Priest of the Blood Rite MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Priest of the Blood Rite offers significant card advantage by providing a strong creature token upon entry.
  2. It can act as indirect resource acceleration and applies pressure, conserving player resources.
  3. The Priest impacts matches like instant-speed spells, requiring strategic deployment to gain advantage.

Text of card

When Priest of the Blood Rite enters the battlefield, put a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying onto the battlefield. At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 2 life.

Some will sacrifice everything for but a taste of power.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Priest of the Blood Rite enters the battlefield, the affiliated player not only receives a formidable 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying but also retains the priest himself. This effectively grants the controller two creatures for the price of one card, significantly swinging the balance of board presence in their favor.

Resource Acceleration: While the Priest of the Blood Rite doesn’t directly produce additional mana or treasure tokens, the creation of a 5/5 black Demon can apply pressure that forces the opponent to address the threat, thereby conserving the resources the player would have used on other creature spells. Additionally, with elements such as sacrifice synergies in black, this can translate into indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Though Priest of the Blood Rite is not an instant, the impact it has during the summoning phase can be akin to the surprise factor of instant-speed spells. Dropping a 5/5 flyer onto the battlefield can rapidly shift the game’s dynamics, making it essential for opponents to always be prepared for its deployment. Moreover, timing the Priest’s entry can be a critical tactic in its own right, maximizing the strategic advantage gained from the summoning.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Priest of the Blood Rite demands a mix of generic and specifically two black mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks with a heavy black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of five mana to cast, this card might be seen as a less efficient choice when compared to other creatures or spells with lower casting requirements that provide comparable board presence or impact.

Discard Requirement: Not directly related to the Priest of the Blood Rite itself, but in the broader context, any card with a high mana cost can indirectly contribute to hand depletion. As players must hold onto such cards before reaching five mana, this can limit their ability to maintain other options and responses in their hand.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Priest of the Blood Rite offers a dynamic option for decks that capitalize on creature and token creation. It’s particularly effective in strategies that benefit from sacrificing creatures, allowing you to make the most of the 5/5 Demon alongside other synergies.

Combo Potential: This card excels when teamed up with sacrifice effects or reanimation tactics, turning a temporary token into a recurring threat or a resource for various in-game advantages. Its duality as a creature summoner and a potent attacker all on its own makes it a diverse tool for combo builders.

Meta-Relevance: As the battlefield ebbs and flows with different archetypes, Priest of the Blood Rite holds its own by providing immediate board presence. It can be especially useful in a meta that rewards quick development of substantial threats, making it a card that could potentially tip the scales in your favor during a match.


How to beat

Priest of the Blood Rite is a captivating creature card that brings a powerful dynamic to any Magic: The Gathering match. Upon entering the battlefield, you summon a formidable 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying. While the potential for a quick and overwhelming board presence is high, the Priest also comes with a tangible downside: you lose 2 life during your upkeep for as long as he remains on the field.

Efficiently handling this card involves a simple strategy – remove Priest of the Blood Rite quickly. Targeted removal spells that destroy or exile creatures, such as Path to Exile or Murder, are effective tools to eliminate the Priest before his health-draining ability takes a toll on your life total. If you’re unable to remove the Priest immediately, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear both the Priest and the Demon, neutralizing the immediate threat. Additionally, employing creatures with deathtouch can be a strong defensive measure against the Demon token. By managing the Priest of the Blood Rite efficiently, you can turn what might seem like an intimidating position into a manageable one, keeping your life total secure and sustaining control over the game’s pace.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been intrigued by the dual-edged power of Priest of the Blood Rite, there’s a vast world within MTG that awaits your exploration. Understanding the nuances of creature control, token generation, and strategic play can transform your deck into a formidable arsenal. Every card brings new possibilities and the Priest of the Blood Rite is no exception, introducing immediate threat with its 5/5 Demon while also presenting unique challenges. Ready to optimize your gameplay and delve into deeper strategies with cards like Priest of the Blood Rite? Discover winning combinations, refine your deck, and harness the full potential of your MTG collection. Embark on this journey with us and claim victory at your next duel.


Cards like Priest of the Blood Rite

Priest of the Blood Rite stands out in the vast catalog of Magic: The Gathering creatures for its unique ability to significantly alter the battlefield. It’s similar in impact to cards like Grave Titan, which also brings powerful tokens into play. Unlike the Titan’s continual stream of 2/2 Zombie tokens, Priest of the Blood Rite delivers a single instance but brings a substantial 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying to the fray.

Another card worth mentioning is Abhorrent Overlord. This creature brings a swarm of Harpy tokens equal to your devotion to black, yet it doesn’t offer the immediate and guaranteed board presence of a 5/5 flying creature that the Priest provides. Sengir Autocrat is in a similar league, creating multiple Serf tokens upon entry, but these are individually weaker compared to the formidable Demon brought forth by the Priest of the Blood Rite.

Ultimately, the tactical decision between these cards will depend on your deck’s strategy and whether the initial life cost from the Priest’s demon is worth its immediate and menacing presence on the battlefield.

Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Sengir Autocrat - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)
Abhorrent Overlord - Theros Promos (PTHS)
Sengir Autocrat - Homelands (HML)

Cards similar to Priest of the Blood Rite by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - Tempest (TMP)
Entropic Specter - Exodus (EXO)
Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Fallen Angel - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Hollow Dogs - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Grotesque Hybrid - Torment (TOR)
Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sootfeather Flock - Legions (LGN)
Zombie Cutthroat - Scourge (SCG)
Gluttonous Zombie - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Vermiculos - Mirrodin (MRD)
Woebearer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Priest of the Blood Rite MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Magic Origins 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 Priest of the Blood Rite and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Priest of the Blood Rite Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by David Palumbo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 1122015normalblackDavid Palumbo
22015-07-17Magic Origins PromosPORI 112s2015normalblackDavid Palumbo
32016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 572015normalblackDavid Palumbo
42022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 582015normalblackDavid Palumbo
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4572015normalblackDavid Palumbo
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1792015normalblackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Priest of the Blood Rite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks