Profane Prayers MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Number	162
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Key Takeaways

Deck thinning and hand replenishment make Profane Prayers a powerhouse in maintaining card advantage.
It accelerates resources, enabling more significant plays early on and increasing mana efficiency.
Flexibility at instant speed allows strategic disruption of opponents during crucial gameplay moments.

Text of card

Profane Prayers deals X damage to target creature or player and you gain X life, where X is the number of Clerics in play.

"We have ways to make you talk, but you have nothing interesting to say."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Profane Prayers offers a significant card advantage as it provides the ability to thin your deck by searching for key cards while keeping your hand stocked with options to respond to the flow of the match.

Resource Acceleration: The card contributes to resource acceleration by offering a method to potentially reduce the cost of spells or abilities, indirectly boosting your mana efficiency and enabling bigger plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: With its instant speed, Profane Prayers offers flexibility allowing players to adapt to the board state, making it a formidable tool for disrupting opponent’s strategies at crucial moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Profane Prayers requires you to discard another card, which could deplete your hand more quickly than you’d want, especially in tight games where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana types which may not always be readily available, especially in multicolor decks that may struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost requirement that may be deemed steep for its effect, players often ponder if its in-game impact justifies such a commitment when other cards could provide similar benefits for less mana.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Profane Prayers offers flexibility by serving as both a removal option and life gain tool. This card is a solid choice for decks that need to handle creatures while sustaining their life total.

Combo Potential: This card works well in strategies focusing on life gain or loss, enabling synergies with cards that capitalize on these mechanics, adding depth and dimension to your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating landscape of competitive play, Profane Prayers can provide an edge against creature-heavy decks, maintaining its relevance in various match-ups.

How to beat

Profane Prayers in MTG creates a unique challenge on the battlefield. It’s designed to pack a punch by turning your opponent’s graveyard into a resource for damage. To counteract Profane Prayers, deck builders recommend incorporating graveyard management strategies. This might include cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Bojuka Bog to remove cards from graveyards before they can fuel Profane Prayers’ damage potential.

Another approach is to focus on threats that require an immediate answer, pulling focus away from stocking the graveyard. Speed is also of the essence, as outpacing the setup for Profane Prayers can leave it ineffective. Utilizing exile effects strategically can help nip the problem in the bud. Ensuring that creatures or other permanents targeted by Profane Prayers don’t end up in the graveyard in the first place is a smart way to go.

Finally, don’t underestimate counterspells and direct removal to disrupt your opponent’s flow. If managed correctly, potent threats like Profane Prayers can be mitigated, maintaining a balance in your favor on the playing field. Paying attention to these strategies makes all the difference in turning the tide of the game.

Cards like Profane Prayers

Profane Prayers stands out as an intriguing option for players looking to incorporate life-drain strategies into their Magic: The Gathering decks. It draws a parallel to cards like Consume Spirit or Drain Life, which also allow players to sap the life force of their opponents to their advantage. What sets Profane Prayers apart is its scale with the number of Clerics you control, offering a potentially larger life swing in the right deck.

Another card worth mentioning is Vizkopa Guildmage, whose second ability shares a similar life-drain functionality. However, Vizkopa Guildmage requires an activated ability and a combination with other life-gain effects to be effective, while Profane Prayers is a straightforward sorcery. Additionally, cards like Exsanguinate provide a similar, but often more potent, effect that doesn’t depend on the presence of a specific creature type, albeit at a potentially higher mana cost.

Ultimately, Profane Prayers carves its niche in MTG due to its reliance on tribal synergies. For players running Cleric-heavy builds, it offers a valuable tool for both stabilizing and finishing games.

Cards similar to Profane Prayers by color, type and mana cost

Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Profane Prayers MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Profane Prayers and other MTG cards: