Cabal Initiate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Warlock
Abilities Threshold
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Cabal Initiate excels in decks utilizing graveyard strategies and instant speed interactions.
  2. Discarding requirement and specific mana needs can constrict deckbuilding and strategy breadth.
  3. Beyond utility, the card’s potential in various metas makes it a collection essential.

Text of card

Discard a card: Cabal Initiate gains lifelink until end of turn. Threshold — Cabal Initiate gets +1/+2 as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

"Hear our prayers, oh Shadowed One, and bless us in bloody agony."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Integrating into strategies that benefit from graveyard fill, Cabal Initiate can effectively support setups that pivot into a larger benefit from having cards in the graveyard, potentially paving the way for hefty payoffs.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling discard, this unit can fuel resourceful synergies with cards or abilities that activate upon discarding, ramping up the speed at which certain strategies can be enacted.

Instant Speed: The ability to access its discard effect at instant speed provides flexibility during gameplay, allowing players to wait for the most opportune moment to adjust their hand and optimize their graveyard for upcoming tactics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cabal Initiate requires a card discard to activate its abilities. This can deplete your hand quickly, punishing a strategy that hasn’t amassed enough card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation is reliant on black mana. This mana specificity can sometimes cause it to be a secondary choice in multi-colored decks that may struggle with color consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though offering a reasonable effect, the mana investment might be seen as steep. This makes Cabal Initiate potentially less favorable when compared to other creatures or spells at a similar cost that can impact the board immediately without additional costs.


Reasons to Include Cabal Initiate in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Initiate is not just a creature; it’s a tool that offers flexibility. Its ability to discard a card to gain lifelink until end of turn allows for strategic plays, fitting into a variety of black-themed decks where resource management is crucial.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with graveyard-focused strategies, turning any card discard into a potential asset rather than a cost. Its synergy with cards that capitalize on graveyard mechanics or benefit from activated abilities can be a game-changer.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where managing life totals can be as decisive as controlling the board, Cabal Initiate becomes particularly potent. It strategically interacts with life-gain and sacrifice archetypes prevalent in many metas, enhancing the deck’s resilience and offensive capabilities.


How to beat

Encountering the Cabal Initiate in Magic: The Gathering presents an interesting challenge due to its unique lifelink ability and power threshold that increases as your life total decreases. Despite these traits, the card can be overcome with strategic play. Removal spells that bypass its lifelink by avoiding combat, such as “Swords to Plowshares” or “Path to Exile”, can be effective. Employing creatures with first strike can also be advantageous as they damage the initiate before its lifelink triggers. Including graveyard disruption in your deck, like “Scavenging Ooze”, hinders its threshold effect by controlling your opponent’s life total. Facing a Cabal Initiate calls for a mindful analysis of its intricacies and a tactical approach that exploits its potential vulnerabilities. Adapting your playstyle and deck to include answers to this card can significantly increase your chances of emerging triumphantly in a duel.


Cards like Cabal Initiate

Cabal Initiate is a thrifty yet powerful option for life management strategies in Magic: The Gathering. When compared to other life-steering creatures, its similarities with Vampire Neonate are evident – both provide a mechanism to trade life for value. What sets Cabal Initiate apart is its Threshold ability which, when activated, turns it into a potent force with a superior power and toughness.

Comparisons could also be drawn with Tattered Mummy, which, while lesser in overall strength and without a reusable ability, delivers direct damage to the opponent upon death. This passive damage can be a surprising game finisher. Whereas, Cabal Initiate focuses more on long-term survivability and strength in battle, especially when your graveyard is well-stocked.

Lastly, Dusk Legion Zealot presents itself as an alternative, though it leans more towards providing immediate card advantage than manipulating life totals. Cabal Initiate, in contrast, offers repetitive utility, potentially a more fitting choice for decks concentrating on sustained board presence and incremental advantage over time.

Every card has its niche, and Cabal Initiate stands strong within its own, especially in decks that favor endurance and gradual control over the battlefield.

Vampire Neonate - MTG Card versions
Tattered Mummy - MTG Card versions
Dusk Legion Zealot - MTG Card versions
Vampire Neonate - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Tattered Mummy - Amonkhet (AKH)
Dusk Legion Zealot - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Cards similar to Cabal Initiate by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Cabal Initiate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cabal Initiate Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Bastien L. Deharme.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 782015normalblackBastien L. Deharme
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3002015normalblackBastien L. Deharme

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cabal Initiate has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

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