Dragon Cultist MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 503
2022-06-10 - Number 170
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Enchantment — Background |
Text of card
Commander creatures you own have "At the beginning of your end step, if a source you controlled dealt 5 or more damage this turn, create a 4/4 red Dragon creature token with flying."
You know that mighty dracoliches will one day rule over this world. For you, that day can't come soon enough.
Cards like Dragon Cultist
Dragon Cultist emerges as an intriguing choice for enthusiasts of creature-based strategies within Magic: The Gathering. It bears comparison to cards like Dragonmaster Outcast, which also brings the awe-inspiring power of dragons to the battlefield. While Dragonmaster Outcast requires a specific board state to churn out dragon tokens, Dragon Cultist boasts the ability to pump itself and possibly fly past defenders with sufficient devotion to dragons.
Likewise, Dragonspeaker Shaman carves out a niche in dragon-centric decks by reducing the cost of dragon spells. Although it doesn’t directly contribute combat-wise like Dragon Cultist, its cost-reduction ability can be critical in casting high-mana dragon spells sooner. Stormbreath Dragon is another similar figure that players may weigh against Dragon Cultist. With its protection from white and the ability to become monstrous, Stormbreath Dragon offers a direct and impactful board presence, contrasting the build-up strategy that Dragon Cultist might encourage.
Ultimately, Dragon Cultist finds its place among these formidable peers by providing both offensive capabilities and the potential for thematic deck synergy. It stands as a testament to the diverse and tactical gameplay offered by creature-focused strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Dragon Cultist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dragon Cultist allows players to potentially draw extra cards with each dragon they control, making it a pivotal card to ensure you’re never short on options.
Resource Acceleration: By offering rituals or other methods to add mana, Dragon Cultist can speed up your gameplay, allowing for earlier deployment of high-cost dragons or other spells.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Dragon Cultist or activate its abilities at instant speed gives players flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions or optimize their own strategies during the end phase before their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Dragon Cultist card imposes an added hurdle for players by necessitating the discard of another card, which can be rather taxing, especially in a game where every card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this creature requires a precise mana combination, which can be restrictive. While it resonates with its thematic identity, it also means that the card is less flexible, potentially hampering decks that are not tailored to this requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: A higher casting cost can be a significant drawback for the Dragon Cultist. When building a deck, players often weigh the cost-to-effect efficiency heavily, and there are scenarios where the mana investment into a Dragon Cultist might not yield the expected on-field advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dragon Cultist offers a flexible role in decks that are looking for a menacing threat. It’s not only a valuable addition to Dragon tribal decks but also fits in various red or multicolor strategies that appreciate aggressive creatures.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to potentially reduce the casting cost of other Dragons or synergize with spells that care about creature types makes it ripe for combo builds. Its capabilities could enhance strategies revolving around creature-based synergies or sacrifice mechanics for larger gains.
Meta-Relevance: Dragon Cultist finds its place in a meta where creature presence on the board is crucial. It can easily become a staple for players competing in environments where threats need to be deployed quickly and effectively capitalize on the power of Dragon synergies.
How to beat
Dragon Cultist is a card that often presents a considerable challenge for players in the landscape of MTG. This card is typically recognized for its potential to become a substantial threat if left unchecked on the battlefield. Its ability to scale up and empower other dragons makes it a priority target that requires a strategic approach to conquer.
Control decks equipped with an array of removal spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle Dragon Cultist. It’s crucial to manage threats promptly before the opponent can accumulate enough advantages or protect the Cultist with counterspells. Alternatively, using board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, especially if the Dragon Cultist has already begun to snowball in power.
For those preferring a proactive strategy, deploying cards that restrict the opponent’s ability to cast spells or abilities can also be effective. Cards like Damping Sphere or Linvala, Keeper of Silence can interfere with the synergy that Dragon Cultist aims to create. Thus, maintaining a balance between offensive actions and defensive measures is key to disrupting the Cultist’s dominance and securing victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into the world of MTG with our insights on the Dragon Cultist card. Understanding its dynamics—from its powerful draw capabilities with dragons to its instant-speed potential—ensures you’re equipped for victory. Factor in the challenges it brings, like specific mana costs, and refine your deck to harness its full potential. The card’s flexibility makes it a formidable force in dragon tribal and multicolor strategies. Engage with our community, explore innovative combos, and optimize your collection to dominate the meta. Ready for more strategic moves and deck-building tips? Join us to sharpen your skills and claim your place among the dragons.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dragon Cultist MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Dragon Cultist and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Dragon Cultist Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Cristi Balanescu.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 503 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu | |
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 170 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dragon Cultist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dragon Cultist 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 | The triggered ability granted by Dragon Cultist looks for the total amount of damage dealt by a single source, even if that damage wasn't dealt all at once or wasn't dealt to the same player or permanent. For example, if an attacking 3/3 creature with double strike deals 3 damage to one blocker in the first combat damage step and 3 damage to another blocker in the second combat damage step, then it has dealt a total of 6 damage and will cause this ability to trigger. |
| 2022-06-10 | You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors. |
| 2022-06-10 | You need to control the source that dealt damage only at the time that the damage was dealt. If it dies or changes control after that point, this ability will still trigger at the beginning of your end step as long as you control a commander creature with the ability. |