures are sacrificed simultaneously. Her -9 ultimate works similarly: each opponent chooses one permanent they control for each permanent type (artifact, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker) and sacrifices everything else. If a permanent has multiple types, such as an artifact creature, it can be chosen to satisfy either or both categories.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error involves misunderstanding permanent types for the -9 ability. Remember that 'Legendary' is a supertype, not a permanent type, so it cannot be chosen as a category. Additionally, players often forget that Liliana's draw trigger applies to tokens; when a 2/2 Zombie token dies, it is still a creature you control dying, so you do draw a card before the token ceases to exist.

Strategic Timing

Play Liliana when you can protect her or immediately benefit from her -4 ability to stabilize the board. Because she provides both a body with her +1 and card draw with her passive, she is best utilized in decks that can repeatedly sacrifice their own creatures for value. Use her ultimate to break stalemates, as it often leaves opponents with next to nothing while your side of the board remains intact.

Interaction examples

Generating an Army

Liliana, Dreadhorde General Zombie

Zombie

You activate Liliana's +1 ability. As it resolves, you create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. If an opponent later destroys this Zombie, Liliana's passive ability triggers, allowing you to draw a card.

Parallel Planeswalker Presence

Liliana, Dreadhorde General

Ugin, the Ineffable

With both planeswalkers on the field, you activate Liliana's -9 ability. Your opponents must choose one permanent they control for each type. If an opponent controls Ugin, the Ineffable, they may choose him as their 'planeswalker' to save him, but they must sacrifice all other planeswalkers they control. If Ugin were a creature due to another effect, he could satisfy either the creature or planeswalker requirement.

Turning Creatures into Treasures

Liliana, Dreadhorde General

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting uses her -2 ability to turn one of your creatures into a Treasure artifact. Because the creature loses all other card types, it is no longer a creature. If that Treasure is later sacrificed for mana, Liliana's passive will not trigger because a creature did not die—an artifact did.

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

How it works : Liliana, Dreadhorde General

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If Liliana dies at the same time as one or more creatures you control, her first ability triggers for each of those creatures.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If Liliana somehow becomes a creature and dies, her first ability will trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
As Liliana's second loyalty ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses two creatures they control, then each other player in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time. If any player can choose only one creature, that player does so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
As Liliana's last ability resolves, the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's somehow an opponent's turn, that opponent) makes all of their choices for it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the unchosen permanents are sacrificed at the same time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
The permanent types are artifact, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker. Supertypes, like legendary, aren't permanent types.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
While making choices for Liliana's last ability, if a permanent has more than one permanent type, it can count for any of them. For example, you could choose an artifact creature as the artifact you're sparing, another creature as the creature, and an enchantment creature as the enchantment. Similarly, you could choose an enchantment creature as both the creature and the enchantment that you're sparing, even if you control another creature and/or another enchantment.
No other card is named in this ruling.