Bearer of the Heavens MTG Card


Game reset potential makes it a strategic asset for tailored board state manipulation and post-cataclysmic recovery. Not instant speed but end-of-turn trigger simulates delayed effect, allowing advanced planning for a board reset. Demands careful play with high mana cost and its destructive entry effect that can backfire without precise timing.
Bearer of the Heavens - Journey into Nyx
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Giant
Released2014-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameJourney into Nyx
Set codeJOU
Power 10
Toughness 10
Number89
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRyan Alexander Lee

Text of card

When Bearer of the Heavens dies, destroy all permanents at the beginning of the next end step.

To hold the heavens from the earth is no curse, but a titanic responsibility.


Cards like Bearer of the Heavens

In the realm of MTG, Bearer of the Heavens stands as a formidable force. This colossal card can be likened to Worldslayer – both have the potential to inflict cataclysmic reset on the battlefield. Although Bearer of the Heavens requires a sacrifice to trigger the end-of-the-world effect, Worldslayer also presents an apocalyptic scenario but needs to successfully deal combat damage to activate.

Another parallel is found in Nevinyrral’s Disk, which offers a destruction effect without discrimination, similar to Bearer of the Heavens. While Nevinyrral’s Disk can conveniently be activated without waiting for a specific event, it doesn’t promise the same all-encompassing annihilation as the Bearer does, leaving lands unscathed. In this respect, Bearer of the Heavens is unique – it’s an all-in gamble, ready to level the playing field entirely as it departs.

Despite these similarities, Bearer of the Heavens presents an unmatched doomsday clock for opponents, setting a high bar for cards capable of reshaping the game’s landscape with just one decisive fall.

Worldslayer - MTG Card versions
Nevinyrral's Disk - MTG Card versions
Worldslayer - MTG Card versions
Nevinyrral's Disk - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bearer of the Heavens by color, type and mana cost

Brimstone Dragon - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Fury - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Colossus - MTG Card versions
Ashen Firebeast - MTG Card versions
Petradon - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Roaring Blades - MTG Card versions
Excruciator - MTG Card versions
Living Inferno - MTG Card versions
Bogardan Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Akroma, Angel of Fury - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Kher Ridges - MTG Card versions
Hearthcage Giant - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Force - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Utvara Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Bedlam Reveler - MTG Card versions
Molten Monstrosity - MTG Card versions
Brimstone Dragon - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Fury - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Colossus - MTG Card versions
Ashen Firebeast - MTG Card versions
Petradon - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Roaring Blades - MTG Card versions
Excruciator - MTG Card versions
Living Inferno - MTG Card versions
Bogardan Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Akroma, Angel of Fury - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Kher Ridges - MTG Card versions
Hearthcage Giant - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Force - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Utvara Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Bedlam Reveler - MTG Card versions
Molten Monstrosity - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When discussing the Bearer of the Heavens card, it’s not about drawing cards but the potential to reset the game by destroying all permanents. This can lead to a significant advantage as you can tailor your strategy to rebuild more effectively than your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Although Bearer of the Heavens doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its sheer presence on the battlefield demands an answer. This can indirectly accelerate your game plan by diverting resources and attention away from your other threatening plays.

Instant Speed: While Bearer of the Heavens doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability triggers at the end of the turn it dies, simulating a delayed instant-speed effect. This allows players to plan their turns knowing they have a board reset in their pocket, potentially at the end of their opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One tradeoff when considering Bearer of the Heavens in your deck is its unforgiving enter-the-battlefield trigger, which destroys all other permanents if it dies. This effect requires careful play, as an untimely demise can be as detrimental to you as to your opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes seven colorless and one red mana, the card can prove cumbersome in multicolored decks or those that focus on mana efficiency. It fits best in mono-red strategies or decks with a substantial red mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its eight mana cost is quite steep, and generally, MTG decks prefer cards with a lower cost to maintain a smoother gameplay curve. In faster-paced games, Bearer of the Heavens may linger in your hand for several turns before you have the opportunity to play it.


Reasons to Include Bearer of the Heavens in Your Collection

Versatility: Bearer of the Heavens can serve as a powerful tactical asset in a variety of decks that aim to manipulate the board state. Its inclusion can enable diverse strategies, from controlling the game to deciding the perfect moment to reset the playing field.

Combo Potential: This card’s destructive ability can be leveraged in conjunction with cards that protect your assets or benefit from massive shifts in the game state, offering the potential for game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where overwhelming board presences dictate the outcome of matches, Bearer of the Heavens acts as an equalizer, challenging opponents to consider the ramifications of overextending their plays.


How to Beat Bearer of the Heavens

The Bearer of the Heavens is a formidable creature card that can have a game-ending impact in Magic: The Gathering. When this towering giant dies, it takes every other permanent down with it, resetting the game board. However, there are strategic ways to overcome this cataclysmic effect. To mitigate the destruction, players often employ instant-speed exile spells, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, ensuring that the Bearer never hits the graveyard to trigger its ability.

Counterspell tactics are also key. Disallow and Void Shatter can counter the Bearer’s triggered ability, leaving your board state untouched. Alternatively, a card like Stifle has the same effect for a single blue mana. These strategies require precise timing and resource management to maintain board control. Ensuring you have the necessary mana open to respond to your opponent’s moves is crucial.

Finally, transforming the Bearer into a less threatening creature using cards like Kasmina’s Transmutation or exploiting its high mana cost to prevent it from ever being cast with a card like Damping Sphere can help you secure your victory. Understanding and preparing for this apocalyptic giant can certainly tip the scales in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the Bearer of the Heavens in MTG reflects a bold strategy, ideal for those who seek to command games with a potential reset button. Its unique ability to wipe out all permanents makes it a formidable yet challenging card to wield effectively. As you craft your deck around such a powerful entity, consider the risks and rewards of unleashing this titan onto the battlefield. Whether you’re outwitting opponents with swift counters or setting up unassailable comebacks, Bearer of the Heavens demands respect and forward thinking. Dive deeper into strategic deck-building and optimization with us, and harness the true power of this game-changing card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bearer of the Heavens MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Bearer of the Heavens and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bearer of the Heavens has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-04-26 If Bearer of the Heavens dies during an end step, the delayed triggered ability will trigger at the beginning of the next turn's end step.
2014-04-26 The effect of the ability will destroy all permanents on the battlefield as it resolves. It doesn't matter if those permanents were on the battlefield when Bearer of the Heavens died.