Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines MTG Card


Voldaren Pariah provides substantial advantage by forcing opponents to sacrifice multiple creatures. Transforming at instant speed, it disrupts opponent plays and bolsters your own strategy. Despite its transformative power, it requires careful deck building due to specific mana needs.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Horror
Abilities Flying,Madness,Transform
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Sacrifice three other creatures: Transform Voldaren Pariah. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)


Cards like Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines

Voldaren Pariah holds an interesting niche among transformative creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative could be Archfiend of Depravity, a creature with similar board influence by forcing opponents to sacrifice their creatures. However, Voldaren Pariah adds a unique twist, boasting the ability to transform into Abolisher of Bloodlines, amplifying its board impact through its Flip mechanic without needing any mana.

Another card that echoes this sacrificial theme is Innocent Blood. While not a creature, this spell requires each player to sacrifice a creature, akin to the requirement of Voldaren Pariah before it flips. In contrast, Innocent Blood is less selective and affects all players, not just opponents. Moreover, Voldaren Pariah pushes the envelope with its transformative ability, giving players a more formidable presence on the battlefield post-transformation.

Evaluating the balance of power, flexibility, and control offered, Voldaren Pariah makes a compelling case for players seeking to maintain dominance by decimating opposing forces—all while offering the potential upside of a transformed state, setting it apart from other sacrifice-centric cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Archfiend of Depravity - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Depravity - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Voldaren Pariah shines by offering robust card advantage in the form of creature control. Upon transforming into Abolisher of Bloodlines, you force an opponent to sacrifice three creatures, a significant tilt in board presence and a potential swing in resource balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card supports resource acceleration indirectly. By pressuring your opponent to shed valuable creatures, it constrains their board and resource allocation. Although not directly adding to your mana pool, it effectively disrupts your opponent’s capability to generate resources and utilize mana efficiently.

Instant Speed: Voldaren Pariah’s ability to transform at instant speed gives you remarkable flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy. You can activate the transformation in response to an opponent’s actions, making it a powerful tool for timing your moves just right and maximizing your strategic advantage on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Voldaren Pariah demands a notable sacrifice of three creatures for its transformative ability, which could be a hefty price if you’re running low on minions or playing a creature-light strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a triple black mana cost, it requires a heavily weighted or mono-black mana base to cast reliably, potentially constraining deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana, Voldaren Pariah can be considered costly when measured against other removal or creature cards that can make an immediate impact on the game for a lower investment.


Reasons to Include Voldaren Pariah in Your Collection

Versatility: Voldaren Pariah offers flexibility as it can serve as both an aggressive early threat and a late-game finisher. This ability to adapt to the pace of the game makes it a valuable fit for a range of black strategies, from midrange to control decks.

Combo Potential: This card transforms into Abolisher of Bloodlines, which can act as a game-changer. When flipped, it forces the opponent to sacrifice three creatures, which pairs excellently with sacrifice and death trigger effects that many black-based decks capitalize on.

Meta-Relevance: Against creature-heavy decks that dominate many game formats, Voldaren Pariah shines by decimating the opponent’s board presence. Its relevance grows in metas where board presence is vital, making it a smart inclusion for anyone looking to counter such strategies.


How to beat

Voldaren Pariah presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, becoming an imminent threat once transformed into Abolisher of Bloodlines. To counter this powerful vampire from Magic: The Gathering, it’s vital to disrupt its transform condition. Keep your opponent’s creature count low, making it harder for them to sacrifice three creatures and flip Voldaren Pariah. Efficient removal spells or board wipes can serve as a strong line of defense. Another strategy involves protecting your creatures from being targeted by effects that force you to sacrifice, using cards that grant indestructible or by utilizing counter-magic to prevent the Pariah’s ability from resolving in the first place.

Timing is crucial when confronting this card. Anticipate your opponent’s moves and be mindful of the mana they have available. Sometimes, keeping mana open for instant-speed responses is your best bet to keep Voldaren Pariah from becoming a game-ending threat. Lastly, bear in mind that after transformation, its ability to force each opponent to sacrifice three creatures is a one-time trigger. If you can weather this storm, you may be able to rebuild your board more swiftly than your adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

Voldaren Pariah proves its worth as a versatile powerhouse capable of turning the tides in a game of MTG. Whether you’re pressuring opponents in a midrange deck or controlling the pace in a black-centric strategy, this card is a tactical asset. For players eyeing to sharpen their game, understanding the strengths and cleverly navigating the drawbacks is key. Embrace the challenge; let Voldaren Pariah lead your deck to victory against creature-dense adversaries. Dive deeper into its strategic uses, discover new combos, and fine-tune your collection for the ever-evolving meta. Elevate your deck and find more insights with us today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon Promos and Eldritch Moon, 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 Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-05-08. Illustrated by James Ryman.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 111s2015TransformBlackJames Ryman
22016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 1112015TransformBlackJames Ryman
32023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 1382015TransformBlackJames Ryman
42023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 202015TransformBlackJames Ryman

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).
2016-07-13 If the targeted opponent doesn’t control three creatures as the triggered ability of Abolisher of Bloodlines resolves, that player sacrifices as many creatures as able.