Pitiless Pontiff MTG Card


Pitiless Pontiff - Ravnica Allegiance
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Cleric
Released2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set nameRavnica Allegiance
Set codeRNA
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number194
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byYongjae Choi

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers versatile board control by converting creatures into combat advantages at instant speed.
  2. While it can stabilize your strategy, its activation hinges on a steady flow of creatures.
  3. Maintains utility across various game stages, with potential in synergistic deck builds.

Text of card

, Sacrifice another creature: Pitiless Pontiff gains deathtouch and indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.)

"Pay in gold. Pay in blood. Pay with the servitude of your spirit kin. But pay you must."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pitiless Pontiff offers tactical flexibility by transforming resources into strategic gains. By sacrificing another creature, the Pontiff can essentially negate the threat posed by an incoming creature, indirectly preserving your creatures on the battlefield and maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration, the sacrificial mechanic of Pitiless Pontiff can pave the way for synergies with cards that benefit from such actions. This can lead to an indirect form of resource acceleration by triggering effects that generate tokens or cause other beneficial effects when a creature dies.

Instant Speed: Pitiless Pontiff’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the power to respond dynamically to threats or to surprise an opponent during combat. This flexibility is critical for leveraging your position and can disrupt opponent strategies that rely on straightforward attacks or predictable patterns of play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pitiless Pontiff demands a sacrifice, needing another creature to be discarded for activation. This can be a strategic setback, particularly if your board presence is already diminished or you’re in a situation where every creature on your field counts.

Specific Mana Cost: With its Orzhov allegiance, Pitiless Pontiff requires both white and black mana for casting. This can occasionally be problematic in multicolored decks that are strained on mana resources, potentially delaying your ability to play the card when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While offering deathtouch and indestructible until end of turn, the cost associated with activating these abilities can be steep in games where mana efficiency is paramount. Later in the game, the mana spent on utilizing Pitiless Pontiff’s ability could potentially be directed towards more impactful spells or creatures.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pitiless Pontiff serves as a reliable option for decks that demand a sac outlet and a resilient creature. Its ability to obtain deathtouch and indestructible by sacrificing another creature makes it a tactical defender and a threat on offense.

Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with strategies revolving around creature tokens or recurring creatures from the graveyard. Pitiless Pontiff can become a recurring nuisance for opponents, enabling various combos and interactions within Orzhov archetypes and beyond.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, the value of a low-cost, durable creature that can impact the board state remains consistent. Pitiless Pontiff’s flexibility keeps it relevant, especially in metas with heavy removal or in games that require steady board presence to outlast opponents.


How to beat

Pitiless Pontiff emerges as a robust and versatile card in MTG, providing both an aggressive creature and a reliable form of board control. Its ability to gain indestructible at the cost of sacrificing another creature makes it a persistent threat on the board. However, despite its resilience, there are strategies to effectively counter and overcome the Pontiff’s strengths.

To neutralize the Pontiff’s indestructibility, players should consider using exile effects or spells that don’t destroy but rather change the state of the battlefield, such as enchantments that pacify creatures or bounce them back to the owner’s hand. Targeting the Pontiff when the opponent is low on creatures or resources to sacrifice can also limit its survival. Additionally, utilizing counterspells to prevent the Pontiff from entering the battlefield in the first place offers a preemptive solution. Keeping these tactics in mind, players can devise a plan to handle Pitiless Pontiff and maintain the upper hand in their MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the value and drawbacks of Pitiless Pontiff is key to mastering MTG gameplay. By highlighting its strengths such as card advantage, instant speed response, and combo potential with sacrificial mechanics, you can greatly enhance your deck’s resilience. However, also be mindful of its limitations, like the need for a steady creature supply to utilize its abilities. With the right strategy and awareness of the meta, Pitiless Pontiff can serve as a versatile cornerstone in your collection. Take your play to the next level by integrating this formidable card into your deck—explore our insights to skillfully navigate the battlefield and claim victory.


Cards like Pitiless Pontiff

The Pitiless Pontiff serves as a formidable creature within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of sacrificial cards. Its kinship is closest with cards like Nantuko Husk, as both can become significantly stronger by sacrificing other creatures. The Pitiless Pontiff edges out with the added bonus of gaining deathtouch and lifelink until end of turn, making it a substantial threat in combat.

Falkenrath Aristocrat bears a resemblance in this role, where the sacrifice of other creatures not only boosts its power but also grants it indestructibility. In contrast, the Aristocrat adds flying to the mix, allowing for greater board control, albeit at a higher mana cost. Cartel Aristocrat also finds a comparison, with its similar ability to gain protection from a color of your choice by sacrificing another creature, but it lacks the combat prowess provided by deathtouch and lifelink.

From a strategic standpoint, the Pitiless Pontiff stands out with its versatility and the capacity to become an immovable object or unstoppable force in pivotal moments. Though it competes with others in the same niche, the blend of abilities and low cost make it a compelling choice in decks that capitalize on creature synergies.

Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Aristocrat - MTG Card versions
Cartel Aristocrat - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - Onslaught (ONS)
Falkenrath Aristocrat - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Cartel Aristocrat - Gatecrash (GTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pitiless Pontiff MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Pitiless Pontiff and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pitiless Pontiff has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks