Svyelunite Priest MTG Card


Svyelunite Priest - Fallen Empires
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Cleric
Released1994-11-01
Set symbol
Set nameFallen Empires
Set codeFEM
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number26
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRon Spencer

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts hand size and battlefield presence with its card draw and creature generating abilities.
  2. Enables faster play of high-cost cards through its resource acceleration capabilities.
  3. Demands careful hand management due to its discard requirement for activation.

Text of card

o Uo U, oc T: Target creature may not be the target of spells or effects until end of turn. Use this ability only during your upkeep.

"Early Vodalians worshipped Svyelun, goddess of the Pearl Moon. Later she became a more abstract figure." —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. V*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Svyelunite Priest card shines in its ability to enhance card advantage in gameplay. Its abilities offer a steady stream of card draw or creature generation which keeps your hand full and options open, making it a valuable asset in long-drawn battles where maintaining card advantage is key.

Resource Acceleration: This card is also adept at ramping up your mana resources. By providing additional resources, it can allow for quicker deployment of high-cost cards which can turn the tide of the game. It’s an excellent way to accelerate your resource base and push the tempo of your deck, offering a strategic advantage over your opponents.

Instant Speed: Another significant advantage of the Svyelunite Priest is its functionality at instant speed. This provides a layer of flexibility, allowing players to respond to threats or optimize their strategy at the most opportune moments. Being able to act during your opponent’s turn can often be the difference between victory and defeat, making this card a tactical tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Svyelunite Priest requires you to discard another card to activate its ability. This can be a hindrance when your hand is already depleted, causing you to lose potentially valuable resources that could have been used for more critical gameplay moments.

Specific Mana Cost: With its mana cost demanding both blue and generic mana, the Svyelunite Priest may not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that don’t focus heavily on blue. This restrains the card’s flexibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, including one blue, this card’s cost is considerable when measured against other creatures that bring similar or greater utility to the battlefield for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Svyelunite Priest in Your Collection

Versatility: Svyelunite Priest serves as an adaptable addition to any deck that could benefit from mana fixing. Its ability to tap for mana of any color makes it a cohesive fit, particularly in multi-colored decks.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into combos that revolve around untapping creatures or utilizing mana of various types. Its ability to generate additional mana escalates numerous combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: For players navigating a meta that demands quick and flexible mana solutions, Svyelunite Priest offers the capacity to accelerate plays or adapt to changing board states, ensuring your deck keeps up with the pace of competitive play.


How to Beat Svyelunite Priest

Svyelunite Priest is a card that presents a unique challenge due to its ability to render creatures invulnerable for a turn. When facing Svyelunite Priest, timing is everything. Success comes from outmaneuvering this effect by strategizing around the priest’s activation cost. It is key to force actions during the opponent’s turn, preferably when their mana pool is low, rendering the priest’s ability unusable. Alternatively, enforcing effects that lock down the priest or strip its abilities can greatly reduce its effectiveness on the board.

Applying continuous pressure with removal spells that can’t be prevented by the priest’s ability disrupts your opponent’s rhythm. Targeted removal spells, like those that cause the player to sacrifice a creature, can be effective as they bypass the protection given by Svyelunite Priest. Also, board wipes remain effective solutions, as they are not diverted by the temporary protection Svyelunite Priest offers.

Adaptability in your strategy is crucial when the priest enters the fray. By respecting the defensive posture the card creates and playing smart, your deck can overcome the obstacle posed by Svyelunite Priest, maintaining control of the game’s flow and tempo.


Cards like Svyelunite Priest

Delving into the world of Magic: The Gathering, Svyelunite Priest emerges as a unique offering in the realm of mana-generating creatures. Resembling the fundamental functionalities of cards like Acolyte’s Reward, Svyelunite Priest allows players to untap another target creature. While Acolyte’s Reward grants bonus life points, the Priest’s skill focuses on tactical flexibility, providing opportunities to reuse creatures with tap abilities or to concoct defensive strategies during an opponent’s turn.

Another peer in this category is the Vizier of Tumbling Sands. The Vizier offers a similar untapping service but comes with an added cycling benefit, transforming into a new card when the situation calls for it. This versatility can be a crucial advantage in matches where adaptability can make or break a player’s strategy.

Additionally, the sheer presence of a Merfolk creature type makes Svyelunite Priest a considerable option for tribal decks, much like Stonybrook Banneret which lowers the cast cost of other Merfolk spells. In conclusion, while there are various cards with untap abilities, Svyelunite Priest stands out for those looking to enhance their Merfolk synergies and manipulate in-game tactics with precision.

Acolyte's Reward - MTG Card versions
Vizier of Tumbling Sands - MTG Card versions
Stonybrook Banneret - MTG Card versions
Acolyte's Reward - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Vizier of Tumbling Sands - Amonkhet (AKH)
Stonybrook Banneret - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Svyelunite Priest by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Svyelunite Priest MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires, 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 Svyelunite Priest and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Svyelunite Priest has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 Does not cause Auras on the creature to be removed when the ability is activated. An Aura on the battlefield is neither a spell nor an ability.
2005-08-01 The effect prevents spells or the effects of permanents from targeting the creature. Auras which confer an ability (such as Lance or Firebreathing) are not prevented.

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