War Oracle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Abilities | Lifelink,Renown |
| Released | 2015-07-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic Origins |
| Set code | ORI |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 41 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Prescott |
Text of card
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.)
"When you are felled by my mace, you shall know it was divine fate."
Cards like War Oracle
War Oracle is a card that stands out in the realm of life-linking creatures within Magic: The Gathering. This card bears a resemblance to creatures like Sunscorch Regent, which also grants you life in equal measure to its power. However, War Oracle offers the added perk of renown, potentially increasing its power and life-link benefit after inflicting combat damage to a player just once. Sunscorch Regent, in contrast, can increase its power continuously but at the cost of higher mana for casting.
Another card that mirrors the life-link theme is Ajani’s Pridemate, a creature that grows stronger whenever you gain life. Though it does not come with life-link inherently, its synergy with life-gaining spells or abilities makes it a formidable threat. Compared to War Oracle, Ajani’s Pridemate could potentially outsize the Oracle with repeated life gains, but it misses out on the immediate life-link advantage that War Oracle provides.
To sum up, when evaluating life-link creatures and their impact on gameplay in Magic: The Gathering, War Oracle’s combination of an initial strong presence and potential for growth through renown helps it secure a notable position among its peers.
Cards similar to War Oracle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The War Oracle card enables players to notably improve their hand by obtaining additional cards, thereby enhancing their strategic options during gameplay.
Resource Acceleration: Offers the ability to ramp up resources, allowing a player to put themselves ahead on the board by generating additional mana or playing key spells earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: Featuring the capability to cast at instant speed, War Oracle provides flexibility, letting players respond to threats or opportunities on the fly and maximizing strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While War Oracle may offer strategic advantages, it comes with the necessity to discard a card to fully utilize its ability. This could be a hurdle for players who are already dealing with a depleted hand, ultimately forcing tough decisions on resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of War Oracle includes specific color requirements which might not integrate seamlessly with all deck types. Players running multicolored decks may find it challenging to meet the mana prerequisites, potentially causing delays in gameplay.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to cast War Oracle is notable when compared to other options within the same mana range. Players may find that other creatures or spells at a similar cost could provide equal or greater impact on the battlefield without the additional discard stipulation.
Reasons to Include War Oracle in Your Collection
Versatility: War Oracle brings a solid combination of life-gain and power to the battlefield, making it a flexible addition to decks that value both offensive and defensive strategies. Its lifelink ability helps maintain your life total while presenting a threat to your opponent.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that trigger on gaining life or bolstering creatures. Play it alongside cards that benefit from life gain for increased value or use it to empower your other creatures through various interactions.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that often cycles through aggressive and control phases, War Oracle can be a crucial asset. Its ability to gain you life while applying pressure makes it relevant in different types of matchups, ensuring that it seldom feels outmatched.
How to beat
War Oracle is a notable piece in the Magic: The Gathering universe, bringing versatility to the battlefield with lifelink and renowned abilities. The card can become quite a nuisance for opponents once it’s powered up after dealing combat damage to a player. To counter this threat, effective removal spells are key. Cards like Murder instantly destroy target creatures regardless of their size or abilities and do so without triggering War Oracle’s renowned due to the oracle’s damage not hitting a player.
Another strategy is to employ broad sweeping removal like Wrath of God or Damnation to clear the board before the War Oracle can become renowned. For those who prefer a less direct approach, enchantments such as Pacifism or the spell Claustrophobia can also neutralize the War Oracle, locking it down and preventing it from attacking or becoming a larger threat. Utilizing these tactics allows a player to manage and ultimately neutralize the advantages that War Oracle brings to the opponent’s board.
Understanding your deck’s strengths and the available removal options is crucial in constructing a successful strategy to overcome creatures like War Oracle in Magic: The Gathering. Planning ahead and keeping the right removal spells in hand will ensure War Oracle’s defeat before it becomes too great of a hindrance to your game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase War Oracle MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 War Oracle and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where War Oracle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering War Oracle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger. |
| 2015-06-22 | If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn’t become renowned. Any ability that triggers “whenever a creature becomes renowned” won’t trigger. |
| 2015-06-22 | Renown won’t trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won’t trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player. |