Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar MTG Card

Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar - Dark Ascension

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Transform, Vigilance
Released	2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dark Ascension
Set code	DKA
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	13
Frame	2003
Layout	Transform
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ryan Pancoast

Key Takeaways

A card that offers two lives, Loyal Cathar enhances resource efficiency and game longevity.
Unhallowed Cathar’s transformation process mimics instant speed, catching opponents off guard.
While offering versatility, the card faces restrictions in mana specificity and blocking ability.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance When Loyal Cathar dies, return it to the battlefield transformed under your control at the beginning of the next end step.

"I trust myself to do my duty, even unto death. It's what comes after that I'm afraid of." —Constable Visil, to Thalia

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar offers a unique take on card advantage. When the front side, Loyal Cathar, is in the graveyard, it returns to the battlefield transformed as Unhallowed Cathar at the beginning of the next upkeep. This grants you essentially two creatures for the price of one card and can pressure opponents effectively without additional card investment.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of providing additional mana, it does allow for a more efficient use of the card resource itself. By having two lives, essentially, this creature maximizes the resources spent on casting it, giving you more utility per card than many others.

Instant Speed: The transition from Loyal Cathar to Unhallowed Cathar doesn’t use the stack, akin to an instant speed effect. This means once Loyal Cathar dies, your opponents can’t respond before it transforms on the next upkeep. This instant-like shift can catch an unprepared opponent off guard, surprising them with an attacker or blocker they didn’t account for.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Loyal Cathar does not require a discard, once transformed into Unhallowed Cathar, its inability to block can leave you more vulnerable, similar to a drawback you might find in a discard requirement, particularly when you are relying on it for defense.

Specific Mana Cost: Loyal Cathar’s mana cost is specifically one white and one generic mana. This cost dictates that it can only be optimally played in decks that have access to white mana sources, which can limit your deck-building options if your strategy relies on a wider color spectrum.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two-mana 2/2 with vigilance is fairly costed, its transformed side, Unhallowed Cathar, does not enhance its stats or abilities, making it somewhat inefficient compared to other cards in the same mana slot that might offer more impactful effects or stronger stat improvements upon transforming.

Reasons to Include Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar in Your Collection

Versatility: Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar is a card that adapts to various circumstances. Not only is it a resilient creature thanks to its ability to transform upon death, but it also fits well in aggro and midrange decks looking for durability on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Combining this card with graveyard manipulation strategies can lead to repeated value, as the transformed version, Unhallowed Cathar, keeps coming back. It’s a great addition to synergies that involve sacrificing or resurrection themes.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that swings between aggressive and control archetypes, a card that offers both an initial offense and a form of resistance against removal spells is invaluable. This adaptability makes Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar a wise choice for players anticipating varied matchups.

How to beat

Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar is a versatile card in the world of Magic the Gathering, offering players a resilient creature that can return to the battlefield. When attempting to counter this formidable unit, players ought to consider removal spells that exile instead of merely destroying. By doing so, you prevent the transformation into Unhallowed Cathar, which can come back as a pesky undead nuisance. Cards such as Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone can effectively neutralize this threat while sidestepping its undying nature.

Alternatively, combat strategies could involve leveraging creatures with death touch or using spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature, ensuring you aren’t dealing with the creature twice. Another angle is to utilize enchantments that nullify abilities such as Rest in Peace, which can stop graveyard mechanics in their tracks, making Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar far less threatening.

Remember, understanding and countering the mechanics of cards like Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar can be key to maintaining control of the game and ultimately guiding you towards victory in your Magic the Gathering matches.

Cards like Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar

Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar stands out in the rich tapestry of transforming cards of Magic: The Gathering. Resembling the versatile nature of cards like Cloistered Youth // Unholy Fiend, Loyal Cathar offers the resilience through its ability to come back as Unhallowed Cathar upon death. Unlike Cloistered Youth, which transforms under a specific condition, Loyal Cathar returns to battle even after being defeated, ready to continue the fight from the graveyard.

Another comparable card is Legion Conquistador, which also costs three mana but differs by providing card advantage when it enters the battlefield. While Loyal Cathar offers longevity and a hindrance to opponents’ strategies, Legion Conquistador strengthens your hand and future plays. Townsfolk of Kessig // Howlpack of Estwald is another creature card with a dual identity. In contrast to Loyal Cathar, it flips based on spell casting and brings a higher strength and toughness to the table when it transforms under the light of the full moon.

Whether you value persistent board presence or prefer immediate card advantage, cards like Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar provide powerful options for MTG players looking to diversify their strategies and manage resources efficiently across the game’s dynamic battlefield.

Cloistered Youth // Unholy Fiend - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-01-22	Another double-faced card that becomes a copy of Loyal Cathar and then dies will return to the battlefield with its back face up.
2011-01-22	If you gain control of a Loyal Cathar owned by another player and it dies, it will be put into to its owner’s graveyard and then return to the battlefield under your control.
2011-01-22	When Loyal Cathar dies, it will return to the battlefield with its back face (Unhallowed Cathar) up. It doesn’t return to the battlefield and then transform.
2016-04-08	If a card that isn’t a double-faced card becomes a copy of Loyal Cathar (due to Cytoshape, for example) and then dies, that card won’t return to the battlefield. It will remain in its owner’s graveyard.
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).