Herald of the Sun MTG Card


Herald of the Sun’s flying ability allows for powerful aerial control and tricky combat dynamics for opponents. Its instant-speed activated ability provides flexible combat strategies and can catch adversaries off-guard. Despite its strengths, the high mana cost may limit the card’s versatility within a diverse deck.
Herald of the Sun - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities Flying
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number23
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMicah Epstein

Text of card

Flying : Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature with flying.

"Fear neither clouds nor darkness. The light shall overcome them all."


Cards like Herald of the Sun

Herald of the Sun stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable flying creature that not only poses a threat in the air but also enhances other creatures on your battlefield. An interesting comparison can be made to Sentinel of the Eternal Watch, which similarly offers a airborne presence and controls the board by tapping opponents’ creatures. Despite their shared vigilance attribute, Herald of the Sun can actively improve your creatures’ power with its mana ability.

Looking at Wingmate Roc, we see another flyer with a unique benefit – creating a bird token with flying upon entering the battlefield if you attacked with a creature this turn. Unlike Herald of the Sun, Wingmate Roc can provide immediate board presence but lacks the long-term investment in your creature’s strengths. Additionally, the renowned Baneslayer Angel offers immediate impact through lifelink and protection from dragons and demons, yet this angel doesn’t offer the same persistent power boost to other creatures.

Ultimately, Herald of the Sun carves its niche among Magic: The Gathering’s flyers with its synergistic utility, gradually increasing the power of your army, making it a valuable card in decks that capitalize on creature enhancement and sustained aerial dominance.

Sentinel of the Eternal Watch - MTG Card versions
Wingmate Roc - MTG Card versions
Baneslayer Angel - MTG Card versions
Sentinel of the Eternal Watch - MTG Card versions
Wingmate Roc - MTG Card versions
Baneslayer Angel - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Herald of the Sun’s flying ability, it asserts aerial dominance over opponents, often necessitating multiple cards from them to handle effectively. Each time an opponent uses more than one card to deal with your single card, you effectively gain card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Herald of the Sun doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure, its ability to strengthen other creatures on the battlefield can be a form of resource acceleration. By boosting your other creatures, it could lead to faster victories, thus accelerating the resolution of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Herald of the Sun itself isn’t an instant, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This gives you the flexibility to pump your creatures during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, making it a versatile threat that can adapt to changing board states.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its activated ability, Herald of the Sun forces you to put other cards at risk. Such a mandate can be particularly detrimental in scenarios where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This angel requires a specific set of mana to cast – two white and four others. This could restrict the card’s inclusion in decks that favor a broader color palette or have a base that isn’t heavily skewed towards white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of six, Herald of the Sun competes with other high-impact cards in your deck’s curve. Such a requirement may delay your game plan, as there are alternatives with lower costs that provide significant board presence or immediate impact.


Reasons to Include Herald of the Sun in Your Collection

Versatility: Herald of the Sun boasts a flexible role in decks focusing on flying creatures or life gain strategies. Its ability to buff creatures in flight makes it a valuable asset in evasive, air-based assaults.

Combo Potential: With its prowess to strengthen other creatures, this card can enhance synergies within an angelic or cleric tribe, acting as a cornerstone for counters and buffs. Its presence can quickly turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its adaptability in various decks and the ever-present demand for aerial threats, Herald of the Sun remains a noteworthy contributor against numerous contemporary deck archetypes, holding its own in the dynamic arena of play.


How to beat

Herald of the Sun can be a formidable presence in the late game of Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to bolster itself or other creatures through its flying and lifelink capabilities, facing this angelic creature could be quite the challenge. Strategically, countering this card before it can impact the board state is essential. Removal spells such as Murder or Doom Blade are effective as they can bypass the lifelink by destroying the creature outright. Players may also consider setting up counterspells like Counterspell or Negate to prevent Herald of the Sun from being cast in the first place.

Enchantment removals can be a useful tool as well since Herald of the Sun often relies on aura and equipment cards to enhance its abilities. Naturalize and Disenchant can dismantle these synergies, making it easier to handle the creature through combat or other means. Finally, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation will reset the playing field, nullifying the accumulated advantages that Herald of the Sun could represent. Planning ahead and having these answers ready in your deck will ensure that this high-flying threat doesn’t dominate the skies or the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Herald of the Sun MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 the Sun and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Herald of the Sun has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal