Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 281
2016-04-08 - Number 281s
2023-03-21 - Number 275
2019-12-02 - Number 1212
2019-12-02 - Number 1159
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Transform |
Key Takeaways
- The Abbey offers a way to turn small creatures into a major battlefield threat, a unique form of card advantage.
- Generates tokens for resource acceleration; its transformation into Ormendahl is a potential game-changer.
- Flexibility in timing its transformation adds strategic surprise elements against opponents.
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , , Pay 1 life: Put a 1/1 white and black Human Cleric creature token onto the battlefield. , , Sacrifice five creatures: Transform Westvale Abbey, then untap it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince offers a unique route to card advantage. While it doesn’t let you draw cards directly, it affords you the ability to convert creatures into a significant threat, effectively turning excess tokens or low-value creatures into a high-powered advantage directly from the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: In its initial form, Westvale Abbey provides incremental resource acceleration by creating 1/1 creature tokens. These tokens not only contribute to board presence but also can be utilized for various synergies within your deck that scale with the number of creatures you control, ultimately leading up to a game-changing transformation.
Instant Speed: The transformation into Ormendahl, Profane Prince isn’t instant speed itself, but it can be activated at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, adding a layer of strategy and surprise. It allows you to best utilize your mana and creatures when the opportunity is most impactful, making it a versatile threat that can adapt to the fluid situations of a game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Transforming Westvale Abbey requires sacrificing five creatures, a steep setback that can deplete your board presence and leave you vulnerable to counterattacks if the transformation is disrupted or the Prince is dealt with swiftly.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Westvale Abbey’s ability is locked at a precise combination of mana types which, whilst flexible within mono or multi-colored decks, may restrict its utility in strategies that cannot spare the diverse mana sources or favor speed over late-game power plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: On top of the creature sacrifice, flipping Westvale Abbey into Ormendahl demands a significant investment of five mana. This is a lofty price in many competitive formats where the board state can shift rapidly, potentially rendering the effort and resources spent less effective compared to other high-impact, lower-cost alternatives.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince offers flexible gameplay options, effortlessly fitting into various deck archetypes. As a land, it churns out creature tokens for defense or to build board presence, and later the flip side becomes a formidable force.
Combo Potential: This card provides an excellent synergy with strategies centered around token generation and sacrifice. Its transformation into Ormendahl is a powerful game-ender in many situations, giving you an edge when you harness this combo potential.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s ability to operate as both a mana source and a creature, it remains relevant in diverse MTG metas. Its resilience against sorcery-speed removal keeps it as a persistent threat, aligning well with decks aiming to outlast the opponent.
How to beat
Westvale Abbey, which transforms into Ormendahl, Profane Prince, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. To effectively counter this card, players need strategies that disrupt the accumulation of creatures necessary for its transformation. Cards with mass removal abilities, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can clear the board before your opponent has a chance to activate Westvale Abbey’s formidable flip ability.
It is also beneficial to manage your removal spells wisely, holding them until your opponent commits to transforming Westvale Abbey. Spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can also be useful post-transformation as emergency measures against Ormendahl. Additionally, ensuring you have access to instant-speed interaction helps you stay flexible and able to respond at a critical moment during your opponent’s turn. By keeping the board clear and having the right answers at the right time, you can neutralize the threat of Westvale Abbey and maintain control of the game.
In summary, adapting your play to the threat of Westvale Abbey through board wipes, timely removal, and instant-speed interaction is key to overcoming this powerful card.
Cards like Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince
Westvale Abbey holds a unique position among transformable lands in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable in some ways to cards like Adanto, the First Fort, which also transforms into a creature, Legion’s Landing. However, Westvale Abbey stands out with its ability to convert creatures to mana and life, subsequently metamorphosing into Ormendahl, Profane Prince – a powerful demon with a collection of menacing abilities.
Exploring further, we encounter Vault of the Archangel, another land offering a creature-centric ability by granting deathtouch and lifelink. While it doesn’t transform, the activated abilities are valuable in their own right. Yet, the sheer power and game-ending potential of Ormendahl cannot be overlooked. Another land, Kjeldoran Outpost, creates creature tokens, similar to Westvale’s initial offering. However, it lacks the explosive impact of a sudden demonic transformation.
Delving into these comparisons, it’s clear that Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince captures a distinct niche. Offering both flexibility and a game-changing creature upon transformation, it marks its territory as a potent choice for players who enjoy the strategic depth and surprise elements in their gameplay.
Cards similar to Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 281 | 2015 | transform | black | Min Yum | |
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad Promos | PSOI | 281s | 2015 | transform | black | Min Yum | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1212 | 2015 | transform | borderless | Nana Qi | ||
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1159 | 2015 | transform | borderless | Nana Qi | ||
| 5 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 275 | 2015 | transform | black | Min Yum |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince 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 Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |
