Court Cleric is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) This creature gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Ajani planeswalker.
Complete guide
Court Cleric is a flexible one-drop that serves as an early defensive tool and a potential powerhouse in specialized decks. This Human Cleric leverages the power of its allies to grow stronger while keeping your life total healthy through lifelink. Understanding how its power shift interacts with other game mechanics is key to mastering its role on the battlefield.
A Devoted Lifelinker
At its base, Court Cleric is a 1/1 creature with lifelink, meaning any damage it deals results in you gaining an equivalent amount of life. However, it possesses a static ability that checks if you control an Ajani planeswalker. As long as at least one Ajani planeswalker is on your side of the field, Court Cleric receives a +1/+1 buff, making it a 2/2. This bonus is applied immediately when the planeswalker enters and disappears the moment the planeswalker leaves.
Managing Continuous Effects
The +1/+1 bonus is not a trigger; it is a continuous effect that does not use the stack. This means there is no window for players to respond specifically to the power change once the planeswalker has resolved. However, players must be careful with damage marking. If a 2/2 Court Cleric takes 1 damage and you later lose your Ajani planeswalker, the Cleric's toughness returns to 1. Since it already has 1 damage marked on it, it will be destroyed as a state-based action.
When to Deploy
Court Cleric is best utilized in aggressive or midrange strategies that feature Ajani planeswalkers to maximize its combat stats. Because it is a low-cost creature with lifelink, it serves as an excellent target for other equipment or enchantments. Even without its bonus, it can serve as a cheap blocker that provides a small life buffer against aggressive opponents.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou play Court Cleric on turn one. On turn two, you play Ornithopter of Paradise. While the Ornithopter provides flying defense and mana fixing for future plays, Court Cleric can safely attack or block. If Court Cleric deals 1 damage to an opponent, you gain 1 life. The Ornithopter helps you ramp into an Ajani planeswalker faster to activate the Cleric's +1/+1 bonus.
Esper SentinelIf you control Court Cleric and Esper Sentinel while an Ajani planeswalker is on the battlefield, the Cleric is a 2/2. While the Cleric's own power doesn't directly affect the Sentinel, having multiple low-cost creatures with keywords like lifelink creates a board state where the opponent is pressured to cast spells. This forces them to interact with Esper Sentinel's tax, potentially drawing you cards as you stabilize with the Cleric's lifegain.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Court Cleric
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Because damage remains marked on a creature until it's removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Court Cleric may become lethal if you cease to control an Ajani planeswalker during that turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Court Cleric
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.