Cleric of Life's Bond MTG Card


Boosts your board significantly with life gain whenever you cast another cleric, enhancing control of the game. Not a standalone card, it requires a synergistic deck build centered around Clerics or life-gain mechanics. Despite mana cost constraints, its inclusion in a deck can create a potent recurring lifeline against opposition.
Cleric of Life's Bond - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Cleric
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number222
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAndrey Kuzinskiy

Text of card

Whenever another Cleric enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life. Whenever you gain life for the first time each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Cleric of Life's Bond.

"No gods. Only each other."


Cards like Cleric of Life's Bond

The Cleric of Life’s Bond is a key player in Magic: The Gathering, especially in decks that lean heavily on the Cleric tribe or life gain strategy. When we look for counterparts, Alseid of Life’s Bounty springs to mind. Though primarily used for protection due to its sacrifice ability, it also aids life-gain synergies. Unlike the Cleric of Life’s Bond, Alseid doesn’t grow stronger with each life gain instance, highlighting the Cleric’s potential as a threat on the board.

Another card worth comparing is Impassioned Orator. Both cards are two drops that trigger when other creatures enter the battlefield. However, the Orator doesn’t offer the same aggressive presence since it lacks the Cleric of Life’s Bond’s +1/+1 mechanic. We then see Daxos, Blessed by the Sun, who strengthens whenever a creature you control enters or dies, providing a static life-gain tool that pairs well with the Cleric’s ability to grow stronger.

Considering these comparisons, Cleric of Life’s Bond stands out as a versatile creature in MTG that can rapidly become a major force while also meshing well with the ever-popular life gain theme.

Alseid of Life's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Impassioned Orator - MTG Card versions
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun - MTG Card versions
Alseid of Life's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Impassioned Orator - MTG Card versions
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cleric of Life's Bond by color, type and mana cost

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Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions
Putrid Warrior - MTG Card versions
Triumphant Adventurer - MTG Card versions
Shaile, Dean of Radiance // Embrose, Dean of Shadow - MTG Card versions
Silverquill Silencer - MTG Card versions
Mourning Thrull - MTG Card versions
Suture Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nightsky Mimic - MTG Card versions
Cloistered Youth // Unholy Fiend - MTG Card versions
Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar - MTG Card versions
Vizkopa Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Cartel Aristocrat - MTG Card versions
High Priest of Penance - MTG Card versions
Chief of the Edge - MTG Card versions
Chief of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Karlov of the Ghost Council - MTG Card versions
Wayward Servant - MTG Card versions
Legion Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Syndicate Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Pitiless Pontiff - MTG Card versions
Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cleric of Life’s Bond has an impressive ability that bolsters your hand by synergizing with other creatures entering the battlefield. Each time you summon another Cleric, you’re not only developing your board but also gaining life, which effectively puts you ahead in resources and sustains your momentum in the match.

Resource Acceleration: This card fosters a swift development of your battlefield presence. As it encourages you to play additional cleric cards, it indirectly accelerates your resource accessibility by bolstering your life total. This increase can be pivotal in games where life-gain strategies are employed, offering a solid foundation for outlasting your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Cleric of Life’s Bond is not cast at instant speed itself, its life-gain trigger can occur at instant speed due to other instant-speed spells or abilities. This can provide surprise advantages during combat or in response to your opponent’s actions, disrupting their strategy and allowing for on-the-fly interactions that can swing the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cleric of Life’s Bond doesn’t directly ask for a card to be discarded, it does urge deck builders to include other cards that can enable its ability. This requirement can lead to a disadvantage if those enabler cards aren’t drawn or if you’re forced to discard them for another function.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white and black mana to play, making it a less flexible option for decks that can’t consistently provide both types of mana. It’s predominantly suited for Orzhov decks and may not fit well in others that can’t meet the specific mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of two, Cleric of Life’s Bond may appear cost-effective, but when considering the competitive environment of low-cost creatures with impactful abilities, it can be argued that there are alternatives that can provide a similar or better effect at a lower cost or with more versatility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cleric of Life’s Bond offers flexibility as it supports life-gain strategies which are prevalent in a variety of deck types. Its ability to fit seamlessly into both aggressive and midrange decks makes it a valuable asset for players who appreciate adaptability.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in combos, amplifying both its own power and triggering other life-gain synergies within your deck. Slotting into clerics or life-gain themed decks, it can act as a linchpin for explosive plays.

Meta-Relevance: With life-gain decks seeing consistent play, Cleric of Life’s Bond holds a place in the current metagame. It thrives against aggressive decks by offering a recurring source of life gain and a growing threat that demands an answer.


How to beat

Cleric of Life’s Bond is a valuable asset in any deck that revolves around the Cleric archetype or life gain strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to grow with each instance of life gain and to provide incremental life boosts itself makes it a persistent threat on the board. To effectively counter this card, a player must apply a strategy that limits life gain opportunities or removes the Cleric before it becomes too big of a threat.

Utilizing removal spells that can quickly dispatch creatures regardless of their size, such as Murder or Doom Blade, is crucial. Moreover, consider employing cards that disrupt life gain, like Tainted Remedy, to turn its strengths into a detriment. In addition, sweepers like Wrath of God can reset the board, nullifying the progress the Cleric of Life’s Bond may have made. Timing is everything; act swiftly before your opponent capitalizes on its life-linking capabilities, and you’ll maintain the upper hand in the duel.

Understanding the mechanics and timing your counters effectively will enable you to subdue the threats posed by Cleric of Life’s Bond, keeping you one step ahead in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you strategize around Cleric of Life’s Bond, recognize the card’s strengths in enhancing your MTG deck with lifegain synergy and creature support. We recommend considering its inclusion if your deck strategy aligns with life-gain themes and cleric interactions. Our insights delve deep into the nuances of MTG strategies, and we’re here to guide you through optimizing your deck’s performance. Uncover new strategies, polish your deck-building skills, and expand your collection with cards that could elevate your gameplay. For in-depth analysis and advanced tips that can give you the edge in your next match, continue your MTG journey with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cleric of Life's Bond MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Cleric of Life's Bond and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cleric of Life's Bond has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-09-25 An ability that triggers whenever you gain life “for the first time each turn” won’t trigger if you gain life during a turn before the permanent with that ability is on the battlefield, even if you gain life again later in the turn.
2020-09-25 An ability that triggers “whenever you gain life” triggers just once for each life-gaining event, no matter how much life you gain.
2020-09-25 Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, a “whenever you gain life” ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once.
2020-09-25 If you gain an amount of life “for each” of something, that life is gained as one event and the ability will trigger only once.
2020-09-25 In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won’t cause the ability to trigger, even though it caused your team’s life total to increase.