Benalish Missionary MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	10
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Benalish Missionary excels in resource acceleration and strategic depth with its card advantage ability.
Discarding cards can be a costly requirement, and specific mana costs may limit deck flexibility.
Effective against low-power creatures, but vulnerable to higher-power engagement and versatile removal.

Text of card

o1o W, oc T: Target blocked creature deals no combat damage this turn.

"These horn-haters say no gods but theirs exist. I say let him find out for himself—right now!" —Tahngarth of the *Weatherlight*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a player looking to increase their options during gameplay, the Benalish Missionary card can be a beneficial addition. It provides a mechanism to potentially recover high-value cards from your graveyard, keeping your hand filled with resources and increasing strategic depth.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a catalyst for your mana pool. By returning a land card or a low-cost creature to your hand, Benalish Missionary spurs on your ability to ramp up your resources, allowing you to cast more significant spells sooner.

Instant Speed: The virtue of reacting at instant speed cannot be overstated. This card’s instant speed attribute gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions effectively, providing an element of surprise and maintaining a pace that keeps you one step ahead.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Benalish Missionary provides certain benefits, players must be aware of its discard requirement to harness its full potential. Discarding a card can be a strategic drawback when you have a limited hand, for it may force you to lose access to important resources prematurely during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The Benalish Missionary comes with a specific mana cost that necessitates precise mana base construction. This can hinder deck flexibility, as integrating it into multicolored decks could be more challenging, especially for formats where mana consistency is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the overall value of the Benalish Missionary, it’s essential to consider its mana cost in relation to its in-game impact. Its cost may be steep when compared to other options available within the same mana range, which could offer more immediate or impactful effects on the battlefield.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Benalish Missionary card is a go-to for players looking to strengthen white weenie or human-centric decks. Its ability to be played early in the game makes it a reliable option for various stages of play, supporting both aggressive openings and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card is adept at collaborating with others that play on entering the battlefield effects or strategies that capitalize on human synergies. Integrating Benalish Missionary into such interactions can unlock powerful plays and unexpected victories.

Meta-Relevance: Given its solid function within the current meta, where creature-based tactics are prevalent, having Benalish Missionary in your arsenal means you’re well-equipped to handle a variety of popular strategies, ensuring you stay competitive in your games.

How to Beat

The Benalish Missionary card continues to intrigue players of Magic: The Gathering, serving as a noteworthy addition to creature-centric strategies. With abilities that are tailored toward a defensive playstyle, it offers an extra layer of resilience against creatures with a power of two or less. This particular card boosts its own survival rate on the battleground, posing a challenge for opponents who rely heavily on an army of low-powered minions to mount assaults.

To effectively counter the Benalish Missionary, it’s critical to recognize the card’s strengths and limitations. Players can surpass its defenses by engaging it with creatures boasting a power greater than two or by employing removal spells that bypass its protection. The inclusion of versatile removal in your arsenal, such as those that target creatures regardless of their power level, proves crucial in dealing with such threats. Additionally, cards that manipulate combat or place negative counters on creatures can alter the power dynamics, rendering the Missionary’s advantage null. Strategic use of instant spells or abilities that can change the course of combat at pivotal moments may also provide an edge over this card.

Overall, when confronted with the Benalish Missionary, there exists a repertoire of methods that can tilt the scales in your favor. Evaluating your deck’s composition and having a response plan for such defensive creatures will ultimately enhance your gameplay experience and effectiveness on the MTG battlefield.

Cards like Benalish Missionary

The Benalish Missionary is a notable card that finds its place within the roster of creature spells. It can be likened to other creature cards such as Silvercoat Lion, which comes with the same mana cost and power/toughness. Nevertheless, Benalish Missionary showcases its unique ability to remove enchantments, offering a tactical advantage over the Lion that lacks any abilities.

Examining Leonin Snarecaster exposes a different angle. Both creatures cost two mana, but the Snarecaster, instead of enchantment interaction, focuses on controlling the battlefield by tapping an opponent’s creature. This ability can be crucial for altering the flow of combat. In terms of board impact, Benalish Missionary provides a utility advantage, while Leonin Snarecaster could offer a more immediate tempo shift.

To conclude, analyzing creature cards within the same mana range leads to interesting comparisons. While other creatures like Silvercoat Lion and Leonin Snarecaster provide value in their own right, the Benalish Missionary stands out by offering enchantment removal, which can be a game-changer in matches where enchantments play a pivotal role.

Cards similar to Benalish Missionary by color, type and mana cost

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Benalish Missionary MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Benalish Missionary and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Benalish Missionary has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Benalish Missionary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.