Lim-Dûl's Paladin 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
Trample At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard a card. If you don't, sacrifice this creature and draw a card. Whenever this creature becomes blocked, it gets +6/+3 until end of turn. Whenever this creature attacks and isn't blocked, it assigns no combat damage this turn and defending player loses 4 life.
Complete guide
Lim-Dûl's Paladin is a unique powerhouse from the Alliances era that demands a constant supply of resources to maintain its presence. This Human Knight presents a difficult choice for your opponent: let a massive blow land or suffer a direct loss of life. Understanding how its triggered abilities interact with the combat phase is key to mastering this classic card.
Maintaining the Knight
The Paladin features a mandatory upkeep trigger that offers a choice. You may discard a card to keep it on the battlefield. If you choose not to discard, or if your hand is empty, you must sacrifice the Paladin. However, sacrificing it this way isn't all bad, as the ability specifically allows you to draw a card to replace the lost creature.
The Combat Paradox
Lim-Dûl's Paladin behaves differently than most creatures during the declare blockers step. If your opponent blocks it, it gains a massive +6/+3 bonus and uses its Trample ability to push damage through. If they choose not to block, it deals no combat damage at all; instead, a triggered ability causes the defending player to lose 4 life directly. Note that 'losing life' is not 'damage,' so effects that prevent damage will not stop this loss of life.
Strategic Timing
Because the Paladin's 'isn't blocked' ability triggers during the declare blockers step, it replaces its combat damage entirely. You should play this card when you have extra cards in hand or ways to benefit from discarding. It is most effective against opponents with low life totals who cannot afford to take the 4 life loss but also cannot survive a block against a 6/6 Trampler.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Human' or 'Knight' as it entered, the Paladin's abilities trigger an additional time. If Lim-Dûl's Paladin attacks and isn't blocked, the ability triggers twice, causing the defending player to lose 4 life, then another 4 life, for a total of 8. If it is blocked, it gets +6/+3 twice, becoming a terrifying 12/9 creature for the turn.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you are low on cards, you might choose not to discard during your upkeep. You sacrifice Lim-Dûl's Paladin and draw a card from its own ability. If you then lose a creature like Solemn Simulacrum later, you continue to cycle through your deck. The Paladin acts as a bridge, either providing high pressure or becoming a card-draw engine when you can no longer afford its discard cost.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Lim-Dûl's Paladin
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Lim-Dûl's Paladin
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.