Daybreak Chaplain MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Abilities Lifelink
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Lifelink capability makes Daybreak Chaplain a key player in life-gain decks, adding long-term value.
  2. Consistent lifelink enables defensive strategies and influences opponent’s combat decisions favorably.
  3. Despite its mana specificity, the Chaplain is a worthwhile collection addition for its utility and combo potential.

Text of card

Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)

"May the light shine through me to guide the lost."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Daybreak Chaplain provides continuous value, particularly in life-gain strategies. Its ability to gain you life repeatedly can translate to virtual card advantage as it helps you stabilize and preserve your life total, potentially outlasting opponent strategies and granting you more draws and plays.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration, the consistent lifegain from Daybreak Chaplain can synergize with cards that convert life into resources, indirectly accelerating your game plan in decks designed around such mechanics.

Instant Speed: While Daybreak Chaplain itself doesn’t have an instant speed mechanic, its lifelink ability is always active, making it a reliable and immediate source of life gain in combat. Its presence can influence the decisions made by opponents at any phase of the game, potentially tilting combat outcomes in your favor with the instant speed interaction of other spells in your deck.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Daybreak Chaplain comes with a specific mana cost requirement, needing one white mana. This restricts its immediate inclusion to decks that are based on or include white mana, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across the diverse array of MTG decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although only costing two mana, one of which is white, in the realm of aggressive white strategies, there are alternative creatures that bring more impactful abilities for a similar cost, making Daybreak Chaplain a less optimal choice in competitive play.

Discard Requirement: While Daybreak Chaplain doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its moderate utility may not justify a slot in your hand or on the battlefield, particularly in formats where hand management and card advantage are crucial for outpacing your opponent.


Reasons to Include Daybreak Chaplain in Your Collection

Versatility: Daybreak Chaplain offers consistent lifelink capability, making it a valuable addition to decks that focus on life gain or need a reliable defensive creature to stave off aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: The lifelink attribute of Daybreak Chaplain works seamlessly with cards that trigger effects whenever you gain life, bolstering strategies that capitalize on that synergy.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive tactics are prevalent, the Chaplain can serve as an effective counter, fortifying your defenses and improving your longevity in the game.


How to beat

Daybreak Chaplain stands out with its lifelink ability, often making it a source of frustration and a target for removal in a duel. This unassuming 1/3 creature can consistently replenish your opponent’s life total, inching them ahead in the stamina race of the match. To effectively neutralize this advantage, focus on spells that can bypass its low attack power and neutralize its lifelink without direct combat. A simple spell like Shock, which inflicts 2 damage to any target, can remove the Chaplain from the battlefield before it has a chance to be a thorn in your side.

Additionally, evasion tactics that sidestep the creature’s defense render its lifelink moot. Implement flying or unblockable creatures in your strategy so that you can continue to apply offensive pressure while the Chaplain’s lifelink becomes irrelevant, preserving your foothold in the game. If Daybreak Chaplain is paired with enchantments or equipment enhancing its lifelink impact, consider enchantment removal cards like Naturalize or equipment detachment spells that could disarm the enhancements, effectively reverting the Chaplain to its modest state. Your deck should be armed with a mixture of direct damage and tactical bypass options to overcome this steadfast cleric.


Cards like Daybreak Chaplain

Daybreak Chaplain holds its grounds as a versatile creature in Magic the Gathering, sharing a slot with similar life-gaining creatures. For instance, Ondu War Cleric also provides a pathway to incremental life gain, albeit with the aid of another ally which Daybreak Chaplain doesn’t require. What sets the Chaplain apart is her consistent lifelink ability that guarantees life gain with each attack or block action, without the need for other cards to complement the effect.

When compared to other lifelink creatures such as Vampire Nighthawk, the Chaplain trades flying and deathtouch for a lower mana cost. This makes the Chaplain a reliable early-game play, especially in a deck focused on stabilizing the board quickly. Lone Missionary is another creature with a life-related effect similar to Daybreak Chaplain’s purpose. While the Missionary offers a one-time gain of four life upon entering the battlefield, Daybreak Chaplain could potentially gain you more life over the course of a game.

Ultimately, Daybreak Chaplain’s strength lies in her simplicity and consistent lifelink ability, making her an invaluable asset in decks that prioritize life gain and seek resiliency against aggressive opponents.

Ondu War Cleric - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Ondu War Cleric - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Vampire Nighthawk - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Lone Missionary - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Daybreak Chaplain by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
Revered Dead - MTG Card versions
Starlight Invoker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Urza's Saga (USG)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Revered Dead - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Starlight Invoker - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Daybreak Chaplain MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2020, 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 Daybreak Chaplain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Daybreak Chaplain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 102015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
22019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 122015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1712015normalblackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Daybreak Chaplain has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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