Heavy Ballista MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 17
1999-04-21 - Number 23
2001-04-11 - Number 19★
2001-04-11 - Number 19
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
oc T: Heavy Ballista deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
"Archers, ballistae—you can't even get near the island of Avenant." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*
Cards like Heavy Ballista
Heavy Ballista is a unique addition to the suite of removal options available to Magic: The Gathering players. This card can be likened to Siegecraft, which also equips a creature to boost its defensive capabilities. Nevertheless, Heavy Ballista distinguishes itself with the ability to remove opposing creatures from the game by tapping, delivering a more proactive role on the battlefield.
When comparing it with Avenging Archer, another card capable of dealing with enemy creatures, Heavy Ballista provides a repeated effect, though it comes at a higher mana cost and with the summoning sickness caveat. Meanwhile, Avenging Archer may offer immediate impact with its enter-the-battlefield ability. Additionally, consider the similarities to Balista Charger, which requires mana investment for its removal service, while Heavy Ballista leans on a tap mechanism, potentially offering strategic flexibility without additional mana expenditure.
Assessing its place within MTG, Heavy Ballista offers tactical advantage in controlling the board, especially in formats where locking down threats turn after turn can tip the scales in your favor, making it a formidable tool in the right setup.
Cards similar to Heavy Ballista by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Heavy Ballista card provides a strategic edge by offering the ability to eliminate key threats on the battlefield, effectively granting card advantage by dealing with more than one creature over a few turns.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the Heavy Ballista allows for maintained board control. This indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by preserving your creatures and mana that might otherwise be spent on casting spells to deal with opposing creatures.
Instant Speed: Heavy Ballista’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn or end step. This can lead to advantageous plays where you disrupt your opponent’s strategy while still developing your own board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Heavy Ballista demands a card discard to activate its notable ability, potentially depleting your hand especially when you’re already behind in resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost includes a rigid color combination that may clash with multicolored or flexible mana base strategies, thereby limiting its inclusion in diverse deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that’s on the higher end for its particular effect set, players may find that other cards offer a similar impact with a lower investment, leading to potentially more efficient plays.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Heavy Ballista is a flexible card that can be a valuable inclusion in decks focusing on +1/+1 counters or those with numerous ways to tap and untap creatures, allowing for multiple uses in a single turn.
Combo Potential: This card aligns well with strategies emphasizing creature control; it pairs with cards that grant deathtouch or similar abilities to remove threats upon activation effortlessly.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to control the board by picking off smaller creatures, Heavy Ballista can serve as a useful sideboard card or even main deck inclusion in metas dominated by creature-centric or token strategies.
How to beat
Heavy Ballista enters the battlefield as a formidable creature card, offering a potent mix of offense and board control in Magic: The Gathering. This card distinguishes itself with the ability to deal direct damage to creatures or planeswalkers, thereby asserting dominance over the board state. To outmaneuver and ultimately overcome the presence of Heavy Ballista, savvy players must consider strategies that dilute its impact or eliminate it from play altogether.
Tools such as instant-speed removal spells prove to be effective, enabling players to respond to the cast of Heavy Ballista before it unleashes its damaging ability. Spell options such as Disenchant or Naturalize can also dismantle it before it has a chance to affect the game. Another tactic involves utilizing counterspells to preemptively stop Heavy Ballista from hitting the table, with Mana Leak or Cancel being prime examples. Lastly, the implementation of card abilities that grant indestructible or use protective hexproof can shield your critically important assets from Heavy Ballista’s targeted ability.
In summary, while Heavy Ballista can be a strong force in MTG, there are multiple strategic paths available for players to neutralize this threat, maintaining equilibrium and advancing their position towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Heavy Ballista MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Ballista 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 Heavy Ballista Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 17 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 23 | 1997 | Normal | White | Ron Spencer | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 19★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 19 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Heavy Ballista has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |