Holy Justiciar MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	25
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Rapoza

Key Takeaways

Holy Justiciar offers creature control, giving strategic advantage by limiting opponent’s offensive capabilities.
Instant-speed activation maximizes battlefield control and surprise, enhancing tactical play decisions.
Balancing its utility with mana costs and discard drawbacks requires thoughtful deck construction and playstyle.

Text of card

, : Tap target creature. If that creature is a Zombie, exile it.

Her eyes see through the rotting flesh and glimpse a soul in agony, begging for the Blessed Sleep.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Holy Justiciar ensures you stay ahead by offering repeatable creature tap-down, hampering opponents’ strategies and limiting their options while bolstering your offensive or defensive maneuvers.

Resource Acceleration: Can be synergized with untap mechanics, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration by freeing up creatures for other roles, like convoke, effectively speeding up your board development.

Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be used at instant speed, allowing strategic flexibility during combat or in response to opponent’s actions, thus maintaining the element of surprise and control over the battlefield interaction.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When utilizing Holy Justiciar, you may find yourself in the precarious position of needing to discard another card, which can be a significant drawback during critical moments when your hand size is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Holy Justiciar’s mana cost is color-intensive, specifically requiring white mana. This can be particularly restrictive, limiting its inclusion to decks that can consistently generate the necessary white mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep mana investment to bring Holy Justiciar into play, players may hesitate, considering other cards in the same mana range potentially offer more impactful board presence or immediate effects to sway the game in their favor.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Holy Justiciar offers utility in multiple deck archetypes. Its ability to tap potential threats can be a key tactical advantage, complementing strategies that emphasize board control.

Combo Potential: This card’s untap ability can synergize with other cards that benefit from being untapped or have tap-triggered abilities, amplifying their effects and enabling powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creatures play a central role, Holy Justiciar can be a significant asset. It can repeatedly neutralize enemy creatures, making it a card worth considering for inclusion in creature-heavy metas.

How to beat

Holy Justiciar joins the array of versatile creatures in Magic: The Gathering, offering not just combat strength but also utility in control-focused decks. To overcome this card, one strategy is disrupting its ability to tap down your threats. This can be achieved by neutralizing it before its controller’s turn begins, or by employing instant-speed removal spells that catch the opponent off-guard. A card with the likes of Abrupt Decay offers a swift, uncounterable solution.

In addition, cards that grant hexproof or protection from white to your creatures can render Holy Justiciar’s ability obsolete, keeping your side of the battlefield unaffected by its influence. Consider cards like Blossoming Defense, which not only shields your creature but also strengthens it. The key is to stay one step ahead, maintaining the ability to respond quickly and efficiently. Ensuring your deck has such responsive elements is crucial when preparing to face down Holy Justiciar or similar control-oriented creatures.

In essence, keeping a flexible and reactionary approach in your gameplay is your best bet against Holy Justiciar. Tailor your moves not just to counter its abilities but to assert your own game plan effectively.

Cards like Holy Justiciar

Holy Justiciar stands out in the pantheon of creatures within Magic: The Gathering for its unique combination of abilities. The card functions similarly to cards like Banisher Priest or Fiend Hunter, adept at removing rival creatures from the battlefield temporarily. However, Holy Justiciar offers a longer-term solution by locking down opponents’ potential threats with its tap ability, rather than providing a brief respite.

Where does the card intersect with others? Take Fairgrounds Warden, a creature that exiles another creature for as long as it remains on the battlefield. Holy Justiciar does not exile, but it renders selected creatures ineffective for multitude of turns. Looking at Journey to Nowhere, which exiles a creature but lacks the same flexibility and is vulnerable to enchantment removal, Holy Justiciar offers a creature-based control that can continually impact the game.

Cards like Oblivion Ring also come to mind as they share removal qualities. While Oblivion Ring can target any nonland permanent, Holy Justiciar’s ability is solely creature-focused but is reusable each turn. This repeatable interference can significantly alter the tempo of the game, giving Holy Justiciar a tactical edge in the right deck context.

Cards similar to Holy Justiciar by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Holy Justiciar MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Holy Justiciar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Holy Justiciar has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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