Cabal Inquisitor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Minion
Abilities	Threshold
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	119
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alex Horley-Orlandelli

Key Takeaways

Cabal Inquisitor’s ability can consistently disrupt opponent strategies, making it a valuable control tool.
Requires careful management of your own hand and graveyard to maximize the discard effect’s benefits.
Opponents can counteract its power through hand size control and graveyard manipulation.

Text of card

Threshold o1o B, oc T, Remove two cards in your graveyard from the game: Target player discards a card from his or her hand. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery. (Play this ability only if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Cabal Inquisitor might not draw cards directly, its threshold ability allows you to repeatedly discard cards from your opponent’s hand. This can quickly leave them at a disadvantage, especially when you target key strategic spells or creatures, potentially disrupting their game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Inquisitor doesn’t create mana or treasure tokens, the forced discard can accelerate your board state by removing your opponent’s resources. By discarding your opponent’s important cards, you effectively slow down their progress while you continue to develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: Cabal Inquisitor’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to choose the most opportune moment to disrupt your opponent’s strategy. You can wait until the end of their turn to see if they play a spell worth countering, or you can use it during their draw step after they’ve drawn a card, maximizing the element of surprise and strategic impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cabal Inquisitor necessitates a card discard to activate its threshold ability. This can be problematic if your hand is already depleted or if you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two generic and one black, it requires a commitment to black mana sources in your deck, which may not always align with your overall strategy or the flexibility of a multi-color deck build.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its ability to take only one card from an opponent, the Inquisitor’s overall cost is on the higher side, making it less efficient compared to other discard-enabling cards in MTG. This might affect deck performance, especially when speed and efficiency are crucial.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Inquisitor is adaptable and can be a good fit in decks that utilize graveyard manipulation or need targeted discard. Its threshold ability enhances its utility, making it a more persistent threat in longer games.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with strategies that involve untap mechanics, allowing you to utilize its ability multiple times in a single turn. It also aligns with decks centered around discard triggers and graveyard play.

Meta-Relevance: With many formats having recurring strategies that rely on specific key cards, Cabal Inquisitor can disrupt opponents’ game plans. It’s especially useful in environments where your adversaries are reliant on having certain cards in hand to execute their strategy.

How to beat

Cabal Inquisitor is a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to repeatedly pluck away at an opponent’s hand. This creature’s Threshold ability allows it to target and exile cards from an opponent’s hand, as long as the owner has seven or more cards in their graveyard. Although at first glance this may seem daunting, overcoming the Inquisitor is about smart hand management and graveyard control.

Players can mitigate the Inquisitor’s power by keeping their hand size small, which limits the Inquisitor’s options. Another effective strategy is to use graveyard removal tools, which can keep your graveyard below the seven-card threshold, rendering the Inquisitor’s ability unusable. Instant-speed removal spells are also key, as they can dispatch the Inquisitor before it has a chance to activate its sinister ability. Additionally, cards that grant hexproof can be invaluable, as they prevent the Inquisitor from targeting your hand altogether.

Ultimately, facing a Cabal Inquisitor means remaining vigilant, managing your resources wisely, and employing disruption at the right moment. By understanding and executing these strategies, the Inquisitor’s influence can be overcome, maintaining the integrity of your game plan.

Cards like Cabal Inquisitor

Cabal Inquisitor is an intriguing creature card that commands attention among those that employ graveyard tactics within Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards such as Thoughtpicker Witch, which also allows players to exercise control over an opponent’s deck by peering into their hand. However, the Inquisitor distinctively enables ongoing disruption every turn via its Threshold ability, forcing opponents to discard.

Another card that enters the fray of comparison is Sadistic Hypnotist. Both exploit discard mechanics, yet Sadistic Hypnotist allows for immediate and multiple discards at the sacrifice of a creature, without the need for Threshold. Conversely, Cabal Inquisitor offers a repeatable action but requires a successful combat phase and reaching Threshold to activate.

Distilling the strengths of each card, it’s clear Cabal Inquisitor holds its own within the niche of repeatable discard effects in Magic: The Gathering. While other cards may offer quicker or multiple discards, the Inquisitor’s ability to consistently nibble away at an opponent’s hand can be a potent and dependable asset in prolonged contests.

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

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Inquisitor MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Inquisitor and other MTG cards: