Heirs of Stromkirk MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Vampire
Abilities	Intimidate
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	140
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Winona Nelson

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage by growing stronger each combat, posing a continuous threat to opponents.
Intimidate ability facilitates resource acceleration by limiting opponent’s blocking options.
Instant speed buffs enhance this card’s combat damage and growth potential during matches.

Text of card

Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.) Whenever Heirs of Stromkirk deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Heirs of Stromkirk card presents players with the opportunity to steadily grow in power through its inherent mechanic that allows it to gain a +1/+1 counter each time it deals combat damage to a player. This incremental growth can make Heirs of Stromkirk a continually more threatening presence on the board, potentially contributing to long-term card advantage as it becomes harder for opponents to block or remove without investing multiple resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Heirs of Stromkirk doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure tokens, the Intimidate ability it possesses is a form of resource acceleration through combat. Intimidate makes this creature harder to block except by creatures that share its color or are artifact creatures. This helps maintain pressure on your opponent’s resources, as they may have to redirect their mana or creature resources to tactically deal with the growing threat of Heirs of Stromkirk, potentially leaving them at a disadvantage elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Though Heirs of Stromkirk operates at sorcery speed, being part of your main phase lineup, it’s worth noting that its ability triggers from combat damage. This means that any buffs or combat tricks you apply at instant speed can not only assure its survival through combat but also increase the damage it deals, thus amplifying the potential for advantage through its triggered ability. Deploying instant speed interactions with Heirs of Stromkirk can shift the pace of a match significantly in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Heirs of Stromkirk doesn’t explicitly demand a card to be discarded, but its reliance on strong synergy with discard strategies could leave players in a tight spot should they lack the necessary setup.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Heirs of Stromkirk includes red mana symbols, which restricts it to decks that can produce this type of mana and might not fit well in multicolored decks needing flexible mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, Heirs of Stromkirk competes with other powerful four-drops in the red curve. In a metagame where efficiency is key, players might find this cost a bit steep for its incremental advantage of Intimidate and the +1/+1 counter on dealing combat damage to a player.

Reasons to Include Heirs of Stromkirk in Your Collection

Versatility: Heirs of Stromkirk can be a valuable addition to aggressive strategies, with its ability to grow stronger through combat with the Intimidate ability, making it more elusive to block and advancing your board presence across various matchups.

Combo Potential: This card’s incremental advantage works well with deck mechanics that capitalize on counters and direct damage. Coupling Heirs of Stromkirk with cards that manipulate counters or benefit from dealing damage can create powerful synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Heirs of Stromkirk’s consistent pressure and resilience against certain blockers can make it a potent force. Its ability to dodge non-artifact creatures and its potential to become a substantial threat may slot well into your red-centric deck, especially against decks lacking in artifact creatures.

How to beat

Heirs of Stromkirk can pose a real challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. A creature that benefits from the Intimidate ability, it can be tough to block for opponents not wielding creatures of the same color. Each time it deals combat damage to a player, it gets even stronger due to its +1/+1 counter accumulation ability.

To successfully tackle Heirs of Stromkirk, consider employing plentiful removal spells. Since it’s not protected from spells, a single Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can easily take it off the board before it becomes too large. Alternatively, board sweepers like Supreme Verdict or Damnation are effective at clearing this threat regardless of its size. Including these types of cards in your deck can pave the way to maintaining control over creatures that grow over time like Heirs of Stromkirk.

Remember, preventing the damage from Heirs of Stromkirk is key. By disrupting your opponent’s attacks with removal or providing adequate blockers, you negate the growth potential of this formidable adversary. Monitoring the board and staying prepared with a responsive hand can ensure that the heirs never claim their inheritance on the battlefield.

Cards like Heirs of Stromkirk

Heirs of Stromkirk represents an interesting piece of the red creature strategy in MTG, sharing traits with other vampire creatures such as Bloodcrazed Neonate. Both have the Intimidate ability, which makes them only blockable by artifact creatures or those that share a color. Heirs of Stromkirk goes further by incorporating a growth mechanic, gaining +1/+1 counters each time it deals combat damage to a player.

Stormkirk Noble is another comparable card that grows stronger with every player hit, starting out as a 1/1 that becomes a threat over time. On the attack-centric side of red creatures, Rakish Heir also buffs your attacking vampires but gives a +1/+1 counter to each of them when they deal combat damage to a player, rather than just empowering itself like Heirs of Stromkirk.

Differentiating these cards is crucial to strategy as each plays a role in the vampire archetype. While Heirs of Stromkirk can be a powerhouse on its own, Stormkirk Noble and Rakish Heir may be better for an overall aggressive vampire deck strategy. These subtle differences help MTG players decide which creature fits best with their deck’s theme and playstyle.

Cards similar to Heirs of Stromkirk by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heirs of Stromkirk MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Heirs of Stromkirk and other MTG cards: