Honor the God-Pharaoh MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Amass |
| Released | 2019-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | War of the Spark |
| Set code | WAR |
| Number | 132 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David Palumbo |
Text of card
As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard a card. Draw two cards. Amass Zombies 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
In life, they revered a diverse pantheon of gods. Now they revere only the God-Pharaoh.
Cards like Honor the God-Pharaoh
Honor the God-Pharaoh is an intriguing sorcery from the War of the Spark expansion in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often measured against other card draw and discard spells like Tormenting Voice, which also asks the player to discard a card in order to draw two cards. While Tormenting Voice comes with a lower mana cost, Honor the God-Pharaoh offers a distinct advantage by not only drawing cards but also creating a 1/1 creature token with the amass mechanic, adding to board presence.
Another card worth comparing is Cathartic Reunion, a powerful option for decks that capitalize on casting spells from the graveyard or playing with the number of cards in hand. Like Honor the God-Pharaoh, it provides card advantage but requires discarding two cards upfront, which can be a hurdle or an advantage, depending on the strategy. Furthermore, Honor the God-Pharaoh’s higher mana cost and the addition of a creature token differentiate it in decks that can exploit token synergies.
In essence, while cards like Tormenting Voice and Cathartic Reunion stand out for their own reasons, Honor the God-Pharaoh carves its niche in decks that value creature generation alongside card draw, providing a dual benefit that can be pivotal in the ever-evolving game dynamics of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Honor the God-Pharaoh by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Delving into Honor the God-Pharaoh reveals a boon for players looking to maintain a steady flow of options in their hand. This magic card has the potential to significantly bolster your resources by enabling you to draw a card, which can be pivotal in outpacing your opponent with a greater selection of strategies at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: Aside from the traditional card draw, Honor the God-Pharaoh also contributes to resource acceleration. As you cast this spell, you’ll also amass a 1/1 Zombie Army creature token. This not only provides you with an increase in battlefield presence but also could potentially be leveraged as an extra resource, paving the way for more powerful plays in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: While Honor the God-Pharaoh does not act at instant speed, its sorcery speed nature is perfectly aligned with its ability to set up your following turns. It’s a card that prefers to make its impact during your main phase, setting the stage for strategic planning and thoughtful play sequencing that can catch an opponent off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Honor the God-Pharaoh asks you to discard a card, which may be detrimental when your hand is already lacking vital pieces or you’re maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With a required casting cost that includes red mana, this card fits primarily in red-based strategies, potentially excluding it from a wide range of decks that may not run that color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is on the higher side for its impact on the game state. Lower cost alternatives could potentially provide similar benefits without such a significant investment, making it a less optimal choice in decks where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Honor the God-Pharaoh in Your Collection
Versatility: Honor the God-Pharaoh is a solid choice for decks seeking both card draw and creature presence. It seamlessly fits into various strategies, amplifying the efficiency of your deck by discarding a card for a fresher option while also providing you with a creature token.
Combo Potential: The Amass mechanic from this card creates an Army token or strengthens an existing one, setting the stage for synergistic plays. It pairs well with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, as well as those that exploit the presence of tokens for bigger impacts on the board.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment evolves, cards like Honor the God-Pharaoh maintain relevance due to their scalability. Its ability to churn through your deck and apply pressure with tokens makes it a valuable asset against various opponents, fitting nicely into a meta that values multifaceted cards.
How to Beat
Honor the God-Pharaoh presents a challenge with its combo of card draw and amass, performing best in decks focusing on zombie army proliferation. It’s somewhat analogous to spells like Tormenting Voice, which also necessitates the discard of a card before drawing. But, where Honor the God-Pharaoh shines is its additional ability to bolster your undead legion.
Addressing this multifaceted card requires a strategic approach. Key is to minimize the token advantage it provides. Employ removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once, such as board wipes, which reset the game state and offer a clean slate. It’s also prudent to keep counter spells on hand, ready to disrupt your opponent’s plans before they can accrue benefits from their God-Pharaoh’s favor.
Navigating around such a versatile card demands attentive gameplay and well-timed reactions. Always be prepared to adjust your strategy to respond effectively. Though Honor the God-Pharaoh can be a formidable card, with the right tactics, overcoming it is well within reach, maintaining your control over the game and guiding you toward victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Honor the God-Pharaoh MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Honor the God-Pharaoh 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 Honor the God-Pharaoh 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 Honor the God-Pharaoh card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | Army is a new creature type. It’s possible to control a nontoken Army (perhaps a creature with the changeling ability) and, through combinations of other cards, it’s possible to control multiple Army tokens. When instructed to amass, you may put +1/+1 counters on any of your Army creatures, and you may choose a different one each time. |
| 2019-05-03 | If you don’t control an Army, the Zombie Army token that you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters. |
| 2019-05-03 | You must discard exactly one card to cast Honor the God-Pharaoh; you can’t cast it without discarding a card, and you can’t discard additional cards. |