Hagra Diabolist MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Ogre Shaman Ally
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	95
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage in multiplayer games, with the potential to tip the scales without extra card use.
Highly synergistic in ally decks, enabling powerful interactions and resource acceleration.
Demand for black mana and higher cost are notable downsides, requiring strategic deck building.

Text of card

Whenever Hagra Diabolist or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may have target player lose life equal to the number of Allies you control.

"When exploring the darkest regions, wickedness can be the best accomplice of all."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hagra Diabolist can offer an indirect card advantage in multiplayer games. Each opponent’s life loss translates into a value gained across the board, tipping the scales in your favor without expending additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While the Diabolist itself doesn’t produce mana, in an ally-focused deck, its ability synergizes with other allies that might, potentially ramping your resources as you trigger multiple effects.

Instant Speed: The power of Hagra Diabolist shines when combined with abilities that function at instant speed. Deploying allies or activating abilities during an opponent’s turn can create surprise interactions, inflicting unexpected life loss and changing the dynamics of the game on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Hagra Diabolist often necessitates holding onto specific cards that trigger its ability, which can be restrictive during gameplay, limiting strategic flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Hagra Diabolist demands a black mana-heavy deck to utilize effectively due to its colored mana requirement, potentially complicating your mana base and reducing deck diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may sometimes seem steep for its ally-triggered life loss ability, Hagra Diabolist competes with other cards at a similar cost point that could offer a more immediate impact on the board state.

Reasons to Include Hagra Diabolist in Your Collection

Versatility: Hagra Diabolist offers a flexible role in decks focused on the Ally creature type or ones that capitalize on life loss mechanics. Being able to slot into multiple strategies makes it a solid choice for diversifying your collection.

Combo Potential: Its ability to deal damage equal to the number of Allies you control can be a game finisher when combined with cards that multiply creature tokens or effects that bounce creatures to play multiple times in a turn.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Hagra Diabolist becomes increasingly valuable. It leverages the battlefield presence to drain opponents, which can turn the tide in games against life-gain decks or when racing for damage.

How to beat

Hagra Diabolist presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to incrementally erode an opponent’s life total in Magic: The Gathering. Leveraging the Ally creature type, this card becomes particularly potent in decks centered around Ally synergies, where it shines brightest. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to disrupt the Ally mechanics it depends on.

One strategic approach is to use removal spells that specifically target creatures when they enter the battlefield or spells that can neutralize abilities. Disallowing the Diabolist from amassing cohorts is pivotal. Consider employing board wipes that can clear multiple Allies at once, undercutting the potential for life loss chains. Another effective tactic is to include graveyard disruption in your deck, which can hinder cards like Hagra Diabolist from recurring and executing their strategy in longer games.

In essence, overcoming Hagra Diabolist in MTG is about understanding your opponent’s strategy and having a game plan that disrupts their rhythm. Whether it’s through targeted removal, sweeping the board, or employing graveyard hate, the key to victory lies in depriving the Diabolist of opportunities to trigger its ability and dealing with it rapidly and decisively.

Cards like Hagra Diabolist

Hagra Diabolist stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing entity among creature cards that impact life totals. In the vein of creatures with life-draining abilities, Blood Artist is a notable comparison. Blood Artist triggers whenever any creature dies, offering a less conditional life swing compared to Hagra Diabolist’s requirement for ally creatures. However, the Diabolist boasts a larger singular impact on life totals, dishing out damage equivalent to its own or another ally’s power.

Another card sharing a semblance is Gray Merchant of Asphodel, commonly known as Gary in player circles. Gary affects all opponents upon entering the battlefield with its devotion mechanic, which can result in a significant shift in life totals. While Gary offers potential for a widespread effect, Hagra Diabolist rewards more focused and potentially repetitive strategies centered around ally tribal synergy.

Lastly, Kalastria Healer presents itself as a direct cohort within the ally tribe. It too chips away at opponents’ life with each ally’s arrival, albeit in smaller increments. The Healer’s ability, while consistent, lacks the explosive potential of a well-timed Hagra Diabolist trigger. This complements the high-risk, high-reward playstyle that the Diabolist embodies within MTG, adding a strategic layer for enthusiasts of the Zendikar set.

Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hagra Diabolist by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hagra Diabolist MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Hagra Diabolist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hagra Diabolist has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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