Headstone MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 1995-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Homelands |
| Set code | HML |
| Number | 52 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David A. Cherry |
Text of card
Remove from the game target card in any graveyard. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.
"Your headstone is the last page in the book of your life." —Murat, Death Speaker
Cards like Headstone
Headstone adds a unique twist to the pool of graveyard interaction cards in Magic: The Gathering. Within the same realm, we can look at cards like Tormod’s Crypt and Relic of Progenitus. What distinguishes Headstone is its ability to selectively target single cards in a graveyard, a nuanced strategy compared to Tormod’s Crypt’s broad sweep of graveyard exile. Despite this precision, Headstone does not offer the same immediate zero-cost utility as Tormod’s Crypt.
On another note, Relic of Progenitus offers a more flexible approach, providing incremental graveyard control and the potential for card draw, which Headstone does not. The actions are gradual with Relic of Progenitus, allowing for a more controlled and potentially less wasteful manipulation of opponents’ graveyards.
Ultimately, when examining the versatility and strategic implications, Headstone finds its place among Magic: The Gathering graveyard interaction cards. It offers targeted disruption, which, while lacking the instantaneous and zero-cost nature of some alternatives, can significantly disrupt opponents’ strategies when used judiciously.
Cards similar to Headstone by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Headstone card enables significant graveyard manipulation, offering the ability to return a vital card from the graveyard to your hand. This can effectively negate an opponent’s earlier removal efforts and provide a tactical advantage.
Resource Acceleration: By reclaiming key cards, Headstone can accelerate your gameplay, ensuring that your resources are effectively utilized. Recapturing high-impact spells for a second use can be game-changing and disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed casting allows for strategic plays during either player’s turn. The element of surprise this card provides can shift the duel’s momentum in your favor, potentially reversing adverse situations or making opportunistic plays when least expected.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Utilizing Headstone can be tricky as it necessitates discarding a card as part of its activation. This cost can often be a double-edged sword, especially when your hand is already dwindling, and you’re in desperate need of maintaining card advantage in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Headstone’s mana cost is locked into a specific color combination, which can be limiting for decks that either don’t run that particular color or have a mana base that can’t consistently produce it. This can make it less flexible and more challenging to include in a diverse array of deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost sitting at three mana, Headstone may not always be the most efficient card in terms of resource investment for the graveyard disruption it provides. In fast-paced games, spending that much mana might put you behind, particularly when other cards can achieve similar or better effects at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include Headstone in Your Collection
Versatility: Headstone offers a unique utility in various deck archetypes. Whether you’re running a graveyard-focused strategy or need to disrupt your opponent’s plans, this card ensures you have options whenever graveyard interaction becomes necessary.
Combo Potential: This card enables fascinating synergies, especially in decks designed to leverage the graveyard. It can help set up graveyard combos or be part of a chain reaction that leads to game-changing plays.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where graveyard strategies are prolific, having Headstone can give you an edge. It serves as both a proactive and reactive tool, allowing you to keep pace with the current competitive scene or even outpace opponents relying heavily on their graveyards.
How to Beat
The Headstone card in MTG offers a unique playstyle that can pose challenges to the unprepared. To effectively counter this card, a strategic approach centered on graveyard depletion or hand disruption is key. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt act as excellent counters by purging the graveyard and rendering Headstone’s ability to recur spells ineffective. Thoughtseize is another powerful tool that directly disrupts your opponent’s hand, removing potential Headstone targets and diminishing its capability to influence the game.
Alternatively, focused aggression can also turn the tide against Headstone users. Implementing a rapid, creature-based strategy can apply pressure too intense for Headstone to mitigate, especially if your creatures offer robust abilities that require immediate answers. Additionally, employing enchantments that prevent card retrieval, such as Ground Seal, ensures that the advantages Headstone provides become nullified, allowing you to maintain control of the match.
In essence, facing Headstone necessitates a proactive game plan. Whether you’re dipping into denial tactics or steering your deck towards relentless offense, a measured response to this card can secure you the upper hand in your MTG battles.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Headstone MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Headstone 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Headstone has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |