Preacher of the Schism 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
Deathtouch Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, create a 1/1 white Vampire creature token with lifelink. Whenever this creature attacks while you have the most life or are tied for most life, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.
Complete guide
Preacher of the Schism is a versatile Vampire Cleric that rewards aggressive play based on life totals. Whether you are leading the game or fighting from behind, this creature ensures you generate value every time it swings into combat.
Understanding the Triggers
Preacher of the Schism has two distinct triggered abilities that check life totals at the moment it is declared as an attacker. The first ability triggers if you attack the player with the most life, granting you a 1/1 Vampire token with lifelink. The second ability triggers if you are the player with the most life, allowing you to draw a card at the cost of 1 life. Notably, if life totals are tied for the highest, both conditions can potentially be met.
Resolving the Attack
When you declare Preacher of the Schism as an attacker, the game checks the life totals of all players immediately. If the conditions are met, the abilities are put onto the stack. These abilities only care about the life totals at the moment the attack is declared; if life totals change before the abilities resolve, the effect still happens. Note that the token-generating ability specifically requires you to attack a player, not a planeswalker or a battle.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that 'tied for most life' counts for both abilities. If you and your opponent both have 20 life and you attack them, both abilities trigger. Another important rule is that Deathtouch makes this creature a dangerous blocker, but its triggered abilities only function when it is attacking, not when it stays back to defend.
When to Play It
This card is excellent in mid-range decks that can manipulate life totals. Because it has Deathtouch, it can safely attack into larger creatures, either forcing a bad trade for your opponent or guaranteeing your triggers. It is especially potent when you can protect it to ensure multiple turns of card draw or token generation.
Interaction examples
Preacher of the Schism
VampireYou have 15 life and your opponent has 20. You declare Preacher of the Schism as an attacker against your opponent. Since they have the most life, the first ability triggers. Upon resolution, you create a 1/1 white Vampire creature token with lifelink.
Roaming ThroneYou control Roaming Throne with 'Vampire' chosen as the creature type. You have the most life (25) and attack an opponent who has less life (15). Preacher of the Schism's second ability triggers. Roaming Throne causes it to trigger an additional time. You will draw two cards and lose a total of 2 life.
Solemn SimulacrumYou attack with Preacher of the Schism. Your opponent blocks with Solemn Simulacrum. Because Preacher of the Schism has Deathtouch, any amount of damage it deals to the Golem is considered lethal. Both creatures are destroyed and put into their owners' graveyards, and your opponent may draw a card from the Simulacrum's death trigger.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Preacher of the Schism
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you are tied for most life and Preacher of the Schism attacks another player who is tied for most life, both its middle and its last ability will trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Preacher of the Schism's middle ability triggers only if it attacks a player. It won't trigger if Preacher of the Schism attacks a planeswalker or battle, no matter what its controller's life total is.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Once Preacher of the Schism's middle ability triggers, it doesn't matter what happens to players' life totals before the ability resolves. You'll create a Vampire token even if the player Preacher of the Schism attacked doesn't have the most life as the ability resolves.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Similarly, once Preacher of the Schism's last ability triggers, it doesn't matter what happens to players' life totals before the ability resolves. You'll draw a card and lose 1 life even if you don't have the most life as the ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Preacher of the Schism
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.