Cleric of the Forward Order

Creature — Human Cleric

When Cleric of the Forward Order enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life for each creature you control named Cleric of the Forward Order.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Pauper Duel Commander	Legal
Pauper EDH	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (41)

Daveslab2022 on Censorship

2 years ago

Oof_Magic

Yes Lilliana does have bigger things than being a woman on her plate.

Lilliana, if male, would not have made deals with demons or anything of the sort. Her entire story would be different, and actually does hinge on the fact that she’s a woman.

Firstly, her lore described her as a temptress. And he father was a lord. Meaning this was medieval age ish times. Lilliana was forced to join the Cleric of the Forward Order. We only know two members by name, Lilliana and Lady Ana. Both female. In Cleric of the Forward Order we see a female representative. It’s safe to say if Lilliana was a man, she would never have studied magic, or discovered necromancy.

She would’ve just been another warrior in her fathers Army.

So while Lilliana talking to demons and everything that took place after this doesn’t matter that she was a woman, her entire origin story does.

Also, to say that a characters characteristics don’t impact the story…. that’s just goofy… Have you heard of the myth of the “hero’s journey?” It’s the main storytelling device used throughout history.

From the Odyssey, an ancient epic poem, to the Hunger Games, a modern young adult dystopian novel, most stories revolve around the hero’s journey.

The hero’s journey cannot move forward until the hero learns something about themselves, or changes something about themselves. These things being the characteristics of that character. Odysseus just wanted to get back home to his wife but he learned many valuable lessons a long the way. Katniss just wanted to stay alive and protect her family, to wanted to destroy the capitol. The characteristics of these characters changes, and so do their motivations. To say that their motivations have nothing to do with their characteristics is just completely 100% wrong. Ive never read a story where the main characters personality traits aren’t a driving force in the narrative.

Firebones675 on

7 years ago

I think it's looking better. Also if you can get your hands on some, Reflector Mage is both extremely cheap and great for slowing your opponents down. (I had so much fun abusing them in standard before it got banned there) I could see them working out here.

Looking at your curve about half of your deck has a converted mana cost of two. Might be better to cut a few of them and spread out a bit more. Even something like replacing Cleric of the Forward Order for the mages could work.

Might also be nice to see if there is anything else for 4 mana to try to bridge the gap to your high end spells. Cryptic Command is strong but it isn't exactly budget. Into the Roil or Glimmer of Genius are both super cheap, maybe taking out a couple Palace Familiars for them? They don't necessarily be the specific cards i'm suggesting (just wanted to mention a couple that i've found pull their own weight), but by spreading out your mana you can better ensure you will have relevant cards at each stage of the game. You still need chep things for the early game, but these are ones that are better later.

ohmless on

7 years ago

made your suggested changes. totally agree with them and I put Cleric of the Forward Order in the sideboard for when I need more fodder to die to flip Avacyn. I've been wanting to add a second Gisela, the Broken Blade and Thalia, Heretic Cathar but was waiting on getting the cards. I won enough store credit to get the Gisela and went ahead and ordered a Thalia. The remaining two cards were filled in with one Quarantine Field and a fourth Tragic Arrogance.

The pacifisms have been working well in this deck actually against all decks except for GW tokens with their Dromoka's Command. It does some nasty things when I cast Tragic Arrogance as the creature they keep is the one with pacifism on it. I may add a couple declaration in stone to the SB though for that match up.

Daedalus19876 on

7 years ago

Given how high your curve is at 2, I would think you could cut some copies of Cleric of the Forward Order (do you draw them in multiples often enough to matter?). You could fit in an extra Gisela, the Broken Blade or two, and your second copy of Thalia, Heretic Cathar. Also, I've never overly been a fan of Pacifism, but I don't know your meta: if it works for you...

Daedalus19876 on

7 years ago

Given how high your curve is at 2, I would think you could cut some copies of Cleric of the Forward Order (do you draw them in multiples often enough to matter?). You could fit in an extra Gisela, the Broken Blade or two, and your second copy of Thalia, Heretic Cathar. Also, I've never overly been a fan of Pacifism, but I don't know your meta: if it works for you...

lords2001 on G/W Human Goodness

7 years ago

I like it, but I feel it is lacking a bit of focus.

Knight of the White Orchid should be in there for mana fixing as it can pull Canopy Vista if required, allowing you to play less Evolving Wilds plus it beats almost all 2 drops in combat outside of the advocate.

I'm also wondering whether with all these creatures including extras from Duskwatch Recruiter  ^Flip you could use Cryptolith Rite or Collective Effort to power your strategy. One enables your casts, the other can really pump this sort of a board up quickly and clear big threats out of the way.

Running a solo Cleric of the Forward Order seems a waste too. I would at least add the 4th Thalia's Lieutenant or Hanweir Militia Captain  ^Flip or Secure the Wastes.

Finally, Sigarda is more of a sideboard card I find, where as Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip or Archangel of Tithes can totally throw games around for you. One saves your board, the other stops theirs. I would possibly drop a copy of Heron's Grace for Avacyn, budget willing, and possibly the 2 Sigarda's for it too, or the Tithes.

Duroob on

7 years ago

An underrated card in general in my opinion, more of for sideboard against any kind of burn matchup would be Cleric of the Forward Order, it's a 2/2 body that only gains you 2 or more life when it enters, just value in general. it's also a human so it works on that regard.

you could also add Lone Rider  ^Flip if you had a way to consistently gain life but that card when it flips is just downright pure value. gets there super hard.

anyway those are just cards that i think are pretty great overall and could be considered.

knightsoftheround on [EM] I need like 6 life counters.

7 years ago

I always like life gain decks, don't know why but they just are always kind of fun. I play tested against some of my decks and the problems I found was getting stuck on 5 lands consistently, as well as Cleric of the Forward Order not doing anything besides chump blocking and dying. Maybe switch out clerics for an interaction spell like Declaration in Stone or Stasis Snare.