Priest of Yawgmoth MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Human Cleric
Released	1994-03-04
Set symbol
Set name	Antiquities
Set code	ATQ
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	19
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Tedin

Key Takeaways

The card excels by turning artifacts into mana, offering a kind of card advantage and strategic depth.
Priest of Yawgmoth’s instant speed ability allows for flexible and surprise plays, keeping opponents off balance.
It has constraints like high mana cost and color specificity, which may limit its use in diverse decks.

Text of card

Tap to add an amount of black mana equal to target artifact's casting cost to your mana pool. This effect is played as an interrupt. Target artifact, which must belong to you, is discarded. This artifact cannot be one that is already on its way to the graveyard, and artifact creatures killed this way may not be regenerated.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Priest of Yawgmoth offers a significant edge by transforming non-essential artifacts into valuable mana. This conversion can be akin to drawing additional cards as it enables you to utilize resources that might otherwise remain untapped or go unused throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: Especially potent in decks with a heavy artifact theme, it provides a burst of mana to accelerate your game plan. Tapping into the power of your artifact cards to generate additional mana can lead to casting larger threats or activating key abilities sooner than usual.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice an artifact for mana at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. Whether it’s an unexpected surprise activation or simply maximizing your mana usage without telegraphing your strategy, instant speed interactions keep your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Priest of Yawgmoth in your deck implies a necessary trade-off, as the card compels the sacrifice of an artifact to generate mana. This cost can be detrimental, particularly in situations where you’re clinging to a slim artifact count and cannot afford to lose board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Priest of Yawgmoth’s mana cost demands two black mana which can pose deck-building constraints. In multi-colored decks, this can be challenging to accommodate, particularly in early game scenarios where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of one and two black mana, the Priest sits at a higher mana cost bracket when compared to other mana-generating creatures in the game. Given the speed of current metagames, this could render the Priest a less efficient choice when speed and economy are vital.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Priest of Yawgmoth’s ability to convert artifacts into black mana seamlessly integrates into artifact-heavy and black mana-reliant decks, granting the flexibility to play powerful spells and abilities ahead of schedule.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in combos involving sacrificing artifacts for significant benefits, potentially unlocking infinite loops or game-winning plays when paired with the right components.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting MTG landscape, a card like Priest of Yawgmoth offers adaptability. In metas where artifacts are prevalent, having a reliable way to convert them into resources can keep your deck competitive and responsive.

How to beat

Priest of Yawgmoth is a classic card that has stamped its presence in the realms of MTG. Its ability to sacrifice an artifact and provide mana equivalent to the converted mana cost of the sacrificed artifact gives its users a distinctive edge, especially in decks built around artifact synergy. To navigate around this ability, players need to employ effective disruption tactics.

Targeted removal spells that can eliminate the Priest before it activates its ability are key. Since the Priest of Yawgmoth relies on other artifacts to produce mana, artifact removal can also stifle the mana generation strategy it empowers. Countering it upon casting will prevent it from ever becoming an issue on the battlefield. Additionally, grave hate cards that exile or restrict access to the graveyard can sever the recycling of artifacts, which some decks might use in tandem with the Priest’s ability for repeated use.

Timing and prediction play crucial roles in dealing with the Priest of Yawgmoth. Quick assessment and reaction to your opponent’s mana pool and potential plays can guide when it’s most effective to remove or counter this iconic card. Knowing when to strike can make the difference between stifling an opponent’s strategy and being overwhelmed by an efficient mana-generating engine.

Cards like Priest of Yawgmoth

Priest of Yawgmoth is an intriguing card in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering offerings. It stands out among its peers with the ability to convert non-token artifacts into black mana. In comparison, cards such as Soldevi Adnate also allows players to sacrifice a creature to add mana to their pool, but it doesn’t specify non-token creatures nor artifacts. This difference highlights Priest of Yawgmoth’s unique position in MTG decks that are heavily reliant on artifacts.

Then there’s Krark-Clan Ironworks, another card that has made its mark by providing the ability to sacrifice artifacts for mana. Much like Priest of Yawgmoth, it turns these artifacts into valuable resources, fueling potentially game-winning combos. However, Krark-Clan Ironworks generates colorless mana, whereas Priest of Yawgmoth generates black mana, offering more options for black mana-specific spells and abilities.

When evaluating all considerations, Priest of Yawgmoth offers a distinct advantage for players crafting strategies around artifact manipulation and conversion. Its role in enabling certain MTG deck archetypes speaks to the nuanced play it brings to the table.

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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