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Mulligan Rules for Savannah Lions: When to Keep
If you’re drafting a pure tempo plan or sprinting out a relentless white-stamped assault, you’ve probably faced the quintessential question: should I mulligan this hand, or keep and hope the pigeons—er, lions—come marching in? Savannah Lions is a deceptively simple card: a white mana cost, a 2/1 body, and a flavor that hums with Benalish grit. But its power lies in its timing. This is the kind of card that rewards sharp mulligan decisions because every land drop matters when you’re sending a 2-power cat to the battlefield on turn one. 🧙♂️🔥💎
Why Savannah Lions still matters in a modern deck
Foundations reprints often remind us that classic efficiency can survive in the modern game, and Savannah Lions is the perfect case study. For a white aggressive strategy, a 1-mana 2/1 is a cornerstone—especially when you’re aiming to pressure early and push damage before your opponent stabilizes. The flavor text—“One alone is fearsome; one among many is unstoppable.”—reads as both a playstyle mantra and a wink to the deckbuilder who wants to flood the board with a swarm of efficient threats. In practice, the card shines brightest when you can land it on turn 1 or 2 with a reliable white mana base. 🎨⚔️
Opening hand heuristics: keep versus mulligan for Savannah Lions builds
The core of mulligan theory with Savannah Lions is simple: you want to maximize your chances of casting a relevant spell on the very first turns while maintaining pressure. Under the London Mulligan framework, you draw seven, decide to mulligan, and then, after each mulligan, you put cards on the bottom of your library equal to the number of mulligans you’ve taken. This framework makes land count even more critical, because Savannah Lions depends on a white mana source to be playable on the first turn. 🧭
- 0 lands in opening hand: This is a definite mulligan. Without a white mana source, Savannah Lions sits in your hand as a non-playable, taunting crutch. In a fast aggro plan, you want a quick path to the battlefield, and 0 lands means you’ll miss on the critical first turn most of the time.
- 1 land plus Savannah Lions and at least one other cheap spell or cantrip: This is a borderline keep. If your second card or two can help you fix your mana (or if you’re playing a deck with efficient accelerants or one-drop removal), you might ride the risk. But be mindful: you’ll be missing on the turn-1 play most often, and you’ll have to survive a turn with only a 0/0 protection for a moment.
- 2 lands with Savannah Lions and 1–2 supporting plays (removal, pump, or another one-drop): This is a solid keep. You can cast Savannah Lions on turn 1 or 2 and maintain a consistent threat curve. A second white source helps ensure your follow-ups land on time, maximizing the chance to push ahead early.
- 3 lands or more with Savannah Lions and a cohesive mix of openers: Strong keep. Three lands give you flexibility for turn-1 or turn-2 plays and leave room for a removal spell or a buff to push through an extra damage swing.
In casual or commander formats, the math shifts a little, but the spirit remains: you want to be casting a threat on the very early turns, so hands with reliable white mana and at least one relevant spell to back up Savannah Lions are the sweet spot. If you’re piloting a mono-white or white-leaning aggro shell, these guidelines hold up well in practice. 🧙♂️🎲
Practical mulligan flow you can actually use
When you’re staring down a fresh seven and your hand looks like a jumble of two lands and a pair of two-drops, here’s a pragmatic approach you can apply, especially with the modern mulligan rules in play:
- Assess your mana. If you can’t convincingly cast Savannah Lions by turn 1 or 2, consider sending it back.
- Scan your threats. If your hand lacks immediate board pressure or removal to keep you safe from opposing aggressive starts, mulligan for a cleaner curve.
- Factor your synergy. A set of cards that supports early aggression or a plan to keep the board clean when your Lion hits the battlefield will frequently reward you with the tempo win you’re chasing.
- Remember your post-mull hand size. With London Mulligan, you’ll end up with 7 minus the number of mulligans you’ve taken. This means every extra mulligan costs you a card in the final hand, so don’t go too far down the rabbit hole unless you’re sure the payoff is worth it.
“One alone is fearsome; one among many is unstoppable.” — Benalish proverb
Format considerations: why context matters
In the Foundations set’s spirit, Savannah Lions rewards straightforward, low-variance plays. In formats that punish stagnation, a clean, early commitment to a white board can be the difference between sprinting to victory and watching your lion get chomped by a bigger threat. The card’s rarity as an uncommon in Foundations doesn’t dampen its value for nostalgia—this is the kind of piece that teaches new players the rhythm of tempo combat while giving veteran players a nostalgic wink to classic MTG design. The card’s price points—low in today’s market—underscore its role as a learning tool and a nostalgic staple rather than a staple of top-tier competitive decks. 💎🏷️
For collectors and new players alike, Savannah Lions stands as a reminder of how simple stats, clean mana costs, and evocative flavor can create lasting impressions. The art by Winona Nelson captures that early-’90s energy—bold lines, a bold promise of the chase, and a cat who means business on the battlefield. If you’re rebuilding a mono-white collection or revisiting a nostalgic tempo shell, this card is a reliable anchor that won’t break the bank. Its voice may be old-school, but its impact on a game plan remains surprisingly modern. 🔥🎨
As you plan your next draft or upgrade your casual deck, consider how your mulligan instinct shapes the moment you lay down Savannah Lions. If the opening hand isn’t singing, trimming away the mismatches can be the difference between a clean tempo victory and a stumble through a mulligan-induced tempo vacuum. And while you mull, you might want a desk upgrade that echoes that neon, cyberpunk energy—the Neon Cyberpunk Desk Mouse Pad—just a click away below. 🧙♂️💎