Ondu War Cleric MTG Card
2016-01-22 - Number 31
2019-11-07 - Number 188
2020-09-26 - Number OGW-31
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric Ally |
| Abilities | Cohort |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: You gain 2 life.
"I will follow the light of Iona into battle, and I will know no fear."
Cards like Ondu War Cleric
Ondu War Cleric is a notable ally creature card that has made its presence felt in Magic: The Gathering. This card carves out its niche by allowing players to gain life each time an ally enters the battlefield under their control, similar to the workings of other creatures like Kalastria Healer. However, Kalastria Healer impacts the game differently by draining life from the opponent while bolstering the player’s own life total.
Comparatively, fellow ally Lantern Scout also shares the life gain theme by providing a burst of life with its rally ability, affecting all creatures the player controls for a turn. Across these cards, Ondu War Cleric offers ongoing life gain, assuming a player can keep playing allies. However, it’s not the only one cleaning up in the gain life category; the Cleric of Life’s Bond also thrives on a similar concept, rewarding lifegain with growth in power.
While evaluating these companions, Ondu War Cleric may not directly impact the board’s power balance like its counterparts, but it remains an invaluable asset in ally-themed decks dedicated to a strategy of incremental life gains and synergistic plays.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ondu War Cleric offers a unique advantage by allowing you to repeatedly use its ability to gain life, especially when paired with other allies. This incremental life gain can be instrumental in outlasting opponents in longer matches.
Resource Acceleration: While the Ondu War Cleric itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its synergy with ally-based decks can lead to powerful board states much quicker than normal, effectively accelerating your route to victory as you utilize allies’ effects to your advantage.
Instant Speed: The cleric’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions, potentially disrupting their strategies or maintaining your own life total just when you need it the most.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ondu War Cleric doesn’t make its controller discard directly, to leverage its ability, it demands an ally on the battlefield, which in some scenarios can be as taxing as a discard, especially if you’re facing removal-heavy decks or if your hand lacks other allies.
Specific Mana Cost: The two specific white mana cost of Ondu War Cleric restricts deck building, requiring a focus on white mana sources, which could limit the card’s utility in multi-colored or colorless strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the potential for repeated life gain, the cumulative mana cost to get the most out of the card’s ability can be steep. With more immediate and less restrictive life gain options available, this card might fall short in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Ondu War Cleric is a flexible addition, fitting well into any deck that benefits from life gain, especially those running the Allies tribe. Its ability to bolster your health every turn makes it a sustainable choice for prolonged games.
Combo Potential: This cleric’s ability to tap along with another Ally unlocks numerous synergies within an Ally-centric deck, such as fueling cohort mechanics or empowering life gain strategies that can turn the tides of the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are prevalent, incorporating Ondu War Cleric can provide the necessary life gain to outlast burn decks or buy time against early creature swarms, making it a valuable defensive asset.
How to beat Ondu War Cleric
Ondu War Cleric shines in decks that capitalize on the ally mechanic, allowing players to gain life every time they muster another ally onto the battlefield. Consistent life gain can be a thorn in an opponent’s side, especially in prolonged matches where the cleric’s effect can tip the scales gradually. To effectively counter this, target removal spells are a reliable go-to solution. You’ll want to have cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile at the ready to promptly remove the War Cleric before his ability can be repeatedly activated.
Another strategy to defeat Ondu War Cleric revolves around utilizing board wipes. Spells such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board of all creatures, including those pesky clerics that keep your opponent’s life total buoyant. Additionally, preventing your opponent from amassing a group of allies with counter-spells or by picking them off as they enter the battlefield can severely undermine the War Cleric’s potential.
Lastly, consider including graveyard manipulation in your deck. Cards that exude control over the graveyard, like Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus, can disrupt any plans your opponent has to recur their Ondu War Cleric from the graveyard, securing your dominance over the long game. By carefully navigating around the lifegain strategy, the War Cleric’s impact can be effectively nullified.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ondu War Cleric MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Mystery Booster, 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 Ondu War Cleric and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Ondu War Cleric Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Ben Maier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Maier | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 188 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Maier | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | OGW-31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Maier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ondu War Cleric 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 Ondu War Cleric card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-01-22 | To activate a cohort ability, the Ally with that ability must have been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. Informally, it can’t have “summoning sickness.” However, the other Ally you tap can be one that just came under your control. (Note that tapping the second Ally doesn’t use -he tap symbol].) |