Righteous Cause MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Lifegain from Righteous Cause indirectly helps maintain card advantage in prolonged matches.
  2. Flexibility in its trigger condition allows Righteous Cause to operate on anyone’s turn, adding strategic depth.
  3. High mana cost and color specificity are notable hindrances in deck building and efficiency.

Text of card

Whenever a creature attacks, you gain 1 life.

"Until the world unites in vengeful fury and Phage is destroyed, I will not stay my hand." —Akroma, angelic avenger


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Righteous Cause may not directly let you draw cards, but its continual life gain ensures a sustained presence on the battlefield. This complements strategies that convert increased life totals into drawing cards, indirectly contributing to card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although Righteous Cause isn’t a typical resource acceleration card, the constant life gain can be a valuable resource. It can bolster your defense, keeping you in the game longer to draw into your critical spells. In MTG, surviving longer can often translate to accessing more resources than your opponent.

Instant Speed: Righteous Cause operates whenever a creature attacks, which means it can trigger on each player’s turn. This creates opportunities reminiscent of instant-speed interactions by gaining you life at potentially crucial moments, such as in the midst of combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, readying you for your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other enchantments that provide ongoing benefits without further investments, Righteous Cause might necessitate additional card expenditure to optimize its lifecycle gain effect, which can strain your card economy, especially in longer games where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Righteous Cause carries a specific mana requirement that includes white mana. This can limit deck diversity as it requires a commitment to white mana sources, potentially rendering the card ineffective in multicolor decks that can’t consistently produce white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic and two white mana, Righteous Cause is a significant investment for the effect it provides. Considering the range of options available, players might find that other cards offer similar or better effects for a lower mana investment, which can be critical in faster-paced games where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Righteous Cause is known for its ease of inclusion across various white-themed decks. Its ability to provide consistent life gain makes it a robust choice for life-centric strategies or any deck looking to stabilize against aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: The life gain triggered by Righteous Cause can serve as a catalyst for numerous combos, particularly in decks that exploit life total changes. It can synergize well with cards that offer benefits for gaining life, turning each creature you have into a potential life source.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based decks prevail, Righteous Cause can become a key card. Its presence on the board means every skirmish and every creature played works to your advantage, tipping the scales in your favor with incremental life gains that can make a decisive difference in protracted battles.


How to Beat

Righteous Cause presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering, bolstering your opponent’s lifeline with each creature that swings. Every attack becomes a balancing act, a careful negotiation between aggression and your opponent’s potential for longevity. To turn the tide against Righteous Cause, it’s crucial to pivot strategies and consider options that limit creature combat.

Incorporating enchantment removal, such as Disenchant or Mortify, into your deck is essential. Another effective method involves stalling creature attacks and focusing on non-combat win conditions. Also, consider using cards that punish life gain strategies, like Tainted Remedy, which can flip the script on Righteous Cause. Tech like Erebos, God of the Dead can also prevent life gain entirely, protecting your advantage.

Ultimately, besting Righteous Cause calls for tactful deck building and a shift in playstyle, favoring strategic removal and alternative pathways to victory. Cards that undermine or bypass the lifegain mechanic are key in maintaining the upper hand in a match where Righteous Cause is a known factor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up our discussion on Righteous Cause, we uncover its dual nature: both a stabilizing force and a strategic building block for those who dare to capitalize on every clash. Its utility stretches from casual games to more competitive scenarios, offering a lifeline that thrives amidst the cacophony of combat. Fusing life gain with each creature’s attack makes it a notable card for any MTG player aiming to fortify their defenses and compound advantages turn by turn. For a deeper dive into optimizing your playstyle and discovering other hidden gems within MTG, join the BurnMana community. Together, we can refine your deck and elevate your game to victory.


Cards like Righteous Cause

Righteous Cause is a unique enchantment within the realm of lifegain cards in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a consistent way to gain life, triggering each time a creature attacks, not just your own. This sets the card apart from its peers, reminiscent of cards like Soul Warden and Soul’s Attendant, which grant life each time a creature enters the battlefield. Unlike these, Righteous Cause isn’t limited by your creatures alone, enabling potential for higher life gain in multiplayer games.

A familiar compatriot to Righteous Cause is the card Ajani’s Mantra. Although Ajani’s Mantra provides a guaranteed life gain during your upkeep, it lacks the multiplied effect that can occur within a single turn with Righteous Cause. Another similar enchantment, Angelic Accord, hinges on life gain but specifically requires it in one instance, rewarding you with an Angel token. While Angelic Accord has a payoff, Righteous Cause shines with its ability to convert numerous combat phases into a strong life advantage over time.

When seeking cards tailored towards passive life gain strategies, Righteous Cause offers a distinctive option. Strategically placed in a deck with numerous creatures and attack phases, it can outpace other incremental life gain cards, enhancing both longevity and board presence in prolonged matches.

Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Soul's Attendant - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Mantra - MTG Card versions
Angelic Accord - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - Exodus (EXO)
Soul's Attendant - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Ajani's Mantra - Magic 2011 (M11)
Angelic Accord - Magic 2014 (M14)

Cards similar to Righteous Cause by color, type and mana cost

Safeguard - MTG Card versions
Angelic Chorus - MTG Card versions
Noble Purpose - MTG Card versions
Noble Stand - MTG Card versions
Rabble Rousing - MTG Card versions
Lucent Liminid - MTG Card versions
Boon Reflection - MTG Card versions
Mammoth Umbra - MTG Card versions
Commander's Authority - MTG Card versions
Cathars' Crusade - MTG Card versions
Sigil of the Empty Throne - MTG Card versions
Knightly Valor - MTG Card versions
Debtor's Pulpit - MTG Card versions
Celestial Archon - MTG Card versions
Mystic Barrier - MTG Card versions
Dictate of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Skybind - MTG Card versions
Spectra Ward - MTG Card versions
Near-Death Experience - MTG Card versions
Consulate Crackdown - MTG Card versions
Safeguard - Tempest (TMP)
Angelic Chorus - Battlebond (BBD)
Noble Purpose - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Noble Stand - Nemesis (NEM)
Rabble Rousing - Streets of New Capenna Promos (PSNC)
Lucent Liminid - Future Sight (FUT)
Boon Reflection - Double Masters (2XM)
Mammoth Umbra - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Commander's Authority - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Cathars' Crusade - Jumpstart (JMP)
Sigil of the Empty Throne - Commander Masters (CMM)
Knightly Valor - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Debtor's Pulpit - Gatecrash (GTC)
Celestial Archon - Commander 2018 (C18)
Mystic Barrier - Commander 2013 (C13)
Dictate of Heliod - The List (PLST)
Skybind - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Spectra Ward - Magic 2015 (M15)
Near-Death Experience - From the Vault: Lore (V16)
Consulate Crackdown - Aether Revolt Promos (PAER)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Righteous Cause MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic, 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 Righteous Cause and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Righteous Cause Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 511997normalblackScott M. Fischer
22009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 222003normalblackScott M. Fischer
32011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 292003normalblackScott M. Fischer
42014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 222015normalblackScott M. Fischer
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 212015normalblackScott M. Fischer
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2132015normalblackScott M. Fischer
72020-09-26The ListPLST CMA-212015normalblackScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Righteous Cause has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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