Prince of Thralls MTG Card


Prince of Thralls - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Demon
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Power 7
Toughness 7
Number182
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byPaul Bonner

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers unique card advantage by exploiting permanent losses from opponent’s play.
  2. Induces resource pressures, leveraging opponents’ life for maintaining card control.
  3. Carries an innate instant-speed threat with its graveyard-triggered ability.

Text of card

Whenever a permanent an opponent controls is put into a graveyard, put that card into play under your control unless that opponent pays 3 life.

"There are none alive that I cannot crush. There are none dead that I do not command."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Prince of Thralls offers a unique form of card advantage by leveraging opponents’ graveyard play. Whenever a permanent card is put into an opponent’s graveyard from play, if that player does not pay life equal to its converted mana cost, you gain control of it, potentially turning every opponent’s loss into a gain for you.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, this card puts pressure on opponents’ life totals when they deliberate paying life to keep their cards. This indirect acceleration can tilt the balance of power in your favor as opponents become wary of losing precious life just to maintain control of their cards.

Instant Speed: While Prince of Thralls itself isn’t an instant, its ability functions at any time a permanent hits the graveyard, akin to instant speed reactivity. This constant threat forces opponents to think twice before letting their guards down and it can change the tempo of the game anytime.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Prince of Thralls does not ask players to discard, it does hinge on opponents discarding their own permanents. Should they refuse or lack the means, the anticipated advantage may not materialize, which in high-stakes matches where board control is pivotal, could turn the tide unfavorably.

Specific Mana Cost: The unique blend of mana required to cast Prince of Thralls – one black, one red, one blue, and four others – makes it a somewhat difficult fit for decks not already tailored to accommodate such a diverse mana base. Best suited for multi-color decks, its restrictive cost can be a barrier in mono or dual-colored builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an eight mana price tag, Prince of Thralls asks for a substantial investment. In faster paced games or against decks that efficiently manage threats, the prince might arrive too late. Lower cost creatures or spells that can sway the board earlier often prove to be more practical choices in competitive scenes.


Reasons to Include Prince of Thralls in Your Collection

Versatility: Prince of Thralls offers a dynamic presence on the battlefield that adapts to numerous playing strategies. Its ability to pressure opponents by potentially taking control of their creatures makes it a fit for decks aiming at high-impact, late-game threats.

Combo Potential: This card can create advantageous situations when paired with effects that force opponents to sacrifice creatures, enabling you to gain control of those creatures. It dovetails well with sacrifice and reanimation themes prevalent in many deck types.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures play a significant role, Prince of Thralls can alter the course of the game. Its continual threat of gaining control of key creatures can tilt matchups in your favor, ensuring a place for it in a collection ready to face a creature-heavy meta.


How to beat

Managing the threat of Prince of Thralls can be challenging for any MTG player not prepared for its impactful presence on the battlefield. This menacing multicolored demon boasts a unique ability to tempt opponents with their permanents during upkeep. To counter this powerful adversary, having removal spells ready can change the tide of the battle. Consider using exile effects like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares to bypass its reanimation potential, denying your opponent the chance to regain control of it. If you’re running a deck with counterspells, be vigilant and reserve them for when your opponent casts this daunting creature.

Another strategy is to minimize the impact of the card by controlling your own graveyard. Utilize cards that can exile cards from graveyards or prevent cards from going there in the first place. Additionally, playing with sacrifice outlets can allow you to strategically choose what permanents to sacrifice, lessening the advantage Prince of Thralls can give your opponent. Keep your wits about you and make clever plays, and you can ensure this royal pain doesn’t dethrone your chances at victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the abilities and uses of Prince of Thralls can transform your gameplay, adding a layer of depth to your MTG deck strategies. Its unique capabilities of turning opponents’ losses into your gains can dramatically shift the balance in your favor. If you’re aiming to enrich your card collection with a creature that could potentially command the battlefield and create challenging situations for your adversaries, this card deserves consideration. For those looking to conquer creature-heavy metas or experiment with graveyard manipulations, the Prince provides intriguing combo potential. Curious about integrating this powerful card into your deck or seeking further insights into optimizing your playstyle? We invite you to dive deeper into the strategic world of MTG with us.


Cards like Prince of Thralls

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Prince of Thralls is a formidable creature card, akin to titans like Grave Betrayal and Sheoldred, Whispering One. This powerhouse casts a wide net of control, demanding a ransom for every opponent’s creature that hits the graveyard. Comparable to Grave Betrayal, it offers a way to cheat creatures onto the battlefield. Yet, Prince of Thralls imposes an automatic theft unless opponents pay life, whereas Grave Betrayal waits until the end phase and requires no life payment.

The similarity with Sheoldred is more in their shared ability to reanimate and impose a beneficial effect during your upkeep. Sheoldred, however, ensures the return of creatures from your own graveyard to the battlefield consistently every turn with no cost to your foes. Contrast that with Prince of Thralls, which has the potential for a broader impact, albeit with an escape clause for your opponent at a life cost.

Therefore, Prince of Thralls stands out with its unique combination of reanimation and life-taxing effects, setting a high bar in the echelon of creature control within MTG. It offers a strategic advantage, crafting a dilemma for opponents between preserving their life total or their board presence.

Grave Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Grave Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Prince of Thralls by color, type and mana cost

Nicol Bolas - MTG Card versions
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Nicol Bolas - MTG Card versions
Sauron, Lord of the Rings - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prince of Thralls MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Prince of Thralls and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prince of Thralls has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 If the ability triggers and your opponent chooses not to pay 3 life, you must return the card to the battlefield, even if you don’t want to.
2008-10-01 If the permanent that caused the ability to trigger leaves the graveyard before the ability resolves (because it’s a token and it ceased to exist, or because a spell or ability removed it from the graveyard), the ability will still resolve. The opponent will have the option to pay 3 life. But whether or not that player pays the life, nothing will be returned to the battlefield.
2008-10-01 It doesn’t matter whose graveyard the permanent is put into as long as an opponent controlled it when it last existed on the battlefield.

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