Grand Abolisher MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
During your turn, your opponents can't cast spells or activate abilities of artifacts, creatures, or enchantments.
"Your superstitions and mumblings are useless chaff before my righteousness."
Cards like Grand Abolisher
Grand Abolisher is a unique creature that offers a significant tactical advantage for Magic: The Gathering players. Like other cards that limit opponent’s actions, Grand Abolisher stands out by preventing opponents from casting spells or activating abilities during your turn. A similar card, Dosan the Falling Leaf, has an ability that also restricts the timing of spell casts but applies to all players, not just your opponents. This difference can be crucial in many game scenarios.
Ethersworn Canonist is another card that imposes restrictions on spell casting, limiting players to only one nonartifact spell per turn. While it doesn’t offer the blanket security of Grand Abolisher during your turn, the Canonist extends its influence throughout each cycle of turns. Rule of Law operates on a similar axis, enforcing a one-spell-per-turn rule without favoring either player. Its enchantment type offers more durability against creature removal but lacks the immediate board presence of a creature.
Analyzing these cards reveals Grand Abolisher’s unique position within Magic: The Gathering’s control pieces, enabling players to execute their strategy without disruption during their most critical phase of the game and tipping the scales in their favor at pivotal moments.
Cards similar to Grand Abolisher by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Grand Abolisher. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer | Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-19 | |
Amalia Combo | Pioneer | Abzan Amalia Combo | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 1:00 pm (Bronze) | |
Cephalid Breakfast | Legacy | Cephalid Breakfast | 2023 Asia Legacy Championship | |
Hammer Time | Modern | Hammer Time | Modern Preliminary 2023-12-26 (1) | |
Jeskai Combo | Modern | Jeskai End Turn | $20K RCQ (Top 4) - Modern - SCG CON Cincinnati - Saturday - 10:00 am | |
Mono-White Combo | Vintage | 2023 NA Vintage Champs |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Grand Abolisher itself does not directly allow you to draw additional cards, it ensures that during your turn, your plays are unhindered. This security translates to an indirect card advantage as it prevents your opponents from using their cards to disrupt your strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Grand Abolisher isn’t a card that offers typical resource acceleration like ramp or artifact production; however, it accelerates your game plan by giving you the peace of mind to deploy your resources without fear of interaction. This paves the way for efficient use of your mana and spells during your own turns.
Instant Speed: Grand Abolisher’s abilities shape the pace of the game more than the card operates at instant speed. By restricting opponents’ actions during your turn, you effectively dictate the tempo, ensuring that your instant-speed plays are secure, and your plans proceed without interruption.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Grand Abolisher does not require card discard as part of its casting, it’s a factor to consider when strategizing how to protect it on the field since its utility can make it a target for your opponent’s removal actions.
Specific Mana Cost: Grand Abolisher requires two white mana to cast. This can be restrictive for multi-colored decks needing flexibility in their mana base. Its dependency on white mana can make it less accessible for decks that do not heavily feature Plains or produce white mana easily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two white mana, while not expensive, it’s not cheap either. When compared to other two-mana creatures, Grand Abolisher does not impact the board upon entry, potentially making it less favorable in aggressive strategies that seek immediate board presence or tempo advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grand Abolisher fits seamlessly into a variety of white-based decks, its ability to safeguard your turn makes it a solid inclusion, particularly in Commander games where securing your strategy against instant speed interaction is crucial.
Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations that require undisturbed execution of combos. By ensuring opponents can’t cast spells during your turn, Grand Abolisher is the key to executing your win conditions without interruption.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s rich with counterspells and disruptive instant speed tricks, Grand Abolisher gains significant value, acting as a shield for your plays and allowing you to navigate the battlefield on your terms.
How to Beat Grand Abolisher
Grand Abolisher poses a unique challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering, with its ability to dictate the flow of the game by granting its controller exclusive permissions during their turn. To tip the scales back in your favor, direct removal spells on your turn can clear the way. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder offer clean solutions, letting you get back in control. Additionally, wait for a window when the Abolisher is summoning sick or when you have instant-speed interaction that doesn’t target, such as board wipes or global debuffs.
Counterplay is also strategic before Grand Abolisher hits the battlefield. Counterspells are crucial; a well-timed Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto can prevent the Abolisher from ever becoming an issue. Lastly, forcing your opponent to act on their own turn with cards like Vendilion Clique or instant-speed threats can limit the Abolisher’s effectiveness. Successfully navigating around the constraints of Grand Abolisher will assure your strategy and spells can be executed unhindered.
Ultimately, while Grand Abolisher aims to restrict your in-game moves, effective timing and selecting the right answers can dismantle this strategy and pave your way to victory in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.
BurnMana Recommendations
Diving deeper into the strategic world of MTG can be a game-changer, especially when it comes to optimizing your deck. Grand Abolisher can be a pivotal addition, providing a safeguard during your critical turns and enabling your game plan to proceed without disruption. Whether it’s boosting your control deck’s defenses or ensuring your combo plays go off without a hitch, this card has proven its worth in various scenarios. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your MTG gameplay? We invite you to continue learning and integrating cards like Grand Abolisher to turn the tides of battle in your favor, one turn at a time.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grand Abolisher MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Commander 2014, 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 Grand Abolisher 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 Grand Abolisher Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 19 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
2 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
3 | 2017-06-16 | Archenemy: Nicol Bolas | E01 | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1285 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas | ||
5 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 460 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
6 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
7 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 625 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
8 | 2024-04-19 | The Big Score | BIG | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aurore Folny | |
9 | 2024-04-19 | The Big Score | BIG | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aurore Folny | |
10 | 2024-04-19 | The Big Score | BIG | 32 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | David Astruga |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grand Abolisher has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grand Abolisher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2011-09-22 | Grand Abolisher doesn’t affect triggered abilities or static abilities. |
2011-09-22 | Grand Abolisher doesn’t stop your opponents from activating abilities of artifact, creature, or enchantment cards in zones other than the battlefield (like cycling abilities, for example). |