Pharika's Disciple MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Centaur Warrior
Abilities	Deathtouch,Renown
Released	2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Origins
Set code	ORI
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	194
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

Pharika’s Disciple offers deathtouch, deterring attacks and providing a strong defense in creature-heavy matchups.
Integrating it with ramp techniques can establish early tactical superiority in green-focused decks.
Despite its benefits, Pharika’s Disciple’s mana cost and lack of instant speed limit its adaptability.

Text of card

Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.) Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pharika’s Disciple brings more than just a creature on the field. Its deathtouch ability creates a defensive advantage, dissuading opponents from engaging in unfavorable combats. This makes them an obstacle that can handle larger threats, effectively keeping more of your cards on the board while diminishing your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Pharika’s Disciple itself may not directly offer resource acceleration, its four mana cost is positioned well within many green ramp strategies. Integrating this card into a deck with ramp capabilities means you can deploy it earlier than intended, potentially accelerating your board presence and strategic advantage.

Instant Speed: The threat of activating Pharika’s Disciple’s deathtouch can be almost as effective as the ability itself. Even if it lacks instant speed, the disciple can influence opponents’ decisions during combat, allowing you to use your actual instant speed spells more effectively while your adversary is preoccupied with the threat on your battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Pharika’s Disciple does not require a discard upon casting, it’s important to note that it competes for deck space with other cards that have beneficial discarding synergies. In decks that rely on graveyard interaction, its lack of discard may actually be a downside.

Specific Mana Cost: Pharika’s Disciple requires both green mana and an adherence to its deathtouch ability, which is best suited for decks capitalizing on creature combat. This can limit the card’s versatility in multi-color decks not focused on these elements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card costs four mana, which may be steep for its 2/3 stats and deathtouch ability. Within the same mana range, players might find other creatures or spells with greater impact on the game, presenting potentially more cost-effective options.

Reasons to Include Pharika’s Disciple in Your Collection

Versatility: Pharika’s Disciple is a card that can be a key piece in a variety of deck builds. Its combination of deathtouch and robustness allows it to serve as both an efficient blocker and a threatening attacker, catering to different stages of the game.

Combo Potential: With deathtouch, this creature can be effectively used in conjunction with cards that allow it to deal damage in ways other than combat, or to create creature elimination strategies that benefit from its deadly touch.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where larger creatures dominate, Pharika’s Disciple shines by being able to trade up, dealing with far more costly threats. This makes it an asset against certain archetypes that rely heavily on big creatures to win.

How to beat

Pharika’s Disciple is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, featuring the deathtouch ability that allows it to destroy any creature it deals damage to, regardless of the creature’s toughness. This ability makes it a tricky opponent on the battlefield. Strategically, the best way to tackle Pharika’s Disciple is by avoiding combat with your valuable creatures and relying on removal spells or abilities that don’t involve dealing damage.

Using a spell such as Path to Exile can exile Pharika’s Disciple from the game entirely, circumventing deathtouch. Another approach could be to use bounce spells like Unsummon to return it back to the owner’s hand, thus resetting their board presence and wasting their resources. If you have access to board wipes like Day of Judgment or control cards like Pacifism, these can efficiently handle Pharika’s Disciple without putting your creatures at risk.

In the realm of creature combat, blockers with first strike present a solid line of defense, as they deal damage before Pharika’s Disciple gets the chance to use deathtouch. By carefully navigating around this creature’s intimidating ability, you can maintain board control and eventually overcome your opponent’s strategies.

Cards like Pharika's Disciple

Pharika’s Disciple stands out in MTG as a card that melds deathtouch and formidable blocking capabilities. Much like Sedge Scorpion, it’s a creature that can deter opponents with its lethal touch. Yet, Pharika’s Disciple brings more to the battlefield with a higher toughness, serving as a stronger defensive option over the Scorpion’s minimal resistance.

Comparatively, Typhoid Rats is another creature in the game sharing the deathtouch trait. While the Rats come at a lower mana cost for an early-game tactical edge, they fall short in durability and offensive power against the Disciple. Then consider Deadly Recluse, a creature echoing Pharika’s Disciple’s defensive prowess with deathtouch and reach. Despite the similarities, the Recluse is leaner, giving Pharika’s Disciple an advantage in combat situations where a sturdy blocker is crucial.

Through this lens, it’s clear that Pharika’s Disciple offers a balanced mix of aggressiveness and staying power, poised to control the board and serve as a reliable defense against larger threats. Its synergetic attributes place it securely among the favored deathtouch creatures within MTG.

Cards similar to Pharika's Disciple by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pharika's Disciple MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Pharika's Disciple and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pharika's Disciple has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger.
2015-06-22	If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn’t become renowned. Any ability that triggers “whenever a creature becomes renowned” won’t trigger.
2015-06-22	Renown won’t trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won’t trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player.