Samite Healer MTG Card


Protects creatures effectively, bolstering your board presence without the need to draw extra defensive cards. By saving resources on creature protection, the Samite Healer lets you efficiently allocate mana to other plays. Offers tactical flexibility with instant speed damage prevention, allowing for surprise defenses against opponents.
Card setsReleased in 21 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Tap to prevent 1 damage to any target.

Healers ultimately acquire the divine gifts of spiritual and physical wholeness. The most devout are also granted the ability to pass physical wholeness on to others.


Cards like Samite Healer

Samite Healer stands as a classic figure in the realm of creature cards with protective abilities in Magic: The Gathering. It is often compared to other life-preserving cards such as Healing Salve. Samite Healer grants the ability to prevent a small amount of damage to creatures or players which, while not as versatile as Healing Salve’s three options, can be repeatedly used each turn without any mana cost after it’s on the battlefield.

Another card with a likeness is Alabaster Mage. This card offers more flexibility with its ability to give target creature lifelink until end of turn, but for a mana investment each time. Unlike the passive ability of Samite Healer, Alabaster Mage requires a continuous output of resources to utilize its ability. Then there’s the Benevolent Bodyguard, as it sacrifices itself to protect another creature from the color of your choice, serving a single, yet potentially game-changing, purpose compared to the repeatability offered by Samite Healer’s passive defense.

When comparing these choices, Samite Healer may not have the once-off impact of some alternatives but provides steady, cost-effective defense in a long-term game strategy. Its consistent presence aligns well with strategies that aim for gradual advantage and battlefield presence in Magic: The Gathering.

Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Samite Healer by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Aspirant - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Aspirant - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though the Samite Healer doesn’t directly increase your card count, it helps maintain board presence by protecting your key creatures. By preventing damage, it keeps your creatures on the board longer, effectively negating the need to draw additional creatures for defense.

Resource Acceleration: Samite Healer may not provide traditional resource acceleration like adding mana, but by preventing damage, it saves resources you might have spent on spells to protect your creatures or replace them. This allows you to allocate mana more efficiently elsewhere.

Instant Speed: The ability to prevent damage at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn. This tactical advantage means you can be more strategic about how and when you protect your creatures, which is crucial in maintaining a solid defense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Samite Healer doesn’t require you to discard cards, this card doesn’t offer help replenishing your hand, potentially leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: Samite Healer requires white mana to play. This can potentially be restrictive, as it dictates having a mana base aligned with white, limiting its use in non-white or multicolored decks that may not focus on white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells at similar mana costs offering more impactful abilities or greater power/toughness, the cost of investing in a Samite Healer might not always align with the strategic depth other cards can provide.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Samite Healer has the unique ability to prevent damage to creatures or players, making it a useful tool in decks designed around defense or life-gain strategies. Its capability to interact with damage prevention can be helpful in multiple game scenarios.

Combo Potential: Despite its simplicity, Samite Healer’s ability can combine well with effects that trigger on damage prevention, supporting synergies with certain white or artifact-based cards that benefit from its protective nature.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having a Samite Healer can provide unexpected resilience for your other creatures, disrupting your opponent’s tactics and allowing for game-stretching plays.


How to beat

Samite Healer holds its place in Magic: The Gathering as a classic means of creature protection. Once it’s active, its ability to prevent damage is extremely useful in defensive strategies. Though not a large threat on its own, it does help to maintain board stability by keeping key creatures shielded from harm. Recognizing the potential complications this kind of ability introduces during combat, players need to strategize to mitigate its effects.

To reliably counter the Samite Healer card, consider focusing on removal spells that can bypass its preventative ability. Direct damage spells or board wipes are effective here. Targeting it with Shock or Lightning Bolt ensures that the Samite Healer is dealt with swiftly, rendering its ability obsolete. Conversely, mass removal spells like Wrath of God can bypass the Healer’s protections altogether by not targeting creatures specifically but rather destroying all creatures at once. For longer-term strategies, utilizing enchantments or artifacts that limit the use of activated abilities can stymie the Healer without having to expend removal resources on it directly.

Overcoming a Samite Healer requires an effective mix of aggression, timing, and control. It’s all about recognizing when the Healer is at its most threatening and preemptively neutralizing it before it can significantly impact the game state in your opponent’s favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Samite Healer MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Samite Healer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Samite Healer Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 371993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 381993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 381993NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 381993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 381993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 381993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 381993NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 381993NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 471993NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 471993NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 581997NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
121999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 401997NormalWhiteTom Wänerstrand
132001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 381997NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
142001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 38★1997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
152003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 41★2003NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
162003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 412003NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
172005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 392003NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
182005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 39★2003NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
192007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 382003NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
202022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3341997NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand
212022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 372015NormalBlackTom Wänerstrand

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Samite Healer has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal