Cathedral Sanctifier MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 11
2016-02-26 - Number 3
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Cathedral Sanctifier enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life.
"Evil will soon be vanquished. What Innistrad most needs now is healing."
Cards like Cathedral Sanctifier
Cathedral Sanctifier is a well-known creature card that offers life gain as a core benefit when it enters the battlefield. In the vast array of Magic: The Gathering cards, it bears a resemblance to the likes of Lone Missionary. Unlike Cathedral Sanctifier, which provides a straight three life upon entry, Lone Missionary brings an additional life point, totaling four. However, the latter asks for one more mana of any type in addition to its white mana cost.
Another card that echoes the functionality of Cathedral Sanctifier is Auriok Champion. It not only gives life with its presence but also every time another creature enters your side. This ensures a consistent gain in life points, unlike Cathedral Sanctifier which is a one-time event. Also, Auriok Champion has protection from black and from red, making it a more versatile choice in certain decks.
Assessing Cathedral Sanctifier’s place among these alternatives, it’s clear it offers a straightforward and immediate benefit for a low mana cost. Its ability to impact the game from the moment it hits the table makes it a valuable inclusion for players looking to stabilize early in the game against aggressive strategies.
Cards similar to Cathedral Sanctifier by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cathedral Sanctifier may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but the life gain it provides can help you stabilize in the game and stay ahead. This gives you more time to draw into your key cards and increases your chances of maintaining a presence on the board against aggressive strategies.
Resource Acceleration: While Cathedral Sanctifier doesn’t tap for mana or produce tokens, it provides a significant advantage for decks that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. Its low casting cost can be a boon for strategies looking to accelerate their game plan by developing their board presence early on.
Instant Speed: Although Cathedral Sanctifier is a creature cast at sorcery speed, its immediate impact on the board in gaining life can be akin to casting an instant. This life gain can be pivotal in matches where timing is crucial, such as when surviving against burn decks or aggressive opponents who aim to deplete your life total rapidly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite the life gain, Cathedral Sanctifier doesn’t offer a discard mechanic, which limits its synergy in decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies or require discard triggers to activate key abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: As a white mana-dedicated card, Cathedral Sanctifier demands a specific mana color which might complicate its inclusion in multicolored decks or those that run on a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its casting cost of one white mana for a simple life boost may seem excessive when other one-drop creatures offer additional abilities or higher power/toughness values, making them more versatile in combat scenarios.
Reasons to Include Cathedral Sanctifier in Your Collection
Versatility: Cathedral Sanctifier is an excellent addition to life-gain decks, able to provide a quick boost to your health total. This can be particularly helpful in formats where aggressive strategies dominate, offering a cushion against early damage.
Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy with effects that trigger upon gaining life or when creatures enter the battlefield. It works well with cards that feed off life total increases, potentially setting the stage for powerful plays and unexpected comebacks.
Meta-Relevance: In a game landscape where players often race to assemble their combos or deal lethal damage, the life buffer provided by Cathedral Sanctifier can be invaluable. It’s a simple yet effective tool for staving off defeat and turning the tides in your favor against aggressive opponents.
How to beat
Cathedral Sanctifier is a low-cost creature in MTG, offering a simple yet effective life gain ability upon entering the battlefield. Defeating it doesn’t always require complex strategies, given its modest 1/1 stats. The straightforward means of removal, such as Shock or Fatal Push, work excellently in eliminating the Sanctifier before the life gain becomes a significant advantage for your opponent.
Another approach is to bypass the incremental life gain using aggressive strategies that overwhelm the opponent faster than they can stabilize. Deploying creatures with higher power and the use of combat tricks can ensure that your board presence outpaces the benefits of the Sanctifier’s ability. In addition, cards that hinder creature abilities, like Hushbringer, can negate the Sanctifier’s life gain effect, rendering it a mere blocker.
To cap it off, always remember to maintain pressure and manage your resources efficiently. Since Cathedral Sanctifier is often used in decks focused on incremental life gain or as an early defense, keeping your opponent’s lifeline under control is key to securing victory over decks utilizing this card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cathedral Sanctifier MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed, 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 Cathedral Sanctifier and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Cathedral Sanctifier Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2016-02-26. Illustrated by Michael C. Hayes.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael C. Hayes | |
| 2 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael C. Hayes |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cathedral Sanctifier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |