Aligned Hedron Network MTG Card

Aligned Hedron Network can shift game momentum by removing multiple powerful creatures at once. It demands strategic play, often necessitating additional cards for post-removal advantage. Though restrictive for some decks, its unique effect can be pivotal in certain metagames.

Aligned Hedron Network - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
2015-10-02 - Number 222

Aligned Hedron Network - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)

Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
2015-10-02 - Number 222s

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact

Text of card

When Aligned Hedron Network enters the battlefield, exile all creatures with power 5 or greater until Aligned Hedron Network leaves the battlefield. (Those creatures return under their owners' control.)

The last hedron slotted into place, locking Ulamog in an infinite loop of binding energy.

Cards like Aligned Hedron Network

The Aligned Hedron Network is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering that serves a specific function in disrupting the battlefield. Comparable to this powerful spell is the card Oblivion Stone, which similarly clears the board but differs in its approach. The Stone allows for targeted removal, enabling players to protect key pieces on their board before the mass removal. Unlike the Network, which targets creatures based on power, the Stone’s indiscriminate nature sweeps all non-land permanents away, unless they’re spared by a fate counter.

Another close relative within the family of MTG shut-down spells is the well-known Planar Cleansing. Although it shares the same converted mana cost as the Aligned Hedron Network, Planar Cleansing wipes the battlefield clean of all non-land permanents without power restrictions, making it a more comprehensive reset tool for players who wish to start afresh.

In the grand scheme, the Aligned Hedron Network excels by locking away creatures with power five or greater, making it ideal for dealing with specific threats. Considering these comparisons, it’s evident that each card offers a strategic advantage designed for different game states within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Aligned Hedron Network by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aligned Hedron Network can effectively neutralize a board full of creatures, levelling the playing field and potentially causing a swing in card advantage, especially if it removes multiple creatures your opponent controls.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the Aligned Hedron Network can help its controller stabilize the game. This allows players to recuperate and potentially play more impactful spells without the immediate pressure of a crowded battlefield.

Instant Speed: Although the Aligned Hedron Network is a sorcery, its impact on the game is comparable to a massive instant-speed board wipe, given it removes creatures as soon as it hits the board. This sets it apart from other slower, permanent-based removal strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Aligned Hedron Network can be a game-changer by sweeping away large creatures, one of its setbacks is that it requires you to have another card to play in the aftermath. Without any creatures to follow up, you could find yourself at a disadvantage due to the temporary relief it provides.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a cost that necessitates specifically two colorless and two generic mana, Aligned Hedron Network may pose a deck building challenge. This cost can be restrictive, particularly for multicolored decks that already face a complex mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at four, Aligned Hedron Network requires a substantial investment before it can affect the board. In cases where the battlefield isn’t crowded with massive creatures, or when you need more immediate answers, its high cost may hinder your tempo in comparison to other lower-cost removal options.

Reasons to Include the Aligned Hedron Network in Your Collection

Versatility: The Aligned Hedron Network is a unique artifact that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of decks. Its ability to temporarily remove all creatures with power 5 or greater from the battlefield makes it a flexible inclusion for those looking to manage threats or even manipulate their own board for strategic advantage.

Combo Potential: This card presents interesting combo potential as it can be used in conjunction with other board manipulation strategies. It lays the groundwork for a controlled environment where players can set up their board without interference from larger creatures. Its synergy with enter-the-battlefield effects or leaving-the-battlefield triggers also adds to its combo versatility.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by creature-heavy decks, Aligned Hedron Network serves as a powerful tool to clear the board and give control players the upper hand. It’s especially relevant in formats where larger creatures play a significant role in the game’s outcome, making it a worthy addition to anyone’s arsenal who aims to remain competitive.

How to beat

The Aligned Hedron Network seems like a daunting presence on the battlefield, sweeping away massive creatures into exile. This artifact card can single-handedly alter the game’s dynamics by targeting all creatures with power 5 or greater. It’s a reset button of sorts, especially in games where formidable creatures dominate the board. To effectively navigate around this, savvy players might consider a shift in strategy.

Introducing creatures with power 4 or less could keep your offensive line flowing while sidestepping the Hedron’s criteria. Alternatively, cards that grant hexproof protection to your creature base or counterspells to prevent the Network from being resolved are also effective measures. Diversifying the threat level with an array of smaller creatures can distribute the power across your board, making the impact of Aligned Hedron Network less disruptive to your game plan.

Dealing with it after it’s on the table requires artifact destruction or bounce effects, so keeping such cards in your deck can come in handy. Remember, one of the keys to prevailing in Magic: The Gathering is adaptability, and the right mix of creatures and spells can help you maintain control, even in the face of powerful board-clearing artifacts.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aligned Hedron Network MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Battle for Zendikar Promos, 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 Aligned Hedron Network and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aligned Hedron Network Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2015-10-02. Illustrated by Richard Wright.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-10-02	Battle for Zendikar	BFZ		222	2015	Normal	Black	Richard Wright
2	2015-10-02	Battle for Zendikar Promos	PBFZ		222s	2015	Normal	Black	Richard Wright

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aligned Hedron Network has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aligned Hedron Network card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2015-08-25	Auras attached to the exiled creatures will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creatures will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creatures will cease to exist.
2015-08-25	Check the power of each creature as Aligned Hedron Network’s ability resolves to determine if it’s exiled. It doesn’t matter who controls the creature.
2015-08-25	If Aligned Hedron Network exiles multiple creatures, those cards all return to the battlefield at the same time.
2015-08-25	If Aligned Hedron Network leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, no creatures will be exiled.
2015-08-25	If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won’t be returned to the battlefield.
2015-08-25	In a multiplayer game, if Aligned Hedron Network’s owner leaves the game, the exiled cards will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the cards isn’t an ability that goes on the stack, it won’t cease to exist along with the leaving player’s spells and abilities on the stack.
2015-08-25	In some very rare situations, Aligned Hedron Network may enter the battlefield as a creature with power 5 or greater. If this happens, Aligned Hedron Network will exile itself along with other creatures with power 5 or greater. Those cards will immediately return to the battlefield. If this causes a loop with Aligned Hedron Network continually exiling and returning itself, the game will be a draw unless a player breaks the loop somehow.
2015-08-25	The exiled cards return to the battlefield immediately after Aligned Hedron Network leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions.