Dwarven Priest MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dwarf Cleric |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 11 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Even Amundsen |
Text of card
When Dwarven Priest enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life for each creature you control.
"These storied halls are under my protection."
Cards like Dwarven Priest
Dwarven Priest presents a fascinating dynamic in life gain strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to pad a player’s life total upon entering the battlefield echoes the actions of creatures like Bishop’s Soldier. Both creatures help to stabilize against aggressive decks; however, Dwarven Priest comes with the bonus of potentially higher life gain based on the number of creatures you control. In contrast, Bishop’s Soldier grants consistent life with lifelink, offering gradual rather than immediate gain.
Another card worth comparing is Ajani’s Welcome, an enchantment that provides one life whenever a creature enters your side of the field. While it offers a long-term benefit in creature-heavy decks, the life gain is less explosive compared to a well-timed play of Dwarven Priest in a creature-saturated board state.
When evaluating alternatives in MTG, Dwarven Priest stands out for its potential to turn the tide in a single turn. Its one-time but potentially massive life boost can provide a significant buffer, particularly in decks that can quickly populate the board. This makes it a valuable inclusion in any MTG life gain strategy seeking that sudden leap in sustainability.
Cards similar to Dwarven Priest by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When discussing the benefits of the Dwarven Priest, it’s crucial to highlight its ability to potentially increase your life total, which in prolonged games can equate to card advantage. Outlasting an opponent often hinges on maintaining a high life total, which this card directly influences, thereby indirectly impacting card advantage. This is especially pertinent in formats where attrition wars are common.
Resource Acceleration: While the Dwarven Priest itself doesn’t accelerate your resources in the conventional sense of providing mana, it can be a pivotal part of strategies that emphasize the use of life as a resource. By increasing your life total, it enables more aggressive use of cards and abilities that require life payments. This effectively widens the scope of your available resources, allowing for bolder plays and strategies.
Instant Speed: While the Dwarven Priest is played at sorcery speed, its presence can influence your plays at instant speed. Knowing that you have a life buffer provided by the Priest enables more confident end-of-turn actions. Furthermore, in a deck with flicker or blink effects, which function at instant speed, you can potentially reuse the Priest’s ability, producing a sudden swing in life totals in the midst of combat or in response to an opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t have a discard requirement, thus players have no need to worry about losing resources when casting this creature.
Specific Mana Cost: Dwarven Priest demands a specific mana combination to cast, which might not seamlessly fit into every deck archetype.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana may seem steep for a 2/4 creature when there are other cards at a similar cost that can potentially offer more immediate board impact or have additional abilities.
Reasons to Include Dwarven Priest in Your Collection
Versatility: Dwarven Priest can be a key asset in lifegain-themed decks, lending its healing abilities to a variety of game plans that focus on outlasting the opponent.
Combo Potential: Its ability to gain you life equal to the number of creatures you control pairs brilliantly with token strategies, amplifying the impact of every creature you summon.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive decks are prevalent, the Dwarven Priest can provide a critical life buffer to stabilize your position on the battlefield.
How to beat
Dwarven Priest is a creature card that can be a stable component in lifegain decks within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to grant you life points equal to the number of creatures you control upon entering the battlefield makes it an excellent option for gaining a significant life advantage, especially when you have a wide board presence. To effectively counter Dwarven Priest, you need to limit the number of creatures on your opponent’s side or better yet, ensure that Dwarven Priest doesn’t resolve at all.
Utilizing control strategies such as board wipes or targeted removal spells can mitigate the impact Dwarven Priest has once played. A board wipe like Wrath of God can clear the board before the Priest’s ability triggers, preventing the life gain. On the other hand, instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can target the Priest directly right before its ability resolves, effectively rendering it useless. Moreover, counter spells play a pivotal role in preventing cards like Dwarven Priest from ever hitting the board, with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak being prime examples.
The strategy here is straightforward – manage the battlefield and dictate the pace of creatures entering the fray. If the Dwarven Priest is dealt with promptly, the advantage it can offer through its substantial life gain becomes a non-issue, allowing you to maintain control and pressure towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Priest 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 Dwarven Priest 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dwarven Priest has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dwarven Priest 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 | The number of creatures you control is counted only as Dwarven Priest’s ability resolves. If Dwarven Priest is still on the battlefield, it will count itself. |