Heartwood Dryad MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 231
2015-05-06 - Number 173
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dryad |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Heartwood Dryad can block creatures with shadow.
To snare what lies between worlds takes the patient reach of trees.
Cards like Heartwood Dryad
The stealthy Heartwood Dryad from MTG brings a subtle but effective defensive mechanic to the table, offering potential for solid gameplay strategies. It’s akin to other creatures such as Wall of Vines or Tangle Spider, both sharing the underrated but valuable ‘can block creatures with shadow’ ability. This allows them to stave off elusive attackers, something which most creatures cannot contest with.
Exploring further parallels, we notice Norwood Ranger, another two-mana green creature, yet it doesn’t boast the ability to block shadow creatures, highlighting Heartwood Dryad’s niche defensive utility. Additionally, Traproot Kami offers a similar defensive stance with reach and scales with the number of forests you control, showcasing a different but equally compelling form of defense in a green deck.
When evaluating Heartwood Dryad amidst its counterparts, it shines in decks geared towards controlling the board against shadow-employing opponents. Its specialized blocking capability may seem situational, but in the right context, it proves to be an unsung hero holding the line against those creeping in the shadows of MTG.
Cards similar to Heartwood Dryad by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Heartwood Dryad may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but its synergistic abilities can lead to indirect card advantage. By having a creature that can efficiently block or trade with creatures from the graveyard, you effectively nullify your opponent’s reanimation strategies. This keeps your hand and field presence more potent compared to your opponent’s diminished resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Heartwood Dryad doesn’t produce additional mana or Treasure tokens, it can help maintain your tempo advantage on the board. Efficiently costed, this card permits you to deploy other threats or hold mana for interactive spells while still presenting a solid defense.
Instant Speed: Though Heartwood Dryad operates at sorcery speed, its passive ability can have a persistent impact similar to that of an instant. It deters opponents from leveraging their graveyard as a resource, influencing their decisions just as a well-timed instant might. By constantly inhibiting certain strategies, Heartwood Dryad can provide a form of continuous control during the course of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One consideration when including Heartwood Dryad in your MTG deck is that it may necessitate discarding cards to fully utilize its abilities. This can be particularly detrimental during tight matches when your hand is your most precious resource.
Specific Mana Cost: Heartwood Dryad comes with a specific mana cost that requires a blend of one green and additional generic mana. This cost structure means it’s less flexible and primarily featured in green-aligned decks, potentially restricting its broader playability across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you weigh the mana investment against the dryad’s abilities, the cost can be higher compared to other creatures with similar stats or effects. Savvy players often look for the most economical plays, and Heartwood Dryad might not always make the cut when deck building for efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Heartwood Dryad offers a flexible playstyle as it can be utilized in landfall decks to enhance board presence or in creature-heavy builds that capitalize on its forestwalk ability.
Combo Potential: This card can pair well with strategies that modify land types or control abilities, making it a crafty addition to combos aiming to exploit unblockable traits.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where deck strategies frequently rotate around non-basic lands, Heartwood Dryad holds its ground by potentially becoming unblockable, ensuring its role in the evolving metagame.
How to beat
Heartwood Dryad may seem a modest foe in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, but underestimating this creature card could be a mistake. Its allure lies in its forest camouflage ability, enabling players to effortlessly sneak past defenders. While this trait is advantageous, it’s not insurmountable. The key to outplaying this card lies in understanding its subtleties and utilizing effective control measures.
One efficient strategy is utilizing spells that can neutralize the Dryad without confronting it directly in combat. Removal spells that sidestep its unblockable characteristic are your allies here. Cast a spell like Doom Blade or Fatal Push to dispatch it without requiring a blocking creature. Alternatively, enchantments can alter the dynamic, like Pacifism, effectively taming the Dryad and preventing it from attacking altogether.
Another approach is to wield your own arsenal of creatures with reach or those that can deal damage to creatures regardless of their unblockable nature, such as those that tap to deal direct damage. These creatures can thwart the Dryad outside of the combat phase, ensuring your defense remains impenetrable. In essence, while Heartwood Dryad has its advantages in the game, with the right strategies and cards, overcoming this subtle adversary is a manageable feat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Heartwood Dryad MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Heartwood Dryad 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
Printings
The Heartwood Dryad Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 231 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 173 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Heartwood Dryad has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |