Apostle of Purifying Light MTG Card


Apostle neutralizes opponents’ graveyard strategies, providing continual in-game advantages for users. Its protection from black makes it a flexible combat asset, challenging opponents’ tactics. While useful, it’s best suited for decks that consistently utilize its graveyard-exiling ability.
Apostle of Purifying Light - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Abilities Protection
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number6
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBastien L. Deharme

Text of card

Protection from black (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything black.) : Exile target card from a graveyard.

Waves of gloom crash in vain against his unyielding light.


Cards like Apostle of Purifying Light

Apostle of Purifying Light is a unique creature card with a protective edge in Magic: The Gathering. It goes hand in hand with cards such as Containment Priest in terms of providing graveyard interaction control. Both are distinguished by an ability that disrupts opponents’ graveyard strategies, but Containment Priest affects all nontoken creatures while Apostle of Purifying Light selectively protects against black spells.

Moreover, alongside cards like Rest in Peace, Apostle of Purifying Light offers graveyard-based interference, standing out with its added capability as a creature that can attack and block. Rest in Peace has a sweeping effect exiling all cards from all graveyards when it hits the board, but lacks the dynamic presence of a creature.

When evaluating practicality and versatility, Apostle of Purifying Light holds its own among its peers. It not only serves as a challenge to black-dominated decks but also flexibly adapts to on-field situations with its potential for combat and its activated ability, which can selectively exile target cards from a graveyard. This balance of active and passive abilities makes the Apostle a valuable card to consider for any deck needing protection against graveyard tactics.

Containment Priest - MTG Card versions
Rest in Peace - MTG Card versions
Containment Priest - MTG Card versions
Rest in Peace - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Apostle of Purifying Light. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Boros AggroBoros Aggro PioneerBoros AggroPioneer Challenge 32 2024-03-10

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Apostle of Purifying Light provides an inherent form of card advantage against graveyard-centric decks. Its ability to exile cards from graveyards can continuously negate the recurring benefits opponents might gain from their graveyard resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Apostle of Purifying Light doesn’t directly generate mana, it offers a type of resource acceleration by keeping the board clear of problematic creatures and threats. This proactive defense often saves mana in the long run as it might reduce the need for additional removal spells.

Instant Speed: Apostle of Purifying Light’s ability to exile cards from graveyards is not at instant speed; however, its protection from black gives it the unique advantage of being a tactical blocker or attacker in an instant speed-filled combat phase. This can allow players to adapt their strategies flexibly, using Apostle of Purifying Light as an unexpected impediment against black creatures that might otherwise require an instant speed response.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Apostle of Purifying Light requires a specific action to utilize its full potential – exiling cards from a graveyard. This can be a disadvantage if your strategy doesn’t consistently fill the opponent’s graveyard or if you lack other methods to do so.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost is two white mana, which can be restrictive for multicolored deck strategies. It necessitates having a stable white mana base, which can reduce the card’s versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activated ability of Apostle of Purifying Light costs two mana, which can be high considering the effect is limited to exiling cards from graveyards one at a time. In situations where a more widespread graveyard removal is needed, this can be less mana-efficient compared to other available options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Apostle of Purifying Light offers a dynamic tool for decks contending with graveyard strategies. Its ability to exile cards from graveyards can be crucial in disrupting your opponents’ plans.

Combo Potential: Beyond its defensive utility, this card can be a combo enabler in decks looking to profit from protection from black or from its proactive graveyard hate.

Meta-Relevance: As long as black-based decks or those that rely on graveyard synergies remain a fixture in the meta, Apostle of Purifying Light will maintain its standing as a valuable sideboard card or even a main deck consideration for white-based strategies.


How to beat

When facing the Apostle of Purifying Light in MTG, players should be mindful of its protection from black attribute and its ability to exile cards from graveyards. This white creature can provide a reliable defense against decks that heavily rely on black spells or graveyard strategies. To counter this, consider including non-black removal options in your deck, such as red burn spells or white exile effects, which can deal with the Apostle irrespective of its protection.

Moreover, since the Apostle of Purifying Light’s ability requires mana to be activated, pressuring your opponent’s mana resources can limit its effectiveness. Cards that restrict mana availability or tax abilities can make it more challenging for your opponent to use the Apostle’s graveyard removal potential. Finally, counterspells can prevent the Apostle from hitting the battlefield in the first place, ensuring that its disruptive abilities never become a factor in the game.

Understanding the Apostle’s strengths and limitations is crucial. Aggressive strategies that can outpace the Apostle’s mana-dependent abilities or decks with built-in redundancies to withstand graveyard disruption can maintain an upper hand. By incorporating versatile answers and tactics, players can confidently navigate around the Apostle of Purifying Light’s capabilities.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Apostle of Purifying Light MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Apostle of Purifying Light and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Apostle of Purifying Light has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal