Banisher Priest MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Temporarily exiling creatures offers a swing in momentum, disrupting opponents’ resource allocation.
  2. Allows aggressive play by clearing paths for attacks, catalyzing creature synergies.
  3. Its specific white mana cost may restrain deck diversity, yet fosters focused strategies.

Text of card

When Banisher Priest enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until Banisher Priest leaves the battlefield. (That creature returns under its owner's control.)

"Oathbreaker, I cast you out!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Banisher Priest offers a unique form of card advantage by temporarily removing an opponent’s creature from the game. While not card draw in the traditional sense, this disruption denies your opponent resources and can lead to a significant swing in board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly offering mana acceleration, Banisher Priest can indirectly influence resource acceleration by clearing the way for your attacks. By removing a blocker, it allows for a more aggressive strategy, paving the way for creature-based synergies and combat tricks to be more effective.

Instant Speed: While Banisher Priest’s ability isn’t at instant speed, its ability triggers upon entering the battlefield, which offers flexibility. You can play the priest right before your turn to surprise the opponent, removing their key creature and swinging the tempo in your favor. Additionally, it can be used in combination with flicker or bounce effects at instant speed for repeated uses.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Banisher Priest comes with a white mana restrictive casting cost, meaning it can only be optimally played in white or white-inclusive decks, which could limit versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Recasting Banisher Priest multiple times for its exile ability may not be mana-efficient, especially when stacked up against other cards with similar effects but lower costs or additional benefits.

Discard Requirement: Although Banisher Priest does not have a discard requirement, it is worth noting that its return-the-exiled-card drawback can benefit opponents if they have ways to remove the Priest, potentially giving them access to their exiled card again without a cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Banisher Priest can be slotted into a wide array of White decks, offering a reliable means to remove problematic creatures from the battlefield temporarily. This can be particularly useful in decks that require time to build up their board presence.

Combo Potential: When coupled with flicker or bounce effects, Banisher Priest’s enter the battlefield ability can be used multiple times. This could potentially keep opponents’ threats off the board for much of the game, disrupting their plans and strategies significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that is creature-heavy or relies on key creatures for winning combos, Banisher Priest operates as an efficient solution to stall or halt opponents’ progress, making it a card worth considering for its reactive capabilities.


How to beat

Banisher Priest is an interesting utility creature in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering. When it enters the battlefield, it exiles another target creature until Banisher Priest leaves the battlefield. This ability can temporarily remove a key threat, potentially disrupting an opponent’s strategy. However, it’s important to note that this is a temporary measure, as the exiled creature will return once Banisher Priest is dealt with.

To efficiently handle Banisher Priest, instant removal spells are your best bet. These will enable you to quickly dispatch the Banisher Priest, thereby returning your exiled creature to the battlefield. Another effective strategy is to utilize board wipes, which can clear multiple threats, including Banisher Priest, at once. It’s essential to consider the timing of your spells to maximize efficiency and regain control of the game. Remember to keep an eye on your resources to counteract the Banisher Priest’s exile ability without putting yourself at a disadvantage on the board.

Playing around Banisher Priest requires foresight and a well-timed response. It’s a card that demands attention but can be overcome with strategic play and proper use of removal spells. Whether you choose to target it directly or reset the board, ensuring that it doesn’t disrupt your game plan for long is key to staying ahead in the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the power and limitations of Banisher Priest can make a significant difference in your gameplay strategies. This MTG card offers a dual advantage of creature exile and board presence, a strategic boon for white-centric decks. Exploring its synergies with flicker techniques can enhance its utility, turning it into a continuous threat to your opponent’s creatures. However, it’s crucial to stay aware of its vulnerabilities, such as targeted removals or board wipes, which can swiftly reverse its effects. Whether you’re building a new deck or optimizing an existing one, considering how Banisher Priest fits into your overall strategy is key to controlling the battlefield. Ready to deepen your MTG expertise? Unlock more insights and refine your deck-building skills with us.


Cards like Banisher Priest

Banisher Priest serves as a key tactical piece on the chessboard of MTG creature control strategies. Within this space, Fiend Hunter shares a striking resemblance with Banisher Priest. Both cards allow you to exile target creature as long as they remain on the battlefield. The primary difference between the two is their set affiliation and some nuanced wording in their abilities that slightly affect gameplay under certain conditions.

Oblivion Ring and Banishing Light are enchantments providing a similar effect by exiling nonland permanents. While they may lack the creature body that Banisher Priest brings to the table, this minor distinction can be crucial in decks that emphasize noncreature spells or when facing removal-heavy opponents.

Lastly, Fairgrounds Warden also echoes the ability of Banisher Priest but with a lower toughness, which can be relevant in combat scenarios. Despite such differences, Banisher Priest remains a formidable choice, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature synergy and require an effective temporary solution to problematic opposing creatures.

All considered, Banisher Priest’s blend of creature-based control within MTG solidifies its reputation, especially when players seek to combine board presence with tactical removal for maximum in-game advantage.

Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Banishing Light - MTG Card versions
Fairgrounds Warden - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - Innistrad (ISD)
Oblivion Ring - Lorwyn (LRW)
Banishing Light - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Fairgrounds Warden - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Banisher Priest by color, type and mana cost

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Silverblade Paladin - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Silverblade Paladin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Banisher Priest MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 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 Banisher Priest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Banisher Priest Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2013-07-19 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 519082003normalblackJames Zapata
22013-07-19Magic 2014M14 72003normalblackWillian Murai
32014-01-01Friday Night Magic 2014F14 32003normalblackJames Zapata
42015-02-27Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. KioraDDO 22015normalblackWillian Murai
52020-04-17Commander 2020C20 772015normalblackWillian Murai
62022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 72015normalblackWillian Murai
72023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1732015normalblackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Banisher Priest has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Banisher Priest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-07-01 Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist.
2013-07-01 Banisher Priest's ability causes a zone change with a duration, a new style of ability that's somewhat reminiscent of older cards like Oblivion Ring. However, unlike Oblivion Ring, cards like Banisher Priest have a single ability that creates two one-shot effects: one that exiles the creature when the ability resolves, and another that returns the exiled card to the battlefield immediately after Banisher Priest leaves the battlefield.
2013-07-01 If Banisher Priest leaves the battlefield before its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, the target creature won't be exiled.
2013-07-01 If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won't be returned to the battlefield.
2013-07-01 In a multiplayer game, if Banisher Priest's owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn't an ability that goes on the stack, it won't cease to exist along with the leaving player's spells and abilities on the stack.
2013-07-01 The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Banisher Priest leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions. The two creatures aren't on the battlefield at the same time. For example, if the returning creature is a Clone, it can't enter the battlefield as a copy of Banisher Priest.

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