Court Cleric MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Abilities | Lifelink |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 283 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mark Behm |
Key Takeaways
- Court Cleric can enhance card play quality by synergizing with life gain strategies to create advantageous board states.
- Despite a restrictive mana cost, it accelerates resources through life points, which can be pivotal in certain decks.
- It pairs well with instant speed cards, making it a versatile component in tactical MTG deck construction.
Text of card
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) Court Cleric gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Ajani planeswalker.
"The healers of Bant are second to none. I owe then a great deal for their tutelage." —Ajani Goldmane
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Court Cleric, while not directly granting card draw, can potentially enhance card quality by synergizing well with other cards that reward you for having a creature with a high life total, paving the way for advantageous plays and board states.
Resource Acceleration: In decks that utilize the life gain strategy, Court Cleric can become an efficient combat asset. Its resource acceleration isn’t in the form of mana but in the valuable life points that can be a form of currency in MTG, enabling you to activate certain effects or pay alternate costs that can lead to powerful swings in gameplay.
Instant Speed: Although Court Cleric itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it pairs well with other cards of instant speed that can manipulate life totals during your opponent’s turn. This transforms it from a modest defender to an offensive threat on demand, making it a versatile piece in the tactical puzzle that is a well-constructed MTG deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For players looking to optimize their play, cards like Court Cleric can be less appealing because they don’t require discarding as part of their trigger or activation. This means players cannot leverage potential discard synergies or benefit from an otherwise streamlined hand management that some other cards might offer.
Specific Mana Cost: Court Cleric comes with a specific mana requirement that needs white mana only. This can be restrictive for decks that are multicolored or those that have a mana base not heavily skewed towards white. It can make it challenging to cast Court Cleric on curve, especially in a deck that isn’t mono-white.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the utility that Court Cleric provides, especially in relation to its life-link ability which is contingent on the presence of an enchantment, its mana cost may appear high. Many decks may find more efficient creatures or spells at a lower cost to fill similar roles, possibly with fewer conditional constraints, making them preferable in a tightly constructed deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Court Cleric shines in decks that leverage the life gain strategy, as it gets stronger whenever you gain life. Its synergy with life-centric decks makes it a flexible addition across various white-based builds.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that offer consistent life gain, Court Cleric’s power can increase substantially, allowing it to serve as an unexpected heavy-hitter in longer games. Its low cost also means it can be brought into play early, setting up for powerful combos as the game progresses.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive decks, Court Cleric can be a cost-effective way to hold the line while benefiting from the life-gain spells and abilities that are crucial in outlasting such strategies. As it gets buffed each time you gain life, it helps keep your life total healthy while becoming a threat your opponent can’t ignore.
How to beat
Court Cleric is a creature card with an ability that ties its strength to an enchantment, shining in decks that utilize the Aura strategy. Its base stats are modest, but its strength grows with the right enchantments on the battlefield. To tackle Court Cleric, focusing on enchantment removal or managing the battlefield with counterspells can be key. Versatile answers like Disenchant or Naturalize help to remove the enchantments that empower it, reducing Court Cleric to a non-threatening presence.
Another approach is controlling the board through effective creature removal spells such as Doom Blade or Wrath of God, which can sweep the Cleric aside regardless of its buffed state. Cards like Essence Scatter can prevent Court Cleric from hitting the field entirely, circumventing the need to deal with it in combat. It’s also wise to think ahead, using strategic plays to ensure that you maintain card advantage and board control to prevent the Court Cleric’s deck from establishing its game plan.
Understanding the synergy Court Cleric relies on is crucial; interrupting these key interactions makes overcoming this creature much simpler, keeping your opponent off balance and securing your path to victory.
Cards like Court Cleric
Court Cleric shines within the pantheon of low-cost white creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the abilities found in other creatures like Healer’s Hawk, yet the Cleric stands apart with its synergy with the legendary mechanic. Unlike the Hawk, which offers consistent flying and lifelink, Court Cleric’s prowess grows in the presence of a legendary creature or planeswalker, empowering it beyond its base stat line.
Exploring further, we encounter Righteous Valkyrie, another card that leverages life gain but in a different manner. It provides a buff to your creatures once your life total is high enough, unlike Court Cleric who depends on the legendary status of other cards for its strength boost. Then there’s Dauntless Bodyguard, which offers protection to another creature when it enters the battlefield, adding a layer of strategy and defense rather than Court Cleric’s conditional offense.
Thus, while each card carries its distinct features, Court Cleric’s unique ability to become a formidable force under specific conditions places it in a special niche among white weenie creatures, making it a tactical choice for players crafting decks around legendary themes.
Cards similar to Court Cleric by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Court Cleric MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Court Cleric 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 Court Cleric 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 Court Cleric card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | Because damage remains marked on a creature until it’s removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Court Cleric may become lethal if you cease to control an Ajani planeswalker during that turn. |
