Orah, Skyclave Hierophant MTG Card
2020-09-25 - Number 233
2020-09-25 - Number 233p
2020-09-25 - Number 369
2020-09-25 - Number 385
2020-09-25 - Number 233s
2002-06-24 - Number 83726
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Kor Cleric |
| Abilities | Lifelink |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Lifelink Whenever Orah, Skyclave Hierophant or another Cleric you control dies, return target Cleric card with lesser mana value from your graveyard to the battlefield.
"The Skyclaves are our inheritance."
Cards like Orah, Skyclave Hierophant
Orah, Skyclave Hierophant shines as a unique commander in MTG, known for its ability to reunite creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. It echoes the clerical synergy of Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim, yet Orah takes it further by targeting Cleric cards specifically and even ranks creatures based upon their mana cost as they return. Plus, Orah’s ability triggers upon death rather than requiring an active sacrifice like Ayli does.
Comparatively, Ravos, Soultender offers creature recursion with a slight twist. While Ravos allows for graveyard retrieval during each upkeep, it is not restricted to Clerics and impacts any creature type. However, Orah’s immediacy in recursive power when a Cleric dies makes it particularly potent in tribal decks revolving around that subtype. And while Ravos can buff creatures on the field, Orah holds its own with a cost-effective mana value and its potential to set off a chain reaction of cleric returns in a single turn.
In examining these cards side by side, Orah, Skyclave Hierophant provides a strong cornerstone for any Cleric-focused tribal strategy, ensuring continuous board presence and tactical advantages that are integral to MTG gameplay.
Cards similar to Orah, Skyclave Hierophant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Orah, Skyclave Hierophant provides continuous card advantage in creature-heavy decks. Each time a Cleric dies, you’re able to delve into your graveyard and bring another Cleric straight into play. This synergy not only refills your board but also can set up combo sequences or recover from board wipes, keeping your hand healthy and your plays consistent.
Resource Acceleration: With Orah’s ability, you essentially bypass mana costs for Clerics that are revived through his triggers. This lets you effectively save mana and accelerate your board development without investing additional resources, making your gameplay more efficient and potentially overwhelming for opponents.
Instant Speed: While Orah, Skyclave Hierophant itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it interacts favorably with instant-speed removal spells or sacrifice outlets in your deck. You can strategically time board interactions on your opponent’s turn to maximize the efficiency of Orah’s ability, ensuring you’re able to disrupt your opponent’s strategy or recover your own—all during their end step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Orah, Skyclave Hierophant offers the advantage of resurrecting creatures from your graveyard, its ability stipulates that those creatures need to differ in converted mana cost, which necessitates careful management of your graveyard and could potentially lead to discard decisions that may not align with your gameplay strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Orah, Skyclave Hierophant demands both black and white mana for casting, requiring a dedicated Orzhov-colored deck to function effectively. This limitation can restrict deck-building flexibility, making it harder to incorporate Orah into a wider variety of decks that may not focus on these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three color-specific mana and one generic, Orah, Skyclave Hierophant’s abilities compete with other impactful four-cost clerics and creatures in the same slot. As such, it may be seen as a less optimal choice when considering the mana investment against the expected value returned during gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Orah, Skyclave Hierophant thrives across various deck builds, especially those looking to optimize Cleric synergies and recursive strategies. Its ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard adds a consistent level of threat and endurance to your gameplay, making it a solid choice for players keen on resilience and adaptability.
Combo Potential: This card shines when it comes to setting up powerful combos. With Orah, each Cleric’s departure becomes an opportunity to recruit another ally directly onto the battlefield, facilitating loop combos and surprise swings that can turn the tide of a match.
Meta-Relevance: Given the rise of graveyard and creature-based strategies in various metas, Orah, Skyclave Hierophant holds a place of importance. It interacts seamlessly with death-and-rebirth strategies, providing an edge in games where endurance and recursion can outpace and outmaneuver opponents’ tactics.
How to beat
Orah, Skyclave Hierophant stands out as a powerful tool in cleric-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to bring clerics back from the grave whenever Orah or another cleric dies can quickly become overwhelming. Nevertheless, there are strategies to mitigate Orah’s impact on the game.
Tackling this resilient cleric requires a multi-faceted approach. Graveyard hate cards such as Tormod’s Crypt or Bojuka Bog can swiftly eliminate the advantage Orah offers by exiling clerics from the graveyard before they can be resurrected. These cards are especially effective as they don’t directly target Orah, bypassing any protection it might have. Control decks equipped with board wipes also pose a challenge for Orah, as clearing the board can prevent the recursion engine from gaining too much traction. Additionally, instant removals that exile, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can permanently remove Orah or key clerics, disrupting your opponent’s game plan abruptly.
Keep in mind, the key to success against Orah, Skyclave Hierophant lies in continuous pressure and graveyard control, ensuring that your opponent’s clerics stay out of play for good.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Orah, Skyclave Hierophant MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising, 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 Orah, Skyclave Hierophant and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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Printings
The Orah, Skyclave Hierophant Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 83726 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | ||
| 2 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 233 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 3 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 233p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 4 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 369 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 5 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 385 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 6 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 233s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Orah, Skyclave Hierophant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Orah, Skyclave Hierophant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-09-25 | If a creature on the battlefield or a creature card in a graveyard has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |
| 2020-09-25 | If another Cleric you control dies at the same time as Orah, Orah’s ability triggers for that Cleric in addition to triggering for itself. |
| 2020-09-25 | Orah’s ability can target a Cleric card that was put into your graveyard at the same time as the Cleric whose death caused the ability to trigger. |