Heartless Hidetsugu MTG Card


Harnessing Heartless Hidetsugu can quickly shift game dynamics, pushing opponents closer to defeat. Its unique ability offers indirect resource acceleration, influencing gameplay pace. Combining with haste or untap effects, Hidetsugu can surprise opponents as if at instant speed.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Ogre Shaman
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

: Heartless Hidetsugu deals to each player damage equal to half that player's life total, rounded down.

Hidetsugu held over a dozen oni in blood oath. At his touch, rocks scorched. At his word, cities burned.


Cards like Heartless Hidetsugu

Heartless Hidetsugu presents a unique threat on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This enigmatic creature shares features with cards like Furnace of Rath that also have the potential to double damage. While Furnace of Rath affects all damage dealt, Heartless Hidetsugu is notable for his ability to halve each player’s life total in a single turn if left unchecked. Both cards change the dynamics of the game, encouraging a strategy that revolves around high-risk and high-reward plays.

Comparatively, we see Angrath’s Marauders, a card with a somewhat parallel impact, doubling the damage your sources would deal to an opponent. Even closer in functionality to Heartless Hidetsugu is Havoc Festival, which prohibits players from gaining life and slims down life totals at a consistent pace. Though none can replicate the immediate and dramatic life total shift that Heartless Hidetsugu promises. This capability can turn the tide of a match, especially within multiplayer formats where his effect scales with the number of opponents.

Exploring various MTG cards that echo the boldness of Heartless Hidetsugu, it’s clear that few can rival the direct and immediate impact this creature can have on the game. Its distinct ability to shoot life totals down creates unparalleled tension and strategy in gameplay, particularly for those who thrive on high stakes.

Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Angrath's Marauders - MTG Card versions
Havoc Festival - MTG Card versions
Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Angrath's Marauders - MTG Card versions
Havoc Festival - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Heartless Hidetsugu by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Torchling - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Torchling - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heartless Hidetsugu offers a unique type of card advantage by potentially halving each player’s life total with just one activation. This can rapidly shift the tide of a game, putting opponents within reach of defeat and reducing the number of turns required to win.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct resource accelerator, this powerful creature can alter the pace of the game. Players can build strategies around it to leverage life totals as a resource, creating an indirect acceleration toward game-ending conditions.

Instant Speed: While Heartless Hidetsugu itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability can be maximized by using other cards that grant it haste or untap it. These interactions allow players to catch opponents off guard, effectively utilizing the element of surprise as if at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in strategies that depend on Heartless Hidetsugu can leave your hand vulnerable as you’ll need to ensure you have sufficient cards to leverage his ability optimally.

Specific Mana Cost: Heartless Hidetsugu’s activation requires a specific combination of mana, including three colorless and two red, which makes it less flexible for decks that aren’t heavily invested in red mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting and activation cost that sums up to five mana, Heartless Hidetsugu demands a significant investment. This cost places him in competition with other game-changing cards that could potentially offer a more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Heartless Hidetsugu in Your Collection

Versatility: Heartless Hidetsugu offers a unique effect that can be utilized in a variety of deck-building strategies. This card has the capability to accelerate games towards a win in any deck that can manipulate life totals or has damage amplifiers.

Combo Potential: This powerful legendary ogre pairs well with cards that double damage or have effects that trigger off life loss. Assembling the right combination can often lead to swift victories, making it a potent inclusion in combo-centric builds.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where life totals are aggressively managed, Heartless Hidetsugu aligns perfectly with strategies that aim to keep opponents on the backfoot. It thrives in environments where matches tend to be decided through quick, high-impact plays.


How to Overcome Heartless Hidetsugu

Heartless Hidetsugu brings a unique challenge to the MTG battlefield with its ability to halve each player’s life total with a single tap. This card’s impact is swift and can alter the game’s dynamic instantaneously. Yet, there are strategies to effectively neutralize its effect and safeguard your position. Utilizing creature removal spells such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can deal with Heartless Hidetsugu before your opponent can use it. Additionally, countermagic like Counterspell or Mana Leak are perfect tools to keep this formidable threat from hitting the board in the first place.

In the case Heartless Hidetsugu does become active, damage prevention or lifegain cards such as Riot Control or Pulse of Murasa can mitigate the damage, preserving your life total while your opponents suffer the full consequence. Enchantments that prevent damage like Mark of Asylum or personal protection pieces like Witchbane Orb can also effectively counteract Hidetsugu’s ability. Another approach is to keep your life total odd, as Heartless Hidetsugu rounds down, ensuring you won’t lose half your life. In this way, you can turn Heartless Hidetsugu’s potent ability from a terrifying threat to an inconsequential nuisance, maintaining control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Heartless Hidetsugu within your MTG arsenal can be a game-changer, setting you on a path to dominating the battlefield with its unique life-altering ability. For those looking to engineer swift and decisive victories, this card could be the keystone of an explosive strategy. Building a deck that synergizes with its life-total halving feature enables you to orchestrate impactful combos, manipulating the game to your advantage. If you are curious to dig deeper into strategies that can leverage Heartless Hidetsugu’s potent ability or seeking ways to protect your deck from its effects, our resources are replete with insights. Join our journey in exploring the strategic depth of MTG and refine your gameplay to its zenith.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heartless Hidetsugu MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Conspiracy, 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 Heartless Hidetsugu and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Heartless Hidetsugu Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-02-04Betrayers of KamigawaBOK 1072003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1442003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2622015NormalBorderlessJungShan
42020-09-26The ListPLST CNS-1442003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5392015NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2312015NormalBlackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heartless Hidetsugu has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal