Halfdane MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 229
2009-09-07 - Number 150
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Shapeshifter |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Halfdane comes into play he is 3/3. During your upkeep, Halfdane acquires the current power and toughness of target creature other than Halfdane. If there are no legal targets, Halfdane becomes 3/3.
Hail from Tolaria the ever changing 'Dane.
Cards like Halfdane
Halfdane rises as a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, drawing close parallels with cards like Sakashima the Impostor. Much like Halfdane, Sakashima the Impostor is known for its ability to clone other creatures on the battlefield. However, Halfdane has a dynamic power and toughness determined by the creatures around it, changing with the tides of the game. Sakashima retains its own stats while copying abilities, offering consistent power and toughness.
Then there’s the Morphling, a card with an array of abilities allowing for adaptable combat roles. While Morphling can manipulate its power and toughness like Halfdane, it lacks the direct copying capability. Conversely, Halfdane’s potential hinges on the presence of other formidable creatures on the board which dictates its stat adjustments.
Measuring up to these counterparts, Halfdane provides MTG players with a versatile tool, adept at both becoming a threat and an unpredictable changeling. It reflects the dynamic nature of Magic: The Gathering, where adaptability often leads to a player’s triumph.
Cards similar to Halfdane by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Halfdane has the unique ability to copy the power and toughness of the strongest creature on the battlefield at the end of every turn. This means Halfdane can potentially give you the upper hand by being the most formidable creature in play, without requiring you to play additional cards from your hand. This dynamic adaptability provides a significant strategic advantage as it constantly pressures your opponents to respond or find themselves outmatched.
Resource Acceleration: While Halfdane itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its very nature as a shapeshifter requires your opponents to deal with it immediately. This indirectly benefits your mana allocation by potentially saving resources you would have had to invest in other large creatures. This leaves your mana open to play disruptive spells or further develop your board, whilst Halfdane passively adapts to the most threatening creature in play.
Instant Speed: Although Halfdane’s ability isn’t at instant speed, its end-of-turn trigger effectively allows it to mirror the best creature stats on the board during each player’s turn. This creates a faux instant-speed effect, as your opponents must consider the possibility that attacking into you could lead to unfavourable trades against an adjusted Halfdane. This adds a layer of instant-speed-like strategy to how you defend and how your opponents approach their turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Halfdane offers a dynamic ability to change power and toughness, it’s important to note that the card itself does not have a discard effect. Players should be mindful of other card interactions within their decks that might require discarding as a cost, potentially limiting Halfdane’s effectiveness.
Specific Mana Cost: Halfdane comes with a specific and somewhat demanding mana cost which includes white, blue, and black mana. This multicolored requirement restricts the card primarily to Esper decks or those with a sufficient mana base to accommodate such diversity, potentially excluding it from mono or two-colored deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including three different colored sources, Halfdane’s cost is considered high compared to other creatures that might provide immediate impact or have lower, more flexible mana requirements. This can make Halfdane less attractive in fast-paced games where efficiency and speed are crucial.
Reasons to Include Halfdane in Your Collection
Versatility: Halfdane’s ability to change power and toughness to match other creatures makes it highly adaptable on the battlefield. It can slip into a variety of control or shape-shifter themed decks, thriving in environments that reward flexibility.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its dynamic nature, Halfdane excels in combos that manipulate creature stats, pairing well with effects that switch power and toughness or abilities that rely on those values.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta with a diverse range of creature-focused decks, Halfdane’s copying ability turns it into a valuable chameleon. It can become an imposing threat by mimicking the power of the strongest creatures in play.
How to beat
Halfdane is a shapeshifting force on the battlefield, often stumping players with its chameleon-like ability to fluctuate in power and toughness. Its unique trait allows it to become a copy of any creature on the battlefield at the beginning of your upkeep, which can create quite the conundrum if you’re up against it. Overcoming this card requires a few tactical maneuvers.
Firstly, keeping the board clear of creatures with potent abilities or high stats is crucial as it limits Halfdane’s potential power. Removal spells that can target creatures at instant speed, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, can be instrumental. Play these spells in response to the ability trigger, leaving Halfdane without a valuable target. Moreover, effects that restrict activation or target abilities, like Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker, can also hinder Halfdane’s effectiveness.
Lastly, effects that change creature types or remove abilities can render Halfdane just an ordinary creature on the battlefield. Cards with humble stats will ensure that even if Halfdane copies them, it won’t pose a significant threat. Precision, timing, and clever deckbuilding are your allies when facing down the elusive Halfdane.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Halfdane MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition III, 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 Halfdane 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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Printings
The Halfdane Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Melissa A. Benson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 229 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 150 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Halfdane has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Halfdane card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Note that the duration of Halfdane’s ability is until the end of your next upkeep. If Halfdane’s ability doesn’t get a chance to resolve (because there are no legal targets when it triggers, or because it’s countered), then the effect from the previous turn’s ability will continue to work through the rest of that upkeep step. Then that effect will wear off, and Halfdane will revert to being 3/3, its printed power and toughness (unless some other effect is modifying what its power and toughness is). |
| 2009-10-01 | You apply power/toughness changing effects in a series of sublayers in the following order: (a) effects from characteristic-defining abilities; (b) effects that set power and/or toughness to a specific number or value; (c) effects that modify power and/or toughness but don’t set power and/or toughness to a specific number or value; (d) changes from counters; (e) effects that switch a creature’s power and toughness. This card’s effect is always applied in (b), which means that effects applied in sublayer (c), (d), or (e) will not be overwritten; they will be applied to the new value. |