Timeline Placement for Lagrella, the Magpie in MTG History

Timeline Placement for Lagrella, the Magpie in MTG History

In TCG ·

Lagrella, the Magpie artwork from Streets of New Capenna

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Where Lagrella sits in MTG history

In the grand timeline of Magic, Lagrella, the Magpie carves out a distinctive niche as a tri-color dash of misdirection and value. Born into Streets of New Capenna (SNc) in 2022, Lagrella carries a G/W/U identity that embodies the Brokers’ swagger and the set’s urban glamor. Her mana cost of {G}{W}{U} is a deliberate wedge, inviting players to embrace a three-color identity that’s equal parts ramp, removal avoidance, and board-sculpting hustle. The Brokers watermark on the card’s flavor work ties Lagrella to a city of schemers who prize leverage and timing as much as raw power 🧭🎨. Donato Giancola’s illustration elevates Lagrella from a simple stat line into a figure you might meet at a high-stakes gala—someone who can switch from courtesy to cunning in a heartbeat 🔎⚔️.

Timeline-wise, Lagrella sits at a moment when Wizards of the Coast revisited tri-color design in a memorable, story-driven package. Ravnica famously popularized wedge-costs and guild-based identity; SNc revisits the same three-color space but through a criminal-luxe lens. Lagrella’s presence signals a shift from pure power curves toward value-based, table-welted interplay—where you exile threats temporarily, then welcome them back into your fold with a mighty boost. It’s a nod to the era of big, narrative-scented creatures that reward players who think beyond the next combat step and plan for the long game 🧙‍♂️🔥.

Mechanics in the spotlight

At only 3 mana, Lagrella asks you to commit to a multifaceted play pattern instead of a single burst of power. When Lagrella enters the battlefield, you may exile any number of other target creatures controlled by different players until Lagrella leaves the battlefield. The exiled creatures don’t stay away forever; when an exiled card enters under your control this way, you put two +1/+1 counters on it. The result is a clever translation of disruption into sustained value: you neutralize their board for a moment, then reintroduce those threats bigger and more dangerous once Lagrella exits the scene 🧩⚔️.

Think of the tempo and political edges this creates. In multiplayer formats, Lagrella can blunt multiple heroic swings in a single turn, and the returned exiles may carry ETB triggers, synergy with +1/+1 counter ramps, or other stax-like payoffs. The combination of exile, return, and counters invites you to choreograph sequences where you temporarily remove problems and then “upgrade” them as they come back into your dominion. It’s not just about surviving the next attack—it’s about shaping the battlefield for the long haul, with a little greed and a lot of clever timing 🧙‍♂️💎.

From a design perspective, Lagrella embodies a modern approach to tri-color, multi-player play: she rewards planning, interaction, and narrative momentum. The uncommon rarity keeps her accessible for midrange builds and Commander decks alike, rather than bundling her into the rarefied air of a top-tier mythic. The tri-color identity and hybrid mana requirements also push players to think beyond simple color-s splashes, encouraging more thoughtful mana bases and deck-building discipline — a trend MTG has embraced with gusto in the past decade 🎲.

Lore, art, and collector culture

Lagrella’s lore portrait is a perfect microcosm of the New Capenna vibe: a magpie-laden character who crafts opportunity from the chaos around her. The art and flavor fit a city where charm hides sharp edges and where every exchange feels like a negotiation with consequences. For collectors, Lagrella is a compelling choice: an uncommon that’s still a centerpiece in many casual commander lists thanks to its rich design space and its iconic trio-color identity. The card’s value isn’t just in the numbers—it’s in the story it tells about a world where power is negotiated as much as earned 🧡💎.

“Sometimes the best plan is a little misdirection and a lot of counting cards.”

In terms of play history, Lagrella reframes what it means to control the board in a multi-opponent environment. While not standard-legal, she is a clear fit for Historic, Modern, and especially Commander—where the social contract of the table can bend toward value engines and dramatic comebacks. Her exiling-and-return mechanic encourages you to weave ETB triggers with a counter-boosted cast, turning temporary removal into permanent board presence. It’s the sort of design that makes players talk about “the moment Lagrella changed the game” long after the match ends 🧙‍♂️🔥.

Timeline markers: Lagrella’s impact on MTG history

  • Tri-color design in a single card fueling more diverse commander builds
  • Exile-and-return mechanics that reward timing and multi-player interaction
  • Flavor alignment with the Brokers and the New Capenna universe, strengthening MTG’s storytelling through card text
  • Encouragement of table politics and value-driven play in multiplayer formats
  • Artistic celebration of a legendary creature whose name evokes cleverness and charm

For fans tracing MTG’s evolving timeline, Lagrella represents a bridge between classic wedge-design and contemporary, interaction-rich gameplay. She serves as a reminder that history in Magic isn’t just about who hit the most power on the battlefield—it’s about who added the most to the story of the game night itself. And with Lagrella at the table, you’re likely to wind up with a tale that’s worth telling again and again 🧭🎨.

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Lagrella, the Magpie

Lagrella, the Magpie

{G}{W}{U}
Legendary Creature — Human Soldier

When Lagrella enters, exile any number of other target creatures controlled by different players until Lagrella leaves the battlefield. When an exiled card enters under your control this way, put two +1/+1 counters on it.

ID: dd20f271-26c8-429f-a422-e7d95f3bda74

Oracle ID: 6a98b586-5187-48a1-bde3-f6141f3e9cb1

Multiverse IDs: 555397

TCGPlayer ID: 269086

Cardmarket ID: 652206

Colors: G, U, W

Color Identity: G, U, W

Keywords:

Rarity: Uncommon

Released: 2022-04-29

Artist: Donato Giancola

Frame: 2015

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 12523

Penny Rank: 5436

Set: Streets of New Capenna (snc)

Collector #: 196

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — legal
  • Timeless — legal
  • Gladiator — legal
  • Pioneer — legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — not_legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — not_legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — not_legal

Prices

  • USD: 0.10
  • USD_FOIL: 0.19
  • EUR: 0.04
  • EUR_FOIL: 0.09
  • TIX: 0.03
Last updated: 2025-11-16