Aven Heartstabber MTG Card


Aven Heartstabber disrupts opponents by exiling graveyard cards and generates Treasure tokens, enhancing mana resources. This card demands a discard upon entry, potentially weakening your hand, but its death touch adds complexity to play. Aven Heartstabber’s versatility makes it a potent addition against creature-based decks, but specific mana needs may limit use.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Bird Assassin
Abilities Flying,Mill
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying As long as there are five or more mana values among cards in your graveyard, Aven Heartstabber gets +2/+2 and has deathtouch. When Aven Heartstabber dies, mill two cards, then draw a card.


Cards like Aven Heartstabber

The Aven Heartstabber has nestled its way into the hearts of Magic: The Gathering players who appreciate versatile flying creatures. Its kinship can be drawn to cards like Vampire Nighthawk, a creature card prized for its flying, deathtouch, and lifelink abilities. While the Nighthawk offers robust defensive capabilities, Aven Heartstabber steps into the arena with the prospect of bolstering its power through its raid ability, which provides an additional layer of strategy revolving around post-combat phases.

Another flying companion in this aerial ensemble is the Heir of the Night. This card, similar to Aven Heartstabber, flourishes in an environment where attacking is beneficial, although it lacks the direct power boost offered by the raid mechanic. The Heir focuses on long-term advantage through gaining +1/+1 counters for each attacking creature. Conversely, Aven Heartstabber’s immediate power spike can be a game-changer by potentially removing a critical blocker or setting up a faster victory.

In the realm of MTG where flying creatures command the skies, Aven Heartstabber holds a commendable position. While it shares its skies with others, its unique raid ability can sway the tides of combat, distinguishing it from its aerial counterparts.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Aven Heartstabber by color, type and mana cost

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Vodalian Hypnotist - MTG Card versions
Metathran Zombie - MTG Card versions
Dimir Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Witch - MTG Card versions
Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hibernation Sliver - MTG Card versions
Woodlot Crawler - MTG Card versions
Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
Shadowstorm Vizier - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Lazav, the Multifarious - MTG Card versions
Soul Diviner - MTG Card versions
Cunning Nightbonder - MTG Card versions
Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Aven Heartstabber. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Four-color MillFour-color Mill GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 11 2024
Sultai ReanimatorSultai Reanimator GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024
Sultai Some Brand of CerealSultai Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aven Heartstabber provides a unique approach to card advantage by offering the chance to exile cards from an opponent’s graveyard. This can disrupt their strategy and give you informational leverage.

Resource Acceleration: This card encourages strategic plays with its potential to accelerate your resources. Upon death or when it deals combat damage, it creates a Treasure token, subtly boosting your mana pool and enabling bigger plays sooner.

Instant Speed: Aven Heartstabber’s ability works at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to respond to threats or opportunities as they arise during the course of the game. This reactive aspect ensures that you’re maximizing the card’s potential at the most opportune moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aven Heartstabber enters the battlefield with a stipulation that you must discard a card. This could potentially weaken your hand, especially if your strategy relies on card advantage and hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This Aven asks for a singular white and a black mana which might restrict its adoption. Decks that don’t run both colors won’t be able to leverage this card, thus limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s not exactly low on the curve, Aven Heartstabber might not always provide the tempo you need. In situations where fast-paced board development is critical, you might find other creatures or spells that provide better utility or board presence for the same, or lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Aven Heartstabber in Your Collection

Versatility: Aven Heartstabber proves to be a flexible addition to any collection with its ability to seamlessly transition between aggressive and control-oriented strategies, thanks to its deathtouch attribute.

Combo Potential: The card’s synergy with flying and death-triggered mechanics offers several combo possibilities, elevating both limited and constructed play formats.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to disrupt opponent creatures and strategies, Aven Heartstabber can be particularly effective in the ever-shifting MTG environment, where creature-based decks are frequently in the forefront.


How to beat Aven Heartstabber

The card Aven Heartstabber may, at a first glance, seem like a formidable opponent due to its ability to potentially remove enemy creatures. In the vast universe of MTG, understanding the strengths and vulnerabilities of such cards is critical for claiming victory. Aven Heartstabber thrives in specific scenarios where it can take advantage of its deathtouch ability to outmaneuver larger creatures.

To effectively counter this card, consider deploying tactical spells that prevent it from dealing damage, such as those that tap or freeze opponent creatures, rendering Aven Heartstabber’s lethal touch ineffective. Additionally, spells that provide protection from creatures or grant indestructible status to your threats can nullify the danger posed by this agile bird warrior. Strategic instant removals can also ensure that Aven Heartstabber leaves the battlefield before ever becoming a thorn in your side. Moreover, utilizing flying blockers of your own can often neutralize the competitive edge that flying creatures enjoy, making sure that Aven Heartstabber is kept at bay.

Ultimately, triumphing over Aven Heartstabber requires a blend of predictive play and precise action. By adhering to these principles, players can navigate the intricacy of matches even when facing deceptively powerful creatures such as Aven Heartstabber.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into MTG involves not just playing the cards but understanding their depth and potential impact. Aven Heartstabber is a nuanced card worth considering for your deck. Its ability to grant card advantage and resource acceleration, while offering instant speed responses, lends it a coveted spot in decks that support its colors and themes. However, it’s vital to weigh these benefits against its casting cost and discard requirement. We invite you to delve deeper into the strengths and tactical uses of Aven Heartstabber, refining your deck-building strategies and gameplay. Overtake your opponents and soar to new heights—discover more about making the most of this card today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aven Heartstabber MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna Promos and Streets of New Capenna 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 Aven Heartstabber and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aven Heartstabber Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 166p2015NormalBlackDan Scott
22022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 166s2015NormalBlackDan Scott
32022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 4332015NormalBlackDan Scott
42022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 1662015NormalBlackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aven Heartstabber has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-04-29 If you have five or more mana values among cards in your graveyard and then some of them are removed such that you have fewer than five mana values among those cards, Aven Heartstabber loses its bonus to power and toughness. Notably, this may cause it to die if it now has damage marked on it greater than its toughness.
2022-04-29 The mana value of a double-faced card in your graveyard is always the mana value of the front face.
2022-04-29 The mana value of a land card is 0.
2022-04-29 The mana value of a split card in the graveyard is the total mana value of both halves of that card. It does not have two mana values.
2022-04-29 X is 0 when determining the mana value of a card in your graveyard.
2022-04-29 “Five or more mana values among cards in your graveyard” means there are at least five different mana values among those cards.