Demon's Herald MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2008-10-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shards of Alara |
| Set code | ALA |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 72 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Karl Kopinski |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice a blue creature, a black creature, and a red creature: Search your library for a card named Prince of Thralls and put it into play. Then shuffle your library.
"May these deaths be the first of many."
Cards like Demon's Herald
Demon’s Herald truly stands out among MTG’s pantheon of creature cards. Sharing the same conceptual DNA with cards like Elite Vanguard, both offer a 1/1 body for a single mana. Nevertheless, Demon’s Herald veers off the beaten path with its potential to act as a catalyst for something far more menacing—a towering Demon creature.
Dive deeper into MTG’s depths and you’ll encounter Llanowar Elves, another one-mana creature. Both cards serve a grander function beyond their modest stats. But whereas Llanowar Elves provide a boost to your mana pool, Demon’s Herald could very well transform into a game-defying force. Also worth mentioning is Bog Initiate. While it readily converts mana types, the Herald’s transformative ability aligns more closely with the dramatic shape of MTG’s ever-evolving battlefield dynamics.
When considering strategic breadth and sheer surprise factor, Demon’s Herald provides a unique edge. It’s not just about putting a creature onto the battlefield; it’s about setting the stage for a devastating power play that can utterly shift the game’s momentum in your favor.
Cards similar to Demon's Herald by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Demon’s Herald, players have an efficient method to bring a powerful creature into play without the need to draw or search for it. This capability is particularly potent in decks that revolve around large demons, as it bypasses conventional draw requirements to get your key creatures into action.
Resource Acceleration: Exploiting Demon’s Herald can significantly change the pace of the game. By sacrificing the Herald and a token or a less valuable creature, you accelerate your board state by summoning a larger threat earlier than usual. This rapid escalation can be overwhelming for opponents who are not prepared to handle a quick spike in power.
Instant Speed: Although the activation of Demon’s Herald’s ability isn’t at instant speed, its low casting cost allows players to keep mana open for other spells and abilities. This flexibility ensures that players can respond to an opponent’s actions while still being able to make a significant play by sacrificing the Herald and advancing their board state when the time is right.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Utilizing Demon’s Herald necessitates sacrificing a creature, which can be a substantial setback if your board presence is already weakened or if you’re unable to spare a valuable unit.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of black mana to activate its ability, potentially restricting its inclusion only to decks that are deep in the swamp’s influence or those heavily skewed towards black mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cumulative cost for the benefit of ultimately cheating out a specific demon can be steep, especially since you must first cast Demon’s Herald, then satisfy its activation requirements. In scenarios where speed and efficiency are paramount, this could be seen as a considerable mana investment with a delayed payoff.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Demon’s Herald offers a unique role in decks aiming to summon powerful Demon creatures. This single black mana creature can be a low-cost play leading to high impact, synergizing well with various deck builds that capitalize on creature sacrifice.
Combo Potential: With the ability to sacrifice itself along with other creatures to summon a Demon card, Demon’s Herald enables compelling combo setups. It can become a key piece in an intricate play that swarms the battlefield with formidable Demon allies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where big creatures can dominate the board, having a quick path to summoning your own behemoths can be a game-changer. Demon’s Herald’s utility in fetching your high-powered Demons can swiftly tilt the board presence in your favor.
How to beat
Demon’s Herald presents a peculiar challenge on the battlefield. This card’s primary function is to act as a progenitor for larger, more menacing demon creatures. The key to countering this card lies in timing and resource management. You’ll want to remove it before it can fulfill its purpose, typically via instant-speed removal to interrupt the Herald’s sacrifice ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Dismember excel in this role, offering the precision needed to eliminate the Herald before it can summon a more catastrophic threat.
Additionally, keeping pressure on the opponent’s mana base can cripple their ability to utilize Demon’s Herald efficiently. This approach requires you to have control elements at your disposal, such as mana denial or counter spells, to prevent your adversary from gaining the upper hand they seek through the Herald’s eventual sacrifice. By cultivating a board state that’s prepared to address imminent threats, you ensure that your opponent’s plans to evolve their board presence are thwarted promptly and effectively.
Ultimately, overcoming the challenge posed by Demon’s Herald necessitates a proactive defense. A wise player will observe the game’s rhythm and strike decisively, ensuring this harbinger of doom never reaches its full, terrifying potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Demon's Herald MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Demon's Herald and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Demon's Herald has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Demon's Herald card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | To activate the ability, you must sacrifice three different creatures. You can’t sacrifice just one three-colored creature, for example. |
| 2008-10-01 | You may sacrifice multicolored creatures as part of the cost of the search ability. If you sacrifice a multicolored creature this way, specify which part of the cost that creature is satisfying. |
| 2008-10-01 | You may sacrifice the Herald itself to help pay for the cost of its ability. |