Devout Chaplain MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by exiling artifacts and enchantments, affecting opponent strategies.
  2. Enables resource acceleration by utilizing creature abilities without additional mana costs.
  3. Although not instant speed, its sorcery-like activation allows for planned, strategic plays.

Text of card

, Tap two untapped Humans you control: Exile target artifact or enchantment.

"By Avacyn's decree, we shall cleanse these relics of their demonic past."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Devout Chaplain offers significant card advantage, granting the ability to repeatedly exile unwanted artifacts and enchantments from the game, disrupting the opponents’ strategies while thinning their resources.

Resource Acceleration: The repeated utility provided by Devout Chaplain effectively serves as resource acceleration by allowing you to make the most of your creatures without having to invest further mana after its initial casting cost. This can lead to a more efficient use of your mana in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: While Devout Chaplain doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it allows the flexibility to activate its ability any time you could cast a sorcery which enables strategic planning during your turn. This gives players the opportunity to adapt their approach depending on the state of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Devout Chaplain mandates that you sacrifice artifacts or enchantments to utilize its abilities. This could lead to a disadvantageous board position if you’re required to discard valuable permanents prematurely or without a tactical gain.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of the Devout Chaplain’s ability requires white mana. This stipulation can be restrictive and might not always align with the mana resources available, particularly in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a need for three mana to cast, two being white, the Chaplain may pose a burden on your mana economy, especially when considering other available cards that may accomplish similar tasks for less. Furthermore, the necessity to tap the Chaplain along with two other humans makes its ability less accessible and slower to utilize, hence potentially not optimal in fast-paced games where tempo is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Devout Chaplain offers flexibility in a variety of decks, serving both as an efficient creature and a utility piece. Its ability to exile artifacts and enchantments can turn a stalemate on any board into an advantage, making it a strong addition in formats where these card types are prevalent.

Combo Potential: When combined with creature-generating tokens or abilities that untap your creatures, the Chaplain’s tap ability can become a recurring tool for removing problematic nonland permanents. It synergizes well with decks that can produce multiple human tokens, unleashing its full potential.

Meta-Relevance: Given the amount of powerful enchantments and artifacts present in many game formats, Devout Chaplain provides a targeted removal option that can adapt to disruptions and shifts in the meta. The relevance of this removal can be a game-changer, particularly in metas saturated with these permanent types.


How to Beat Devout Chaplain

Devout Chaplain presents a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its ability to exile artifacts and enchantments. What sets it apart is the need for human synergies to activate its ability. When looking for a strategy to overcome this card, it is essential to disrupt these synergies. Targeted removal spells that can pick off the Chaplain’s human allies can cripple its potential, turning it into a mere 2/2 creature without significant impact.

Another effective tactic is to apply pressure that doesn’t rely on the permanents vulnerable to the Chaplain’s ability. Employing creatures with hexproof or indestructible can prove invaluable as they remain unaffected by its exile effect. Moreover, spells that counter creature abilities or grant your permanents protection from white can be pivotal, ensuring your crucial artifacts and enchantments remain on the field unharmed.

Ultimately, while Devout Chaplain can be a versatile tool for controlling the board, its dependency on other humans and its moderate stats make it manageable. By focusing on removal, providing resilience to your play, and understanding when to deploy your key permanents, you can navigate around the challenges posed by Devout Chaplain and maintain the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we delve into the capabilities of Devout Chaplain in MTG, we uncover its strategic advantage in disrupting opponent plays. Its potential shines in human-centric decks where its removal utility can consistently swing board states in your favor. While its mana demands present some limitations, the flexibility and combo potential it brings to the game can often outweigh these considerations. In environments teeming with potent artifacts and enchantments, Devout Chaplain’s ability to exile those threats is indispensable. Curious about enhancing your gameplay with this card or finding strategies to counter it? Dive deeper with us into the strategic intricacies of MTG and fortify your deck with the right mix of challenge and cunning.


Cards like Devout Chaplain

Devout Chaplain offers players in Magic: The Gathering a unique utility in the form of artifact and enchantment removal. Its ability to tap along with two other humans to exile target artifact or enchantment is a strategic boon, comparable to cards such as Leonin Relic-Warder. While the Leonin offers a more direct exile effect, the Chaplain’s ability can be used multiple times, offering potentially greater long-term value.

Another relative in this space is Fiend Hunter which, much like the Chaplain, can remove opponents’ threats. However, Fiend Hunter is limited to creatures, whereas Devout Chaplain can affect more permanent types. Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor also shares a similar tapping synergy, but instead of removing artifacts or enchantments, it is harnessed to draw cards by sacrificing creatures or artifacts, presenting a different kind of advantage.

The versatility of Devout Chaplain makes it a pivotal option for human-centered decks, particularly when faced with opponents reliant on powerful artifacts or enchantments. Its conditional but repeatable removal shows how it can outperform others in protracted games, marking its distinct place in the array of utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Leonin Relic-Warder - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Leonin Relic-Warder - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Fiend Hunter - Innistrad (ISD)
Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor - Commander Legends (CMR)

Cards similar to Devout Chaplain by color, type and mana cost

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Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Devout Chaplain MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Commander 2020, 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 Devout Chaplain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Devout Chaplain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 172003normalblackLucas Graciano
22020-04-17Commander 2020C20 872015normalblackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Devout Chaplain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-05-01 You can tap any two untapped Humans you control, including ones you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the cost of Devout Chaplain’s activated ability. You must have controlled Devout Chaplain continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, however.

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