Taborax, Hope's Demise MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Demon Cleric
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Taborax provides card advantage and board presence acceleration with Cleric-triggered draws and +1/+1 counters.
  2. Specialized for black mana decks, it could be restrictive and has a mana cost that may slow momentum.
  3. Despite drawbacks, Taborax’s synergy with Cleric and sacrifice strategies makes it a formidable inclusion.

Text of card

Flying Taborax, Hope's Demise has lifelink as long as it has five or more +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Taborax. If that creature was a Cleric, you may draw a card. If you do, you lose 1 life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Taborax, Hope’s Demise offers a route to card advantage through its ability to draw a card when a Cleric you control dies. This makes it an asset in decks that capitalize on creature sacrifices or death triggers, turning each loss into potential new opportunities.

Resource Acceleration: Each time Taborax gets a +1/+1 counter, it helps you fortify your board presence quickly, outpacing your opponent. This serves as a form of resource acceleration that can pressure opponents as Taborax grows in strength.

Instant Speed: Although Taborax, Hope’s Demise doesn’t operate at instant speed, its inherent synergy with instant speed removal or sacrifice effects allows savvy players to utilize their mana efficiently and react to threats or opportunities on the battlefield as they arise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Taborax necessitates another creature’s demise to harness its fullest potential, putting players in the position of needing a consistent stream of creatures to sacrifice, or suffer the dull edge of an underutilized card.

Specific Mana Cost: Taborax, Hope’s Demise’s casting requires black mana exclusively, which narrows deck compatibility. Players running multicolored decks may find the black mana requirement a touch restrictive, undercutting the card’s adaptability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While three mana might not seem exorbitant, in a format where tempo dictates the tides of battle, the investment in Taborax can lag behind other cards providing immediate impact or lower-cost creatures with similar or better scaling potential.


Reasons to Include Taborax, Hope’s Demise in Your Collection

Versatility: Taborax, Hope’s Demise is a flexible card that can find a home in any black deck focusing on creature strategies. Its capability to draw cards upon the death of a Cleric gives it durability in long games, keeping your hand filled with options.

Combo Potential: With a deck built around Clerics or sacrifice mechanics, Taborax can become a powerhouse. It complements synergies that focus on creatures dying, as it grows stronger and fuels your draws, enabling potent combos and escalating threat levels with each passing turn.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with creature-based strategies, Taborax’s ability to benefit from each Cleric’s demise makes it a relevant addition. As it also serves as a growing threat itself, it demands an answer, which can shift the opponent’s focus and give you a strategic edge.


How to beat

Taborax, Hope’s Demise presents a compelling challenge on the battlefield. This formidable horror demands attention as it grows more potent with each Cleric entering the graveyard. To outmaneuver it, consider strategies to stifle its power growth or remove it swiftly from play. Spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder are direct methods to deal with Taborax before it overwhelms you. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can also reset the playing field, nullifying the advantage Taborax may have gained.

Furthermore, employing graveyard disruption, such as cards like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt, can interrupt the synergy between Taborax and your opponent’s Clerics. If you’re aiming for less traditional tactics, cards that switch control of creatures, like Act of Treason, can turn Taborax against its owner. Always have a game plan when this card is in play; a prompt response will keep Taborax, Hope’s Demise from becoming the demise of your own hopes for victory.


Cards like Taborax, Hope's Demise

Taborax, Hope’s Demise offers Magic: The Gathering players a unique twist on the demon archetype. When comparing Taborax to other creatures, one can draw parallels with cards like Bloodgift Demon. Both provide a steady source of card advantage, but Taborax affords the potential for a faster growth in power and toughness through its ability to gain +1/+1 counters each time a Cleric dies.

Demons like Indulgent Tormentor present a different form of card advantage, with an element of choice that pressures opponents each turn. While Taborax requires a more focused strategy surrounding Cleric tribal synergies, it’s specifically well-suited to decks that capitalize on sacrificial mechanics. Another similar card, Kothophed, Soul Hoarder, also rewards the death of creatures, but it provides a broader range of triggers, applying to any creature’s demise and not just Cleric types.

All things considered, Taborax brings a compelling alternative to the table, particularly for those who have designed their decks around Cleric synergies. Its resilience and scaling threat level can make it a game-changer in the right build.

Bloodgift Demon - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Kothophed, Soul Hoarder - MTG Card versions
Bloodgift Demon - Innistrad (ISD)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)
Kothophed, Soul Hoarder - Magic Origins (ORI)

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Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Taborax, Hope's Demise MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising Promos, 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 Taborax, Hope's Demise and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Taborax, Hope's Demise Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by G-host Lee.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 837682015normalblackG-host Lee
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 129s2015normalblackG-host Lee
32020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3462015normalblackG-host Lee
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 129p2015normalblackG-host Lee
52020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 1292015normalblackG-host Lee
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1892015normalblackG-host Lee

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Taborax, Hope's Demise has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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