Herald of Ilharg MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Boar Beast |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Released | 2024-02-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica: Clue Edition |
| Set code | CLU |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 34 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Text of card
Trample Whenever you cast a creature spell, put two +1/+1 counters on Herald of Ilharg. If that spell has mana value 5 or greater, Herald of Ilharg deals damage equal to the number of counters on it to each opponent.
Cards like Herald of Ilharg
Herald of Ilharg introduces a dynamic stage for creatures in MTG, reminiscent of cards like Sneak Attack for the red deck enthusiasts. This imposing red card allows players to put a creature from their hand onto the battlefield, attacking and surprising opponents. While it evokes the sneakiness of Sneak Attack, Herald of Ilharg ensures the creature returns to your hand at the beginning of the next end step, rather than sacrificing it, thus offering a return on investment.
On close comparison, we find Ilharg, the Raze-Boar, with an ability that also lets you sneak creatures into play. It’s a more permanent fixture on the battlefield, having a recurrence mechanic itself. However, Herald of Ilharg allows for more immediate impact with its dash ability, despite the creature not staying on the field. When considering repeated use and build-up play, Loyal Subordinate could also come to mind, offering a consistent combat phase threat, but lacks the surprise factor and versatility of Herald of Ilharg.
Assessing the synergy and potential surprise element that Herald of Ilharg brings to the table, it’s evident that it holds its own in MTG when it comes to providing a strategic advantage during the heat of combat. Its temporary but recurring creature deployment can be a game-changer in the right deck.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Herald of Ilharg has the potential to grant significant card advantage. By enabling you to put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, you can bypass casting costs and potentially overwhelm your opponent with threats they can’t immediately answer.
Resource Acceleration: Even though Herald of Ilharg doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens directly, it still aids in resource acceleration. By cheating creatures onto the battlefield, the card effectively saves you the mana those creatures would have cost to cast, allowing you to allocate your resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Although Herald of Ilharg operates at sorcery speed, the creatures it brings to the battlefield could have abilities that can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to interact with your opponent during their turn. This combination can lead to unexpected plays and shift the game momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Herald of Ilharg prompts players to discard a card to activate its ability, potentially depleting valuable hand resources at critical gameplay moments.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s red mana cost demands a dedicated allocation of resources, which could restrict deck-building options and potentially exclude it from multi-color deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Herald of Ilharg might be considered steep compared to other options within its mana range, which could offer more immediate board impact or versatility.
Reasons to Include Herald of Ilharg in Your Collection
Versatility: Herald of Ilharg proves its worth by seamlessly fitting into a wide array of red-centric builds, particularly those that capitalize on efficient creature deployment and swift assaults.
Combo Potential: This card excels at deploying high-cost creatures early, thereby enabling combinations with massive board impact ahead of normal tempo, which can be a game-changer in many scenarios.
Meta-Relevance: Given that it can skew the early- to mid-game balance in your favor, Herald of Ilharg has the potential to tip scales in metas where big creatures dictate the pace of play, making it a formidable asset against various common deck archetypes.
How to beat
The Herald of Ilharg is an impressive creature in Magic: The Gathering that can pose a real challenge on the battlefield. Its unique ability to cheat other formidable creatures into play is nothing short of game-changing. Facing such power requires strategic planning and the right tools. Control decks often have an advantage here, utilizing counter spells to prevent the Herald from ever hitting the field. Cards like Negate or Absorb are excellent choices as they provide an answer before your opponent’s plans unfold.
Another effective strategy is to remove the Herald of Ilharg from the board before it can utilize its ability. Instant speed removal spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are pivotal in tackling the problem promptly. For those in non-black and non-white colors, options still abound; consider using a red spell like Lava Coil to get the job done or a blue bounce spell like Unsummon to reset its progress. The key is to manage your resources wisely and maintain removal options that match the pace at which the Herald can potentially accelerate the game.
Ultimately, countering or removing the Herald of Ilharg with precision and timeliness is vital to maintaining control over the game and emerging victorious in MTG matchups where this powerful card comes into play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Herald of Ilharg MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: Clue 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 Herald of Ilharg 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 Herald of Ilharg has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |