War Priest of ThuneHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

War Priest of Thune has a triggered ability that occurs when it enters the battlefield. This ability allows you to target a single enchantment and destroy it. Because the ability uses the word 'may', you are not forced to destroy an enchantment if you choose not to, which is helpful if the only enchantments on the board are your own.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast War Priest of Thune and it must successfully resolve and enter the battlefield. Once it enters, its triggered ability is put onto the stack, and you must choose a target enchantment at that time. When the ability resolves, you decide whether or not to destroy the target. If the target is no longer legal or has gained Hexproof in response, the ability will fail to resolve.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is forgetting that the destruction is optional. Unlike some older cards, you won't be forced to blow up your own enchantments if the opponent has none. Another mistake is trying to target something that isn't an enchantment; even if a card like Esper Sentinel is an 'Artifact Creature', you cannot target it because it lacks the 'Enchantment' type.

When to Play It

This card is best used as a reactive tool. If your opponent relies on powerful Auras or Global Enchantments to win, War Priest of Thune serves as a two-mana answer that leaves a 2/2 body behind. It is particularly effective in aggressive decks that need to clear blockers or prison effects without losing momentum.

Interaction examples

Checking for Valid Targets

Esper Sentinel

When War Priest of Thune enters the battlefield, you look for an enchantment to destroy. You look at Esper Sentinel, which is an Artifact Creature. Because Esper Sentinel does not have the Enchantment type, War Priest of Thune cannot target it, and its ability will have no effect on the Sentinel.

Mana Efficiency

Ornithopter of Paradise

You have Ornithopter of Paradise on the field. You tap it to add one white mana, using it along with one other mana to cast War Priest of Thune. When the Priest enters, you can target an opponent's enchantment. This sequence shows how you can use mana dorks to quickly deploy utility creatures to disrupt your opponent's strategy.