Hierophant's Chalice MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Number | 240 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | John Stanko |
Key Takeaways
- Hierophant’s Chalice aids in mana ramp, accelerating your potential to play high-cost cards.
- Provides a life advantage upon entry, offering a minor edge against aggressive opponents.
- Its versatility makes it suitable for various decks, fitting into multiple strategies.
Text of card
When Hierophant's Chalice enters the battlefield, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. : Add to your mana pool.
In the Rite of Redemption, nobles take the same vows as Elenda, the first vampire, and make the same eternal sacrifice.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hierophant’s Chalice provides a modest incremental advantage by allowing you to gain one life when it enters the battlefield. While not a card draw, the life gain can be viewed as a form of advantage in stabilizing your health total against aggressive strategies.
Resource Acceleration: This artifact is pivotal in streamlining your mana resources. By tapping for colorless mana, Hierophant’s Chalice aids in ramping up your mana base, allowing you to cast more expensive spells sooner than you normally could. It’s a welcome addition to decks that aim for a big mid-game presence.
Instant Speed: Although Hierophant’s Chalice cannot be played at instant speed, its mana-producing ability can be used at any time. This means that once it’s on the battlefield, you can leverage its mana-tapping feature both during your turn and in response to opponents’ actions during theirs, effectively adapting to the game’s ebb and flow.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Hierophant’s Chalice doesn’t directly require a discard, it competes for a slot in your deck with cards that may offer cheaper or more impactful effects without having to forgo card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The artifact demands a specific mana investment of three generic mana, which for certain fast-paced or low-curve decks might be an inefficient use of resources as they might prefer lower-cost artifacts or spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for a modest effect of granting one life and a potential mana every turn, Hierophant’s Chalice has a high cost compared to other mana rocks or life-gain artifacts in the game, which might prove to be a downside in a game where tempo is crucial.
Reasons to Include Hierophant’s Chalice in Your Collection
Versatility: Hierophant’s Chalice serves as a utility card that can find a place in various deck builds. Its ability to provide mana fixing and a small amount of life gain is beneficial in decks that need to stabilize their resources early on.
Combo Potential: For those who enjoy intricacies in gameplay, this artifact could become a component in life-gain synergies or strategies revolving around artifacts. It can play a pivotal role in combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where life totals can make or break a match, the incremental life gain from Hierophant’s Chalice could be critical. Its relevance increases in metas where preserving life while setting up your board is key to outlasting opponents.
How to beat
Hierophant’s Chalice not only adds mana but also touts a life gain ability that subtly tips the scales in a prolonged game. Its entrance into the battlefield comes with the added advantage of draining an opponent, fostering a swing in life totals that can be crucial in tight matchups. It’s a versatile tool in decks heavy with mana requirements, particularly when nurturing a ramp strategy or enabling high-cost spells to dominate the battlefield.
Disrupting strategies built around the Chalice involves adept deck construction and smart play. Artifact removal spells, abundant across Magic’s colors, can readily disassemble the Chalice’s benefits. Naturalize, for instance, provides an inexpensive solution to purge the artifact from play. More dynamic options like Disenchant serve a dual role, clearing both enchantments and artifacts with equal efficiency. Additionally, cards that specifically target opponents’ lifegain, like Sulfuric Vortex, negate the Chalice’s secondary effect, diminishing its overall impact on the game.
It’s vital when going up against artifacts like Hierophant’s Chalice to maintain a balance of offensive maneuvers and strategic counters. With proper sideboarding and a keen sense of timing, the advantage offered by the Chalice can be effectively neutralized, ensuring it doesn’t tip the scales out of your favor.
Cards like Hierophant's Chalice
Hierophant’s Chalice joins the ranks of life-gaining artifacts in MTG, sitting alongside implements like Pristine Talisman. Notably, the Chalice provides a one-time gain of three life alongside mana filtering, somewhat mirroring the Talisman’s ability to incrementally gain life over time. Pristine Talisman, although it doesn’t grant a lump sum of life upon entering the battlefield, offers repeated opportunities for life gain, making it a potential powerhouse in long-drawn matches.
A closer look at other artifacts brings Manalith into the conversation. Like Hierophant’s Chalice, it provides mana of any color which aids in color fixing for multicolor decks. Manalith doesn’t offer life gain but stands out due to its lack of life gain conditions tied to its mana abilities, suggesting an advantage for players not seeking life gain effects.
Considering the life gain and mana filtering facets, Hierophant’s Chalice can be a strategic choice for players bolstering defenses while also smoothing out mana needs. Despite Manalith’s and Pristine Talisman’s varying utilities, the Chalice distinguishes itself by meshing benefits suitable for those seeking an immediate lifeline as part of their game plan.
Cards similar to Hierophant's Chalice by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hierophant's Chalice MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Hierophant's Chalice and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hierophant's Chalice has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
