PariahHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Pariah is an Aura that attaches to a creature. Once it is on the battlefield, its continuous effect changes the recipient of any damage that would be dealt to you. Whether it is combat damage from an unblocked creature or noncombat damage from a spell or ability, that damage is dealt to the enchanted creature instead. Note that Pariah does not prevent damage; it simply changes where that damage lands.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, an event occurs that would deal damage to you, such as a spell resolving or combat damage being assigned. Before the damage is actually dealt, Pariah's redirection effect applies. If the enchanted creature is still on the battlefield, the damage is redirected to it all at once. If the damage was combat damage, it remains combat damage even when dealt to the creature. Finally, the creature is dealt the damage, which may result in marked damage, loss of loyalty, or other effects depending on the creature's nature.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to split damage between multiple creatures if you control more than one Pariah. If a single source deals 10 damage to you, you must choose one Pariah effect to apply; you cannot split it 5 and 5. Additionally, remember that if the enchanted creature is destroyed or leaves the battlefield, Pariah is put into the graveyard, and you will no longer be protected until you find another way to redirect or prevent that damage.

When to Play It

Pariah is best utilized when you have a creature with high toughness, Indestructible, or Protection. It is a fantastic tool for stabilizing against aggressive decks that rely on direct attacks. It also serves as a political tool in multiplayer games, forcing opponents to decide if they want to waste their resources attacking a creature that won't die easily just to get to your life total.

Interaction examples

Basic Redirection

If your opponent casts a spell that deals 3 damage to you while you have a creature enchanted with Pariah, that creature takes 3 damage instead. Your life total remains unchanged, and the creature will be destroyed if that damage equals or exceeds its toughness.

Defensive Layers

Ghostly Prison

With Ghostly Prison on the battlefield, your opponent must pay {2} for each creature they want to attack you with. If they pay the cost and a creature successfully deals damage, Pariah then redirects that damage to the enchanted creature. This creates a double layer of defense: first making it expensive to attack, and then ensuring any successful hits don't lower your life total.

Protecting Your Assets

Smothering Tithe

While Smothering Tithe helps you generate Treasure tokens to cast your spells, it doesn't protect you from being attacked. By enchanting a creature with Pariah, you ensure that even if an opponent chooses to draw cards and give you Treasures instead of paying for the Tithe, you can use those resources to keep your 'bodyguard' creature alive or cast more protective spells, maintaining your life total while your mana base grows.