Pointed Discussion

2/2 for 2 with Vigilance is decent. Especially since it has to die twice.

Loyal Cathar + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed = Immortal Cathar
(Flips when he dies, becomes a Zombie with +1/+1 and Undying;
then Unhallowed Cathar dies and returns as this- starting the cycle anew).

Also, the flavor text on this card (both sides)?
UNSETTLING.

Because they didn't want to print anything white with undying.

SOOO COOL
Maybe Constructed playable, DEFINITELY a Pauper 4-of

Seems like a decent way to run humans against Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. Dies, becomes zombie, no longer dies!

This was SO much more powerful than I expected at pre-release. I kind of forgot about the vigilance, but that's HUGE. Most opponents seemed reluctant to kill it off since it comes back, letting you do some early damage with it and still being able to block. Because it recycles, it's still good mid or even late game too because it lets you keep the pressure on.

Don't overlook this one in sealed or drafts. He's never a dead draw...no pun intended. ;-)

So very much loyal a Cathar..

@drpvfx: I'm not 100% sure about that. If Loyal Cathar dies the first time and Undying is granted (either via Mikaeus, the Unhallowed or Undying Evil), wouldn't it return transformed into Unhallowed Cathar with a +1/+1 counter, and hence NOT return if it were to die again?

@Toquinha1977 It'll work fine. You need to work the stack right, but it should work out.

As long as you put the undying effect on the stack before Loyal Cathar effect, the cathar will return to the field and transform, then undying will not have a target to revive and no +1/+1 counter would be added to Unhallowed Cathar. When the Unhallowed version dies, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed will bring back the original version with a +1/+1, which it comes back with it's own effect (not undying). The zombie form shouldn't ever get a +1/+1 counter.

This guy plus Mikaeus, the Unhallowed does the following:
He dies; regardless of which order you put the triggers, since his own trigger doesn't come into effect until EoT undying will put him back on the battlefield as Loyal Cathar with a +1/+1 counter. If he doesn't die again, the return transformed trigger does nothing because the card is no longer in the gy. If he dies again but with the +1/+1 counter, he will return transformed as Unhallowed Cathar at the EoT, which at this point starts the cycle of immortality described.

At no point does this result in an Unhallowed Cathar with a +1/+1 counter, but it still alternates between a 3/3 Vigilance and 2/1 that can't block indefinitely.

@Alluceanot
Actually, Mikaeus gives it to non-humans, so you wouldn't need to worry about stacking it right (or at all) I mean the undying wouldnt affect the loyal cathar, so it wouldnt trigger when he dies. It only triggers when Unhallowed Cathar is killed. (causing him to come back as Loyal Cathar with +1/+1, then he dies, turns into a normal unhallowed cathar, repeat ad infinum)

I dont think this works with Mikaeus. If cathar hits the graveyard as loyal cathar wouldnt he be a different creature and therefore lose undying?

Guys, it works with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed.
His ability gives Undying to NON-HUMAN creatures.
Step 1: Loyal Cathar dies, is NOT granted Undying because he's human, and flips.
Step 2: Unhallowed Cathar dies while having Undying, coming back as Loyal Cathar, the original card, with a +1/+1 counter.

@: Toquinha1977 Miakeaus only gives NON human creatures undying. The front face doesn't get undying and even if it did. If it returned under its own effect and not that of undying it wouldn't have a +1/+1 counter on it. You choose which effect to follow. However when it's a Zombie and dies the zombie side I think would come back from undying. So he still would die. He would just need to die 3 times. Or maybe undying wouldn't even work since only the front side is looked at in any other zone other than the battlefield. IE undying can't return the zombie side because when it hits the grave, it isn't the zombie. It's the human. But then again they are considered the same permemant. This might need a ruling. Too many technicalities.

Guys, come on. I know the rules are a little complicated, but there are some fundamentals being missed here. First of all, people are definitely missreading Mikeaus, the Unhallowed. It give undying only to non-human creatures. Second of all, there are pretty clear rules about when a transformed card dies. Whenever any creature dies, it is put into its owner's graveyard. All creatures get put there, even tokens. When a token is put into a graveyard, it ceases to exist. When a transformed card is put into a graveyard, it is put there as the back-face, then once there it is face-up. With undying, the creature is put into the graveyard, then that card is returned to the battlefield with a counter. So if Unhallowed Cathar has Undying (from Mikeaus), it goes to the graveyard as an Unhallowed Cathar. The ability triggers, and if it didn't have any +1/+1 counters, the card is returned to the battlefield. As soon as the card is in the graveyard, it is face-up, so it returns as Loyal Cathar with a +1/+1 counter on it.

The combo isn't as great as it sounds though, because the Loyal Cathar ability is a delayed trigger, so you can't do any infinite sacrificing or anything. At most, it lets you recur a 3/3 vigilance guy once per turn. It's good, but not infinite.

I call him Penumbra Cathar.

God I love this card. It's a triumph of top-down design. A simple idea, but executed to perfection. The art is solid, the card itself is good, and the flavor text is perfect.

I put this card in my Pauper Soldiers deck just because I loved it so much. It turns out it isn't too bad, as both versions get the bonuses from Veteran Swordsmith and Veteran Armorsmith.

Interesting card with good synergy with a lot of Innistrad mechanics- Undying via Mikaeus, Flicker (because dual side), Cathar's Crusade/Goldnight Commander/Champion of Lambholt because he flips by being sent to the graveyard, so he comes back into play and triggers them everytime he flips (Which can be extended via the first two points, natch).

2/2 with Vigilance for WW isn't bad either (Though I'll admit he has stiff competition from Elite Inquisitor- First Strike and protection from the three of the most featured tribes probably beats a little extra Cathar's Crusade help), and he has nice flavor. Even his flip isn't bad as a 2/1 that's still a soldier (another nice touch considering all the soldier tribal going on in this set/M13 too) All in all I like him a lot, even if I typically HATE strength>toughness and being unable to block (What can I say, I'm white through and through. =p)

As said, this guy should be a pauper staple- his biggest plus is how economic he is, something I appreciate.

BEFORE ANYONE WASTES A TON OF TIME:

For a commander deck, this can only go in if the commander is both black and white! You're welcome!

Once had this guy out in a huge standoff with my soldier deck. It was ultimately resolved by a Wrath of God effect, and my opponent thought he was safe...

... then this guy came back packing two Veteran's Armanents and swung the following turn to finish him off. Good times.

How the hell is this guy rated lower than Steadfast Guard? The Cathar is strictly better! I hate it when people see something that is a drawback (that the zombie can't block) and then completely ignore good things about the card (the fact that it rezzes itself) and give it a crap score. Remember, guys, that Steadfast Guard doesn't come back at all.

This cards a little underrated. He follows the same vein of thought as Doomed Traveler (though not nearly as good, don't get me wrong) and he's GREAT in sacrifice decks that include Undying Evil because you can sacrifice him, sacrifice him again and cast Undying Evil and then sacrifice him AGAIN. Combine with Altar's Reap and Bone Splinters for major card advantage :D

Surprised no one's mentioned Conjurer's Closet. Sure, it only recurs once per turn, but do you know what eats one human per turn? Archdemon of Greed. Let shenanigans commence!

Flavorfully, I like it. Mechanically...not so much. is really restrictive. Not many human decks can make much use of a black zombie, and most zombie decks can't make much use of a white human.

For a second I thought he couldn't block in this form either, yet still had vigilance. I was about to have a good laugh.

Did anyone ever consider running this guy with Xathrid Necromancer? Dude dies create zombie token come back as zombie as well. Aside from disposition of flavor. That insanely awesome.

2/2 viglance for 2, and when it gos it leaves behind a 2/1 cant block.


Solid little 2 drop, 4/5 from me.

I love the flavor