Cultist of the Absolute MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Background

Key Takeaways

  1. Cultist of the Absolute enhances gameplay by offering card advantage and deck filtering options.
  2. Enables early game-changing plays by accelerating resource access, crucial in dominating opponents.
  3. Instant-speed capability provides strategic flexibility, making the card a versatile asset in matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cultist of the Absolute MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos, 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 Cultist of the Absolute and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Commander creatures you own get +3/+3 and have flying, deathtouch, "Ward— Pay 3 life," and "At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature."

You embrace power at any cost, and if it consumes you, so be it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cultist of the Absolute provides players with an edge by potentially drawing additional cards or filtering through the deck to find key spells or creatures. This leads to a substantial advantage over the course of a game as it enhances the chances of having the right answers or threats at the right time.

Resource Acceleration: This card can offer resource acceleration by allowing its controller to cheat the mana cost of certain spells or effects. Such acceleration can be pivotal in outpacing the opponent, enabling powerful plays earlier than normally possible. It aligns well with strategies looking for swift and impactful board presence, and can be an integral piece in ramp decks or those that hinge on big, game-changing spells.

Instant Speed: The capability to operate at instant speed gives players flexibility and strategic depth. Using Cultist of the Absolute at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to their actions can be a game-changer. This adaptability makes it a versatile tool in many situations, always keeping opponents guessing and maximizing the card’s potential impact on the game. The instant-speed interaction also synergizes well with cards that reward players for playing on the opponent’s turn or during the end phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Embracing the dark pacts represented by the Cultist of the Absolute, this card requires you to part with another card from your hand. In tense game moments, losing a critical piece from your strategic arsenal can give your opponent an edge, especially if your card pool is already dwindling. It’s important to weigh the potential benefits against what you may be giving up with each cast.

Specific Mana Cost: Cultist of the Absolute demands a precise mana alignment, tethered to black mana sources. This can pose a challenge in multicolored decks that struggle with consistency or when facing mana disruptions from your opponents. Flexibility in casting is limited, making it a card that demands careful deck construction and mana base consideration.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the need to invest significant mana to bring the Cultist of the Absolute into play, some players may find it burdensome compared to other options available in the format. There are alternative creatures or spells that come at a lower cost and could fit more seamlessly into your game plan without compromising the tempo or leaving you vulnerable while waiting to amass the necessary mana.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cultist of the Absolute offers a unique benefit that can be pivoted in various ways within your deck. Its ability to potentially control multiple creatures adds a layer of utility that can adjust to diverse gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies capitalizing on sacrifice for gain. It can be a key piece in decks that exploit creatures leaving the battlefield to fuel powerful effects and secure game-altering advantages.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, Cultist of the Absolute is a formidable inclusion. In a meta with creature-heavy decks, it not only stands out as a deterrent but also as a means of turning opponents’ strengths into your own, shaping the game in your favor.


How to Beat Cultist of the Absolute

The Cultist of the Absolute presents a unique challenge in the MTG arena. This card can be a crucial piece in many decks, especially those that capitalize on sacrificial mechanics. Its ability to convert creatures into powerful Demon tokens gives it a reputation for being a game-changer on the battlefield. To tackle this potent force, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is essential.

One effective strategy is to remove it from play before its ability can be activated. Counterspells, direct removal, or even cards that prevent creatures from entering the battlefield can all serve as preventive measures. If this creature has already made a presence on the board, prioritizing the removal of potential sacrifice targets limits the Cultist’s influence. Also, a well-timed board wipe can reset the field, negating the accumulated advantages. Lastly, having instant-speed interactions can disrupt the opponent’s plans, especially during their turn when they attempt to leverage the Cultist’s power.

Players should maintain strategic removal spells in hand and counteract the deck synergy that aims to use the Cultist’s ability to its fullest. By doing so, this menacing card can be effectively managed, ensuring control over the game’s pace.


BurnMana Recommendations

Drawing the right card at the right moment can be the difference between victory and defeat in the realm of MTG. Cultist of the Absolute may offer the card advantage and resource acceleration to tip the scales in your favor. Versatility is key to a formidable deck and this card, with its potential for combo plays and control, might be just the missing piece in your next dominating strategy. For those looking to deepen their strategic arsenal and refine their collection, our insights can be pivotal. Learn more about how to maximize your plays and adapt to the evolving game meta with us.


Cards like Cultist of the Absolute

Players looking to explore new strategic depths in Magic: The Gathering may find the Cultist of the Absolute card a noteworthy inclusion. It bears resemblance to creatures that offer formidable power at the cost of certain sacrifices. Akin to Doomed Necromancer, which provides a path to bring creatures back from the graveyard at the price of its own sacrifice, Cultist of the Absolute also demands a tribute for its abilities. However, Cultist of the Absolute’s allure comes from its potential to directly manipulate the battlefield.

Comparative to cards like Carrion Feeder, another creature that grows stronger by sacrificing other creatures, Cultist of the Absolute takes the mechanic a step further by also tapping into control aspects of other permanents. On the other hand, Innocent Blood is a spell that causes each player to sacrifice a creature, a common ground shared with our card’s sacrificing theme, but without the benefit of empowering a single creature further. The fact that Cultist of the Absolute offers both creature enhancement and control options distinguishes it in utility and strategy from these similar cards.

Amidst a rich tableau of sacrifice-fueled cards, Cultist of the Absolute stands out. It presents players with a compelling choice with its dual functionality, combining the power-up of one’s own creature while meddling with the opponent’s field, making it quite the versatile piece in MTG decks.

Doomed Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions
Doomed Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cultist of the Absolute by color, type and mana cost

Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Some Disassembly Required - MTG Card versions
Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Some Disassembly Required - MTG Card versions

Printings

The Cultist of the Absolute Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Artur Treffner.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 1232015NormalBlackArtur Treffner
22022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 123s2015NormalBlackArtur Treffner
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 4952015NormalBlackArtur Treffner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cultist of the Absolute has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2022-06-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2022-06-10 Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability.
2022-06-10 If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate.
2022-06-10 If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
2022-06-10 If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability.
2022-06-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities.
2022-06-10 If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander.
2022-06-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway).
2022-06-10 You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors.