Priest of Iroas MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	134
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Clint Cearley

Key Takeaways

Provides strategic enchantment removal, offering significant in-game flexibility and mana management at instant speed.
Dual mana requirement and discard activation cost may limit its inclusion in certain MTG decks.
Its universal problem-solving nature makes Priest of Iroas a valuable asset against enchantment-heavy strategies.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Priest of Iroas: Destroy target enchantment.

"Even my last breath will be a blow struck for Iroas."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Priest of Iroas offers strategic depth to your deck by allowing you to selectively remove problematic artifacts and enchantments from the game. This removal capability keeps your hand flexible, ensuring you’re not overrun by opposing strategies that capitalize on such permanents.

Resource Acceleration: By removing an artifact or enchantment, the card potentially disrupts resource acceleration of your opponent, effectively acting as a form of indirect resource acceleration for you. Keeping the battlefield clear of key resources can put you significantly ahead in the match.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Priest of Iroas at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn. This versatility allows for smarter play, maintaining the element of surprise and allowing for more efficient mana management during your own turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Priest of Iroas challenges players by asking them to throw away another card to activate its ability. This is problematic when your hand is already empty or teetering with crucial cards you’d rather keep for critical turns.

Specific Mana Cost: To recruit Priest of Iroas to your battlefield, you’ll need both red and white mana. This dual need restricts the card to decks that run these colors, potentially excluding it from a variety of mono-colored or other color combinations that can’t afford the mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value that some may consider steep for its effects, Priest of Iroas may not always be the most mana-efficient creature on the table. Players might find better alternatives for the same cost or even less, leaving the priest waiting in the wings rather than taking center stage in gameplay.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Priest of Iroas proves to be a flexible addition to decks that aim to manage the battlefield. Its ability to destroy enchantments gives players an extra tool to handle various threats that could otherwise disrupt their game plan.

Combo Potential: This card’s sacrificial ability makes it a suitable piece for combos in decks that synergize with destroying your own permanents for profit, or in strategies that take advantage of death triggers.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, enchantments continuously play a significant role. Having Priest of Iroas in your roster ensures that you are equipped to counter powerful enchantment-based strategies that are prevalent in the current competitive landscape.

How to beat Priest of Iroas

Priest of Iroas offers a unique dynamic in Magic: The Gathering gameplay as it combines both creature play and utility. This card has the ability to remove enchantments, which can pose a strategic challenge. To effectively counter it, it’s essential to control the timing of your enchantments or employ redundancy in your deck design to absorb potential losses.

One strategy involves utilizing low-cost removal spells that can target Priest of Iroas before its ability is activated. Cards like Fatal Push or Shock are excellent choices as they can be quickly deployed. Another tactic is to keep pressing with aggressive creatures, forcing your opponent to choose between using the Priest to block or saving its utility for later.

Players can also outmaneuver Priest of Iroas by diversifying their threats. Including a mix of creatures, artifacts, and spells in your deck can dilute the Priest’s effectiveness, ensuring that elimination of one enchantment won’t completely halt your strategy. By maintaining pressure and smart deck building, players can mitigate the impact of Priest of Iroas and maintain the upper hand in their matches.

Cards like Priest of Iroas

Priest of Iroas, a noteworthy card in the MTG universe, offers an intriguing blend of abilities, attracting comparisons to other utility creatures. For instance, Ember Hauler shares the ability to deal damage, yet it lacks the enchantment destruction capability that Priest of Iroas carries. The versatility of Priest of Iroas allows players to tackle more diverse threats on the battlefield. Conversely, Ember Hauler’s damage effect applies strictly to any target, making it a more offensive option.

Analogous to Priest of Iroas in the aspect of enchantment interaction is War Priest of Thune. This creature shares the enchantment removal upon entering the battlefield, but it does so without payment. While War Priest of Thune offers immediate effect, Priest of Iroas demands mana investment for its ability, providing players with strategic planning opportunities.

When considering utility roles in deck building, the Priest of Iroas stands out due to its conditional yet powerful potential for enchantment removal, adding a strategic layer to gameplay. Flexible responses to on-board challenges are essential, and Priest of Iroas fits perfectly for players looking for adaptable solutions.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Priest of Iroas MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Priest of Iroas and other MTG cards: