Worthy Cause is not necessarily the best card to use with Preacher - but your idea is the right one. Any good - at best mana-free - saccing engine will do, for example Spawning Pit to create 2/2 tokens, or Ashnod's Altar as mana ramp. Get one of your opponent's creatures, then recycle them each turn - this preacher won't show them the right way...
gasimakos1
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
okay sooo... question: i grab a creature with my preacher. then, my opponent casts some crap that gives that creature protection from white. since that creature can no longer be the target of abilities, does he immediately return to my opponent?
doolydooly
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
protection from white would only prevent Preacher's ability at these times:
1) on the initial targeting of the creature when putting the ability on the stack, and 2) on the checking of that target on the ability's resolution and removal from the stack
a valid play is for the opponent to choose a creature, and in response to Preacher's ability then give that creature pro-white. The ability would then be countered on resolution as the chosen creature is no longer a valid target (it has pro-white).
if Preacher was untapped and that creature returned to your opponent, and Preacher's ability activated again the pro-white creature would no longer be a valid target
cplmontana
★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5.0)(6 votes)
Or....you could equip it with No-Dachi and Loxodon Warhammer to give it +5/+0, lifelink, trample, and first strike. Think on that.
coloneltao
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Hey! the old time combo was Preacher with Diamond Valley. Why use Worthy Cause if the diamond is reusable! I think after that cratureless deck start to appear!
DrJones
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This creature is the real deal! I like how it also steals Ascetic troll and pals.
Chrisrawr
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Doolydooly, you're ALMOST correct. The opponent would have to cast a spell that gave protection from white BEFORE he chooses a creature to surrender control (as choosing a creature means the ability is already resolving). Since he's doing this, though, it means that creature is no longer a valid target, and he would be forced to choose another creature anyway. So unless you can give all your creatures protection, you're still going to end up tossing Preacher's controller a creature :P
izzet_guild_mage
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
When you activate Preacher, during the part of putting the ability on the stack where targets are chosen, an opponent of your choice picks a target creature to give away. You, the controller of preacher, have to be able to target the creature at this time, or the creature is not an eligible target in the first place, so nothing with shroud, troll-shroud, or protection from preacher can be chosen. Once a suitable, legal target is found, the ability goes on the stack. After this time, if the creature acquires any ability that would have made it a ineligible target at the time of the activation (see above), the ability is countered by state based effects for having no legal targets. In addition, the creature they have chosen can be sacrificed or destroyed before the ability resolves, and no new creature has to be given. That is my understanding of the workings of this card.
SleetFox
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
This card is... Kind of offensive.
Pretty strong, though.
Kirbster
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(12 votes)
He can make a Giant Slug see the light. Someone get this preacher a TV spot.
Tigt
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Man, I love this art.
yyukichigai
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(7 votes)
The new interpretation of the way this card works kind of irks me. Back in The Day (look, caps) the effect wasn't considered to be targeting the creature, but rather the player. This allowed you to use the Preacher to go after pro-white creatures, creatures with shroud (what would eventually be called shroud at the time), and anything else that was generally untargetable, provided the creature's controller had no better choices. To me it was always a reasonable advantage offset by the fact that you didn't get to choose the creature yourself.
Anyway, this is a strange little card, but somehow fitting for white. Making your opponent pick the creature has that weird hint of "trying to be just and fair" that white is all about.
Also, the art is simultaneously hilarious and creepy.
kiseki
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Haha! Yes SleetFox, this card is a bit offensive: 1) A spiritual leader who takes over the mind of the victim 2) Only the weakest creature is effected 3) They snap out of it if the preacher dies 4) Need I say anything about the art? 5) Seriously, he is furious and shaking a fist! 6) You can clearly see stained glass windows and a holy book!
Still, it is a fun card with good combo/combat potential. For instance, I haven't seen anyone mention Cataclysm or Helm of Possession. If you think you will need to use it, and they have an elf, you should use it during their upkeep so that they can't give you a tapped creature without losing the benefit.
this plus Life Chisel is the best combo I've found so far...
Atali
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@yyukichigai I don't know back in what day you're referring to, but if you read the actual card text, it states "Opponent chooses which target creature you control." Looks to me like it has always targeted the creature.
KokoshoForPresident
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This works nicely with both my Brion Stoutarm and my Vish Kal EDH.
Reylance
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Praise the Preacher!
Tiggurix
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Don't disrespect me, MAH BOI, or I'll BE FORCED to go all "Wolololooo!" on yo ass!"
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He looks like that guy from the movie about shay's rebellion I watched in American History...
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
To many references to my religion! Don't go there R&D
aboblyndsae
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I assume the synergy with City of Shadows from the same set was fully intentional, and the implications are hilarious either way.
I know it would be in bad taste, but I'd like to make an "American South" themed gimmick deck with this, Kudzu and/or Vinelasher Kudzu, Bayou Dragonfly, Rebel creatures, and a certain blue enchantment that's a bit too expensive for me...
Psychrates
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"12 years and as many steps later, Kenickie is livin' for the Lord..."
...Totally unique, no other White card does this.
rabbimoshie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can totally see this card in Ravnica, as a member of the Orzov.
MightyWhitey
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Whenever my friend had the opportunity to attack with this and damage a player, he would say you got "bible thumped".
Phelplan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Could be a great card if they had errata'd it to target the player instead of the creature. That's the way the original wording certainly seems to read.
EGarrett01
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. Custer was accidentally possessed by the supernatural creature named Genesis in an incident which killed his entire congregation and flattened his church. ... Custer, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, goes on a journey across the United States attempting to (literally) find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers. They allow him, when he wills it, to command the obedience of those who hear and comprehend his words.
Weird. The comic book character Preacher, who seems to possess almost the same abilities as the Magic card, debuted the year after The Dark was released.
Coincidence? You be the judge. ;)
bertuccia32
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"You also lose control of the creature if Preacher leaves play or at end of game"
I love cards that make reference to outside-the-game effects.
I'm just imagining him entering the battlefield, surviving til you win (greaves, shieldmate, what have you) and taking one of your creatures FOREVER
Comments (31)
Get one of your opponent's creatures, then recycle them each turn - this preacher won't show them the right way...
1) on the initial targeting of the creature when putting the ability on the stack, and
2) on the checking of that target on the ability's resolution and removal from the stack
a valid play is for the opponent to choose a creature, and in response to Preacher's ability then give that creature pro-white. The ability would then be countered on resolution as the chosen creature is no longer a valid target (it has pro-white).
if Preacher was untapped and that creature returned to your opponent, and Preacher's ability activated again the pro-white creature would no longer be a valid target
Once a suitable, legal target is found, the ability goes on the stack. After this time, if the creature acquires any ability that would have made it a ineligible target at the time of the activation (see above), the ability is countered by state based effects for having no legal targets. In addition, the creature they have chosen can be sacrificed or destroyed before the ability resolves, and no new creature has to be given.
That is my understanding of the workings of this card.
Pretty strong, though.
Anyway, this is a strange little card, but somehow fitting for white. Making your opponent pick the creature has that weird hint of "trying to be just and fair" that white is all about.
Also, the art is simultaneously hilarious and creepy.
1) A spiritual leader who takes over the mind of the victim
2) Only the weakest creature is effected
3) They snap out of it if the preacher dies
4) Need I say anything about the art?
5) Seriously, he is furious and shaking a fist!
6) You can clearly see stained glass windows and a holy book!
Still, it is a fun card with good combo/combat potential. For instance, I haven't seen anyone mention Cataclysm or Helm of Possession. If you think you will need to use it, and they have an elf, you should use it during their upkeep so that they can't give you a tapped creature without losing the benefit.
"So, now I'll attack you for...uh...4 + the number of creatures you used to have."
P.S.
T1: Island, Careful Study, discard Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
T2: Plains, Lightning Greaves
T3: Plains, Preacher, Equip, Steal something
T4: Fetid Heath/Sunken Ruins/Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Necrotic Ooze, Equip, sacrifice the stolen creature, sacrifice the Preacher, steal something and then sacrifice it, repeat until all opponents' boards have been wiped, swing with a rather large Necrotic Ooze
T5: Have fun winning until someone Wraths. Try March of the Machines, Opalescence, and Urborg+Kormus Bell to be a total jerk.
I don't know back in what day you're referring to, but if you read the actual card text, it states "Opponent chooses which target creature you control." Looks to me like it has always targeted the creature.
I know it would be in bad taste, but I'd like to make an "American South" themed gimmick deck with this, Kudzu and/or Vinelasher Kudzu, Bayou Dragonfly, Rebel creatures, and a certain blue enchantment that's a bit too expensive for me...
...Totally unique, no other White card does this.
...
Custer, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, goes on a journey across the United States attempting to (literally) find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers. They allow him, when he wills it, to command the obedience of those who hear and comprehend his words.
Weird. The comic book character Preacher, who seems to possess almost the same abilities as the Magic card, debuted the year after The Dark was released.
Coincidence? You be the judge. ;)
I love cards that make reference to outside-the-game effects.
I'm just imagining him entering the battlefield, surviving til you win (greaves, shieldmate, what have you) and taking one of your creatures FOREVER