Heavy Arbalest MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 164
2018-03-16 - Number 225
2019-11-07 - Number 1591
2020-09-26 - Number A25-225
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
Text of card
Equipped creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step. Equipped creature has ": This creature deals 2 damage to target creature or player." Equip
Cards like Heavy Arbalest
In comparing different equipment cards within Magic the Gathering, Heavy Arbalest stands out with its unique ability to tap an equipped creature to deal damage. Similar in function to Viridian Longbow, another equipment that grants a tap-to-deal-damage power, Heavy Arbalest requires the creature to stay tapped during your next untap step. This presents a strategic difference in use, as Viridian Longbow allows for repetitive use with creatures that can untap regularly.
Strata Scythe shares an alternative approach, buffing a creature’s power based on the number of lands you control that match the exiled card’s land type. While it doesn’t offer direct damage, the substantial power boost can result in significant damage over time. In contrast, Power Matrix provides versatility with the option to raise a creature’s power, toughness, and give it first strike or trample until end of turn, yet it lacks the repeatable damage output that Heavy Arbalest offers.
While equipment like Heavy Arbalest come with specific requirements, their potential to alter gameplay makes them valuable tools. When choosing the right equipment for your deck in Magic the Gathering, consider your strategic goals and how each piece can serve your win condition.
Cards similar to Heavy Arbalest by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Heavy Arbalest grants the potential for repeated damage output without expending additional cards. Equip to a creature with untap abilities to maximize the use of Arbalest every turn.
Resource Acceleration: Although Heavy Arbalest doesn’t directly produce mana or ramp, it can be used to control the board and remove key threats. This control can indirectly accelerate your position by hindering your opponent’s resources.
Instant Speed: While the Arbalest itself is not an instant, it adds strategic depth to creatures with tap abilities you may have. Playing at instant speed, you can untap the equipped creature during your opponent’s turn to deal damage, aligning with a control deck’s reactive playstyle.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Heavy Arbalest requires a focused mana investment, needing both generic and blue mana to be cast. This can limit its integration in multicolor decks that may not consistently produce the required blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost and an additional activation cost to equip, Heavy Arbalest has a high overall mana demand. This might deter players who prefer to optimize their mana curve with lower-cost alternatives.
Discard Requirement: The card does not directly impose a discard, but the high mana cost and the need to untap the creature can indirectly lead to situations where a player is discarding cards due to a hand size limit after not being able to play cards efficiently in the early game.
Reasons to Include Heavy Arbalest in Your Collection
Versatility: Heavy Arbalest can be a flexible addition to your arsenal, seamlessly adapting to decks that value tapping creatures for extra benefits. Its adaptability means it can work in various strategies, from controlling the board to maximizing your creatures’ abilities.
Combo Potential: This artifact offers intriguing combos by allowing untapped creatures to turn into sources of direct damage. Its ability to transform ordinary creatures into potent threats can create unexpected win conditions and synergy with abilities that untap creatures.
Meta-Relevance: Given its niche effect, Heavy Arbalest shines in metas with plenty of creature-based strategies. It serves as a tech choice against decks that struggle to remove artifacts, providing a persistent source of damage or utility you can exploit turn after turn.
How to beat
Heavy Arbalest is a unique equipment card in Magic: The Gathering that can equip creatures to transform them into powerful turret-style assets. To effectively nullify the Arbalest’s impact, removing the equipped creature is key. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can target creatures, such as Path to Exile or Unsummon, can disrupt the opponent’s board presence and render the Arbalest inert.
Another tactic is to artifact hate cards like Disenchant or Naturalize which can deal with the Heavy Arbalest itself, ensuring that it doesn’t pose a threat again. However, always be wary of the mana expenditure your opponent may have available. They could potentially re-equip the Arbalest to another creature within their arsenal, so timing your removal when their resources are low could prove to be the most effective approach.
In essence, the aim is to manage the threats before the Arbalest becomes an uncontrollable force on the battlefield. Successfully managing to do so will often tilt the scales in your favor during a match, as the equipment requires a considerable investment to become truly effective.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Heavy Arbalest MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Masters 25, 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 Heavy Arbalest 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
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Printings
The Heavy Arbalest Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by David Rapoza.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 164 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 2 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 225 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1591 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | A25-225 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Heavy Arbalest has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Heavy Arbalest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-03-16 | The creature that doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step is the one that Heavy Arbalest is equipped to as that untap step begins. If a creature was tapped to activate the ability granted to it by the Arbalest, but the Arbalest is no longer equipping it, it will untap as normal. |
| 2018-03-16 | The equipped creature is the source of both the damage ability and the resultant damage, not Heavy Arbalest. For example, if Heavy Arbalest equips a green creature, the ability can target a creature with protection from artifacts but not one with protection from green. |