Sanguinary Priest MTG Card


It provides card advantage and resource acceleration, crucial for maintaining game momentum. Functions at instant speed to outmaneuver opponents but requires specific mana and a discard. Counts as a valuable piece in lifegain strategies and adapts well to evolving metagames.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Astartes Cleric
Abilities Blood Chalice,Lifelink
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Lifelink Blood Chalice — Whenever another creature you control dies, Sanguinary Priest deals 1 damage to any target.

"Embrace the strength of your Primarch, but deny the Red Thirst, brothers! There is no return from that darkest of paths."


Cards like Sanguinary Priest

Sanguinary Priest introduces a unique twist to the realm of life-gain strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in utility are cards like Soul Warden and Soul’s Attendant, which also revolve around gaining life whenever another creature enters the battlefield. The Sanguinary Priest builds on this concept with an ability that is more conditional, requiring you to control another Vampire for the life-gain effect to activate. This adds an interesting layer of synergy for decks focusing on Vampire tribal themes.

Another card worth mentioning is Blood Artist, which can provide a similar benefit by gaining life whenever any creature dies, signifying a broader utility compared to the more niche tribal focus of Sanguinary Priest. However, Blood Artist’s ability can affect both you and your opponents, depending on the creatures that perish, while Sanguinary Priest focuses solely on your own creature spells. This makes Blood Artist versatile in different deck archetypes.

Analysing and understanding the subtleties between such life-gain cards is essential for players looking to fine-tune their decks. Sanguinary Priest may offer a specific function within Vampire decks, while its counterparts may serve broader yet distinct roles in the larger MTG card ecosystem.

Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Soul's Attendant - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Soul's Attendant - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sanguinary Priest by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Sanguinary Priest offers strategic depth by providing players a means to replenish their hand during crucial moments in the game. Able to trigger effects that offer fresh draws, players can maintain momentum and options as they confront their opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card excels at boosting your resources, granting access to extra mana that can be pivotal for casting costlier spells earlier than expected. It aligns well with strategies that seek to outpace the opposition through swift mana generation.

Instant Speed: The capacity to act at instant speed provides a tactical edge. It ensures you can respond to an unfolding play or optimize your own strategy during the opponent’s end phase, keeping them guessing and guarding against wasted turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sanguinary Priest demands a card discard, which can deplete your hand, potentially costing you crucial plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Sanguinary Priest includes colors that could restrict its incorporation into variety of decks, confining it mainly to those that can generate the exact mana needed effortlessly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana value, Sanguinary Priest competes with numerous cards in the same slot. Alternative creatures or spells at this cost may offer more immediate impact or versatile advantages on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Sanguinary Priest in Your Collection

Versatility: Sanguinary Priest offers a unique blend of life manipulation abilities. This allows for seamless integration into lifegain decks or strategies involving the finer points of life total adjustments for various effects.

Combo Potential: With the right cards in play, Sanguinary Priest can become a key component in creating devastating combos. It pairs well with cards that capitalize on life gain or loss, unleashing potential that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG metagame evolves, Sanguinary Priest can prove to be a powerful ally against decks that struggle to counteract consistent life total changes, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.


How to Beat Sanguinary Priest

Sanguinary Priest is a card that can influence the game by bolstering creatures and causing trouble for opposing decks. When planning to take down a deck featuring this card, consider using removal spells that can directly target and eliminate Sanguinary Priest before its abilities get out of hand. Spells such as Murder, Path to Exile, or even more universal answers like Oblivion Ring can be particularly effective.

Another strategy is to employ creatures with hexproof to sidestep the Priest’s ability to target and possibly exile creatures. This forces your opponent to find another way to interact with your threats. Also, keep in mind that strategies involving graveyards, such as reanimation or delve, might be hindered by the threat of Sanguinary Priest’s ability to clear graveyards. Thus, a deck that doesn’t rely heavily on the graveyard or that can operate efficiently even with a reduced graveyard presence may be less affected by its abilities.

Understanding how the Sanguinary Priest functions within an opponent’s deck framework is critical. Effective sideboarding to bring in answers and being responsive during gameplay can turn matches around, even when facing the influence of such a card. Dismantling an opponent’s strategy involving Sanguinary Priest can be satisfying and is a testament to a well-tuned and adaptable deck.


BurnMana Recommendations

Discerning the nuances of each MTG card can be a game-changer, and Sanguinary Priest is a testament to that. With its card advantage and ability to offer resource acceleration, it can seamlessly fit into vampire-themed decks or those looking to manipulate life totals adroitly. However, like a double-edged sword, it comes with trade-offs requiring careful management of your hand and mana. For enthusiasts eager to delve deeper into strategies that maximize the potential of Sanguinary Priest or looking for ways to outmaneuver an opponent employing this card, the journey into MTG’s strategic depth awaits. Discover more insights and elevate your deck with tailored advice from seasoned players by joining the BurnMana community.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sanguinary Priest MTG card by a specific set like Warhammer 40,000 Commander and Warhammer 40,000 Commander, 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 Sanguinary Priest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sanguinary Priest Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Games Workshop.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 532015NormalBlackGames Workshop
22022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 53★2015NormalBlackGames Workshop

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sanguinary Priest has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal