Why isn't High Priest of Penance used more in standard tournaments
Standard forum
Posted on March 6, 2014, 5:05 p.m. by kohlberticus
A discussion of High Priest of Penance's viability in standard competitive play.
I play with him a little bit and he's not great. There is an extremely large amount of flying in standard right now between the dragons, demon and specters. The big target that he could screw over is Blood Baron of Vizkopa because it doesn't fly and so can be blocked by it........ but blood baron has pro white and black and so can't be targeted.
March 6, 2014 5:11 p.m.
I play him in an orzhov control deck and he does stall the board sometimes
March 6, 2014 5:12 p.m.
SharuumNyan says... #5
I see him get played quite a bit, but people at my LGS really like BW Midrange.
March 6, 2014 5:21 p.m.
actiontech says... #6
Politely tagging the card in question:
I like him combined with Gift of Immortality as a gimmick, but he's not really standard viable.
March 6, 2014 5:33 p.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #7
I could see him in a sideboard for esper against any really fast decks. he could provide a suitable roadblock for a turn or 2. keep in mind that his ability hit PWs, enchantments, and artifacts
March 6, 2014 6:06 p.m.
ChiefBell: BBoV can't even be blocked by High Priest because of the Pro W/B
March 6, 2014 7:13 p.m.
deathtouch_roadrunner says... #10
Because nobody in their right mind ever deals him damage. You could try running red, but then you just invite the 2-for-one if you burn him yourself. So he's only a 1/1 blocker for 2 that will keep people from attacking into him until they hit removal. And I don't think there's a deck that really wants that.
March 6, 2014 7:15 p.m.
Because the idea of the game is to play with reliable cards. The only way you can make sure he does what you want him to do is play WBR as colours and damage him yourself. Which is a 2-for-1 and it's not something you should ever do.
Not to mention his weird mana that requires two different colours by turn 2, which is never something guaranteed. Obviously right now there are great mana choices and if you look at a deck like Esper Control, it never has colour problems despite being in 3 of them, but bw on turn 2 is still scetchy, unless you want to shock yourself for a 1/1 that you then have to kill (again on your own) just to kill a... come on, what are they going to have on turn 3 that's so valuable that you are willing to waste 2 life and 2 cards on?
March 6, 2014 7:32 p.m.
AlfaNerd - you play it and just leave it on the board. If they killspell it then that's fantastic because it's one fewer kill spell for Desecration Demon . If they ignore it great - it discourages them to swing. You don't have to kill it yourself. Not every card is for instant gratification!
It's not strong, but it's not that weak. It's a card that if left alone can be a major annoyance, and if dealt with just makes things easier for your big plays later on.
You also don't have to play it T2. In fact it gets more useful later in the game when all the big creatures are out.
March 6, 2014 7:35 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #15
Compares very well to Deadly Recluse . Both are 2 drop creatures that are meant to stall while you advance your board state or be used as removal. Overall the effect on the game is unreliable and limited in it's uses.
March 7, 2014 11:27 a.m.
@Rasta_Viking29 You know Deadly Recluse blocks flyers and High Priest of Penance doesn't, right? Even though your overall conclusion is correct, you're comparing apples and oranges here.
Servo_Token says... #2
He costs 2 different colors of mana, he isn't very high impact, and he doesn't change the board state upon arrival.
Sure, he's something that your opponent has to play around, but it's pretty easy to get rid of him with no effects that are too damaging.
March 6, 2014 5:09 p.m.