Inspiring Cleric MTG Card

Life boost on entry aids in longevity, indirectly allowing more card draw and resourceful gameplay. Supports instant speed play, creating a cushion to utilize mana for instant interactions efficiently. Requires specific mana, somewhat limiting its deck versatility, and may have a high cost for its effect.

Ixalan (XLN)
2017-09-29 - Number 16

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 199

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Vampire Cleric
Power	3
Toughness	2

Text of card

When Inspiring Cleric enters the battlefield, you gain 4 life.

"The Immortal Sun will bring us true eternal life to replace the everlasting shadow of undeath."

Cards like Inspiring Cleric

Inspiring Cleric offers players a unique blend of life gain and presence on the board. Within the realm of creature cards, it draws a parallel to the likes of Lone Missionary. The Missionary may have a lower mana cost, but Inspiring Cleric provides a more substantial presence with an additional point of toughness, which can be critical during combat. This added durability gives players an edge by maintaining a blocker while padding their life total.

Another card worth comparing is Ondu Cleric. While Ondu Cleric shines in a deck that aims to deploy many allies, triggering life gain for each one, Inspiring Cleric instead offers a significant and immediate boost to your life total upon entry, independent of other creatures on the board. This means that for decks that are not specifically ally-focused, Inspiring Cleric might be the preferable choice for an instant health boost and reliable defense.

To sum up, Inspiring Cleric stands out in the crowd of life-gaining creatures due to its balance of decent health boost and combat resilience. This combination can be particularly advantageous in strategies that benefit from both aspects simultaneously.

Cards similar to Inspiring Cleric by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Inspiring Cleric upon entering the battlefield gives you a noticeable health boost. While it does not draw cards directly, the life gain can be seen as a form of indirect card advantage, offering sustainable longevity in the game, which potentially leads to drawing more cards over time.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct accelerator, the increase in life total does allow for a more aggressive use of life as a resource in MTG. This can subsequently translate to drawing cards or using abilities at a lower survival risk, indirectly speeding up your resource utilization.

Instant Speed: Inspiring Cleric itself may not have flash, but its effect on the board creates a buffer that complements cards with instant speed. This safety net facilitates holding mana open for instant speed interactions, as the Cleric helps maintain your life total against incoming threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For a card focused on life gain, Inspiring Cleric does not demand a discard, letting you maintain card advantage while bolstering your health.

Specific Mana Cost: Inspiring Cleric’s requirement of white mana can influence its inclusion mostly in white or multicolored decks, possibly limiting its versatility across all deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, players may find the life gain offered by the Inspiring Cleric less impactful when compared to other cards at similar or lower mana costs, which could offer greater board presence or additional abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Inspiring Cleric can seamlessly adapt to various deck archetypes, especially those that need a mixture of life gain and a robust battlefield presence. Its intrinsic value lies in its ability to stabilize the game against more aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: This card offers synergy opportunities with strategies focused on triggering life gain effects. For decks that capitalize on triggering abilities or buffs with each instance of life gain, Inspiring Cleric can become a lynchpin for such combos.

Meta-Relevance: As player-versus-player dynamics shift towards strategies that rely on swift, damaging plays, Inspiring Cleric gains relevance as a counterbalance. Its ability to provide a quick life buffer can often mean the difference between a narrow defeat and a resilient stance that leads to victory.

How to beat

Inspiring Cleric represents a life-gain strategy component in Magic: The Gathering, providing a boost to your health as it hits the battlefield. This creature card can often swing the momentum by offering a buffer against aggressive tactics. To overcome an Inspiring Cleric, removal spells are your best bet. Instant-speed removal like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can take the Cleric out before its life-gain effect becomes a repetitive nuisance if paired with flickering or bounce effects.

Another tactic is to bypass the Cleric’s defensive nature by using evasive creatures that can slip past blockers, or by focusing on non-combat strategies such as burn or mill. Cards like Shock or Incendiary Flow target the player directly, rendering the life-gain from Inspiring Cleric far less significant. Furthermore, utilizing sweepers or board clear spells like Wrath of God or Damnation after the Cleric has entered the battlefield can reset the state of play, negating the life advantage granted.

Understanding how to efficiently eliminate threats or undermine the life-gain bestowed by Inspiring Cleric can be key to securing victory. Players must be ready to adapt their strategies accordingly to handle the challenges posed by such cards in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inspiring Cleric MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Inspiring Cleric and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Inspiring Cleric Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Randy Gallegos.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-09-29	Ixalan	XLN		16	2015	Normal	Black	Randy Gallegos
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		199	2015	Normal	Black	Randy Gallegos

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inspiring Cleric has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal