Cabal Therapist MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Horror |
| Abilities | Menace |
| Released | 2019-06-14 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Modern Horizons |
| Set code | MH1 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 80 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mitchell Malloy |
Key Takeaways
- Provides steady card advantage by forcing opponent discard over multiple turns, affecting their strategy.
- Challenges deck versatility, requiring black mana and potential sacrifice of creatures to activate.
- Strong addition to decks using sacrifice mechanics, proving disruptive and combo-enabling.
Text of card
Menace At the beginning of your precombat main phase, you may sacrifice a creature. When you do, choose a nonland card name, then target player reveals their hand and discards all cards with that name.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the unique aspects of Cabal Therapist is that it can repeatedly force opponents to discard cards, tipping the balance of card count in your favor over multiple turns. This gradual attrition can dismantle an opponent’s strategy and provide you with a significant advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly producing mana or tokens, Cabal Therapist can disrupt resource acceleration of your opponent by targeting key cards. Removing ramp or combo pieces early in the game can slow them down while you develop your board state.
Instant Speed: While Cabal Therapist itself does not operate at instant speed, its sacrifice ability can be activated at the beginning of your precombat main phase, which allows you to retain flexibility during your turn. This means you can wait until the last possible moment to choose which player to target, after gaining more information about your opponents’ hands.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In order to fully utilize Cabal Therapist’s abilities, players must sacrifice another creature during their precombat main phase. This can put players at a disadvantage if they are unable to maintain a board presence or if sacrificing a creature would dilute their battlefield strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Cabal Therapist’s casting cost requires black mana. This specificity makes it more challenging to seamlessly integrate into multi-colored decks, potentially limiting the card’s versatility and restricting it to mono-black or black-heavy decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Cabal Therapist itself is not expensive to cast, its ability requires a full turn cycle before activation. This delay, in combination with the need for a disposable creature, can be seen as inefficient when compared to other disruption cards that can have an immediate impact on the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cabal Therapist offers flexibility in its application, easily fitting into decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics or require repeatable discard options to disrupt opponents.
Combo Potential: This card has the potential to form powerful combos with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard or triggering madness abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where key hand disruption can turn the tide of the game, Cabal Therapist stands out as a useful tool to dismantle your opponent’s strategy before they can execute it.
How to beat
Cabal Therapist is a unique menace in any MTG matchup, known for its potent ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand every turn. While it may seem daunting, there are several strategies to effectively counter this card. One of the simplest methods is to maintain a low hand size, thus reducing the impact of its ability. Keeping crucial cards on the battlefield rather than in your hand can also minimize the potential disruption caused by Cabal Therapist.
Another approach is using instant speed spells to remove the Therapist before its ability can be activated. Since the Therapist must survive until your precombat main phase to leverage its power, well-timed removal spells can effectively neutralize the threat. Furthermore, graveyard hate cards can prevent recurring strategies that might want to exploit Cabal Therapist’s sacrifice ability multiple times. Cards that offer hexproof to your hand, such as Witchbane Orb, can also shield your game plan from such invasive tactics.
Adapting your play style and incorporating these countermeasures into your deck construction can help you maintain an edge against strategies that incorporate Cabal Therapist. Keep in mind a diverse set of tactics and be ready to respond swiftly to its presence on the battlefield.
Cards like Cabal Therapist
Cabal Therapist is a creature card that has stirred the pot in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique blend of disruption and strategic advantage. When sizing up similar cards, one might think of Thoughtseize, a crucial card in many decks which also facilitates hand disruption. However, Thoughtseize demands life payment and immediate action, whereas Cabal Therapist’s ability is a repeatable effect set in motion at the beginning of your precombat main phase.
Another comparison could be drawn with Mesmeric Fiend. Both cards allow you to peek at an opponent’s hand, but Cabal Therapist provides an ongoing threat with its ability to repeatedly target specific cards each turn. This contrasts with Mesmeric Fiend’s one-time effect upon entering the battlefield. Plus, the Fiend’s body leaves much to be desired when placed side by side with the untapped potential of Cabal Therapist.
Considering these comparisons, Cabal Therapist boasts a unique position in MTG’s pantheon of hand-disruption creatures. Its mix of delayed yet recurring impact makes it a formidable tool in any player’s arsenal, balancing the scales of power on the cardboard battlefield.
Cards similar to Cabal Therapist by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cabal Therapist MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Cabal Therapist and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cabal Therapist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cabal Therapist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | You name the card as Cabal Therapist’s reflexive triggered ability resolves, not as it’s put onto the stack. Then the targeted player reveals their hand and discards if appropriate. No player may choose to take actions between you naming the card and the targeted player revealing and discarding. |