Cleric of Life's Bond MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Vampire Cleric |
Released | 2020-09-25 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Zendikar Rising |
Set code | ZNR |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Number | 222 |
Frame | 2015 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Andrey 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.
Cards similar to Cleric of Life's Bond by color, type and mana cost
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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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cleric of Life's Bond has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
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. |