Hero of Iroas MTG Card


Hero of Iroas indirectly grants card advantage by reducing Aura spell costs, allowing for efficient card use. Its ability accelerates resource use, enabling faster and more impactful plays in Aura-centric decks. Instant speed synergy with Auras presents dynamic combat tactics, keeping opponents guessing.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Heroic
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Aura spells you cast cost less to cast. Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Hero of Iroas, put a +1/+1 counter on Hero of Iroas.

"My left has felled a cyclops. My right has slain a giant. I bring both to every fight."


Cards like Hero of Iroas

In the realm of enchantment-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering, Hero of Iroas stands out as a remarkable asset. This card bears similarities to other creatures that aim to reduce the cost of playing auras. Take Transcendent Envoy, a card that plays a similar role by offering cost reduction for enchantment spells. While it costs one less mana than Hero of Iroas, it lacks the muscle to enhance as effectively during enchantment applications.

Another kin in strategy is Danitha Capashen, Paragon, which not only makes aura spells cheaper but equipment spells as well. Danitha also grants abilities like vigilance, lifelink, and first strike, opening avenues for more diverse deck builds. Hero of Iroas, on the other hand, harnesses raw benefit from its heroic ability, rewarding players for targeting it with spells to grow stronger, a feature that Danitha lacks.

Evaluating the role of Hero of Iroas within the enchantment-heavy strategy, we see its unique synergy and potential for powerful plays. Its ability to reduce costs while simultaneously becoming a formidable threat on the battlefield presents a dual advantage, making it a solid option for players crafting an aura-centric deck.

Transcendent Envoy - MTG Card versions
Danitha Capashen, Paragon - MTG Card versions
Transcendent Envoy - MTG Card versions
Danitha Capashen, Paragon - MTG Card versions

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White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Hero of Iroas doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it provides an indirect card advantage by making your Aura spells cost one less mana. This can add up quickly, letting you deploy multiple threats or defenses while conserving cards in hand.

Resource Acceleration: Reducing mana costs is a form of resource acceleration. Hero of Iroas effectively increases your mana efficiency, allowing you to cast more powerful Auras sooner or multiple spells in a single turn, streamlining your strategy on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Hero of Iroas itself isn’t an instant, its cost reduction effect applies to Aura spells, many of which can be cast at instant speed. This synergy allows for unexpected combat tricks and dynamic plays, keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Hero of Iroas requires both white mana and generic mana to cast. This does create a limitation as it slots primarily into white-based or two-color decks, which could restrict its inclusion in more varied multicolor strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of two, this can be a bit steep considering that Hero of Iroas’s main appeal is in reducing the cost of aura spells. While not exorbitant, it requires a deck to be built around auras to fully capitalize on its ability, potentially diverting resources from more universally powerful cards.

Discard Requirement: Although Hero of Iroas does not have an inherent discard requirement, its aura-focused ability means it pairs best with cards like “Eidolon of Countless Battles” that benefit from auras in the graveyard, indirectly encouraging a strategy that may lead to discarding valuable cards to maximize effectiveness.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hero of Iroas is a formidable addition to decks that focus on Auras. This card’s ability to reduce the cost of Aura spells ensures a smooth and effective deployment of your enchantments, making it a staple in Aura-centric builds.

Combo Potential: With its cost-reduction ability, Hero of Iroas becomes an enabler for combos, allowing for powerful plays as you chain multiple enchantments to bolster your creatures and overwhelm your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Particularly in enchantment-heavy metas, this card shines by offering a potent mix of aggression and economy. Providing both an early threat and a snowballing advantage makes Hero of Iroas relevant and a worthy consideration for your strategy.


How to Beat

The Hero of Iroas is a unique creature in the realm of MTG, enhancing the value of Aura spells by reducing their cost. This support for enchantment-focused strategies makes it a card of great interest among players. When facing off against this heroic figure, the most efficient strategy is to neutralize its ability to economize Aura spells, thus inhibiting the opponent’s enchantment game.

Utilizing removal spells that bypass the protections auras could provide is key to dismantling strategies centered around Hero of Iroas. Instant speed removal like Path to Exile or Murderous Cut can be highly effective, allowing you to respond to the aura spells before their cost-reducing effect can be utilized. Another approach is to employ board wipes like Wrath of God, which can reset the board and sweep away any advantage your opponent has built up with their Hero of Iroas.

Finally, consider adding counterspells or hand disruption tools to your arsenal to disrupt your opponent’s gameplay further. Strategies involving Hero of Iroas heavily rely on synergy; stripping your opponent of that synergy is crucial. By tackling the Hero of Iroas with these strategies, you can tip the scales in your favor and maintain control over the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG enthusiasts understand the careful balance of power and precision required to triumph in the game. Hero of Iroas stands as a beacon for Aura-based deck strategies, streamlining mana usage and paving the way for game-changing plays. Whether it’s about forging a robust Aura-centric strategy or incorporating it to boost an existing deck, this card offers more than just cost reduction, it’s a doorway to a new breadth of deck-building possibilities. If you’re keen on exploring the potential of Hero of Iroas and taking your Aura game to the next level, dive into our detailed guide and elevate your MTG expertise today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hero of Iroas MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods and Ultimate Masters, 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 Hero of Iroas and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hero of Iroas Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by Willian Murai.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-02-07Born of the GodsBNG 172003NormalBlackWillian Murai
22018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 202015NormalBlackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hero of Iroas has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hero of Iroas card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities won’t trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell’s targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.
2014-02-01 Hero of Iroas’s first ability will apply if you cast a card for its bestow cost.
2018-12-07 Hero of Iroas’s first ability reduces only generic mana in the spell’s total cost.
2018-12-07 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.