Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Token Tactics with Leeching Licid
Black has always thrived on clever tempo, sneaky interruptions, and the occasional life-drain bluff that keeps the table honest. Leeching Licid, a curious relic from Tempest, sits at the crossroads of old-school Licid shenanigans and modern token-oriented playstyle. For players who love building wide boards of token creatures while keeping an edge on the life total game plan, this unassuming uncommon provides a unique line of play: transform, attach to a creature, and start pinging the enemy with every upkeep. 🧙🔥💎
At first glance, Leeching Licid is a modest 1/1 for {1}{B}. That is not the flashy centerpiece you find in today’s commander decks, but its true value shines when you treat it as a flexible, tempo-oriented tool. The card’s core is its ability: pay {B} and tap to convert this creature into an Aura enchantment with enchant creature, attach it to target creature, and you may pay {B} to end the effect. Then, at the beginning of the upkeep of the enchanted creature’s controller, Leeching Licid deals 1 damage to that player. The mechanic demands careful timing and a bit of political savvy, especially in multiplayer token builds where you’re trying to balance aggression with board presence. ⚔️
Why it fits token-centric strategies
- Political ping pressure: In multiplayer settings, attaching Leeching Licid to an opponent’s creature turns a token-heavy board into a slow, but perpetual, source of life loss for that player. It’s a non-committal way to threaten liability without committing your own board to a direct race. The at-upkeep trigger creates a soft “tax” on the table that rewards smart targeting. 🎲
- Low-cost disruption: The ability to end the aura by paying {B} gives you a built-in safety valve. If the creature you attached to is about to become a liability or you simply want to swing the game back in your favor, detaching lets Leeching Licid re-emerge as a creature you can recur with sac outlets, token generators, or blink effects. This flexibility is valuable in tight matches where black’s graveyard play and token tempo collide. 🧙♀️
- Resource-sparing synergy: Tokens often come with built-in bodies and resilience. Leeching Licid doesn’t need to buff creatures—it leverages your opponent’s resilience by gifting you a seat at the damage table. That improvised “drain” can wear down opponents while you farm mana and maintain your token swarm. It’s a delicate balance of tempo and board state management. 🎨
Practical play patterns you can try
- Choose the right target: If you’re in a two-player game, the direct approach is to attach to your opponent’s most threatening creature or the one that enables the opponent’s strategy. In multiplayer, you can opportunistically switch the aura to different opponents across turns, spreading the ping and creating table politics that favor you as the token engine widens the battlefield. 🧭
- Time the detachment: If the board is stabilizing or you’re about to run out of gas, ending the aura (paying {B}) restores Leeching Licid to a creature form. This lets you swing mana into new token production or set up a future attach-detonate sequence. The timing is everything—don’t overstay the attachment and risk giving your opponents a predictable drain path. ⏳
- Combo-lite planning: Think in terms of tempo plays rather than brute force. You’re aiming for incremental damage while you secure token value. Cards that help you recur Leeching Licid or protect your token army—like countermagic for disruption or graveyard recursion for reusing the Licid later—help you maximize the impact of a single mana investment. 🧙♂️
Creative combos and board states
- Direct pressure with political play: Attach to an opposing creature that’s already a target for removal. The ongoing ping adds a layer of life-loss threat that can push opponents into suboptimal plays or force defensive commitments. This is especially effective when you’re ahead on board but behind on life—the Licid’s drain acts as a quiet accelerant to close the gap. ⚔️
- Detachment as a reset button: If an aura-heavy strategy or a sudden mass removal hits, detaching Leeching Licid can reset your tempo. You return to creature form with 1/1 stats, ready to re-enter token production or pivot into a fresh aura application. This resilience is valuable in long, grindy games where token generation meets life-total tension. 🌀
- Multiplayer mind games: In a table with three or more players, you can orchestrate a dynamic where you threaten the opponent with the most life or the most dangerous board, then quietly drift the Licid onto another target later. The unpredictability keeps the table engaged and gives your tokens a growing life-support system behind the scenes. 🎲
“Sometimes the quietest card in the room is the one doing the most heavy lifting.”
From a design perspective, Leeching Licid exemplifies the elegant awkwardness of Licids: a creature that can morph into an enchantment, then pivot back with a cost. It’s a reminder that Magic’s older blocks weren’t afraid to reward players for thinking in two moves ahead—the aura twist invites you to choreograph a micro-tactical dance with your tokens and your opponents’ life totals. The 1 damage ping might look tiny, but in the right table, it compounds into real pressure, especially as your token armies grow and your resource base stabilizes. 🎨
lore and flavor notes
Leeching Licid belongs to a line of shapeshifters whose loyalties shift with the tide of magic. The Tempest era favored quirky, mechanically inventive designs that encouraged players to experiment with the edges of what it means to be a creature and what it means to be an aura. In play, you’re not just playing a 1/1; you’re piloting a small, cunning plan that thrives on timing, political nuance, and a dash of nerve. The art by Joel Biske captures that sly, almost mischievous vibe that a Licid carries—a reminder that even a subtle black creature can bite back in the right moment. 🧙♂️💎
Valuable notes for collectors and players
As a Tempest rarity—uncommon—Leeching Licid sits in a space where nostalgia meets practical play. Its mana value is modest, and the card’s non-foil, non-etched print run is accessible in many printings, making it a neat addition for players who want a token-focused, retro-tinged commander or legacy playstyle. For collectors, the combination of historical set, unusual mechanic, and the card’s enduring charm makes it a pleasant pickup. If you’re exploring a black-token theme with a political edge, this is a card you’ll likely reach for in casual Commander games where the pace invites experimentation. 🧙🔥
For readers who enjoy a touch of modern relevance, consider pairing classic relics like Leeching Licid with contemporary token engines or re-animator strategies that can leverage the Licid’s detachable aura as a stepping-stone to bigger plays. And if you’re on the lookout for practical ways to branch out into new gear, there’s a fun crossover to explore—think about how your token deck could benefit from a little tech upgrade off the battlefield. The synergy is real, and the nod to old-school design is a welcome wink to seasoned players and new collectors alike. 🎲