Hero of the Nyxborn MTG Card

Generates a 1/1 token on entry, elevating your creature count and board strength without additional cost. Integrates with instant-speed spells, offering an aggressive edge and boost during combat. Demands strategic deck composition for optimal use, juxtaposing its advantages with potential limitations.
Hero of the Nyxborn - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment Creature — Human Soldier
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number219
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byVictor Adame Minguez

Text of card

When Hero of the Nyxborn enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token. Whenever you cast a spell that targets Hero of the Nyxborn, creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.

Heroic deeds inspire new heroes.

Cards like Hero of the Nyxborn

Hero of the Nyxborn stands out in the pantheon of enchantment creatures that blend well in Red and White aggressive decks. It bears resemblance to cards like Akroan Crusader, which also bolsters the ranks when casting spells that target it. However, Hero of the Nyxborn offers an immediate impact by bringing along a 1/1 token with it, providing more value upon entering the battlefield.

Another card that conjures comparison is Tenth District Legionnaire, a fellow denizen of multicolored synergistic strategies. Tenth District Legionnaire has the advantage of permanently growing stronger with its +1/+1 counter mechanic for each spell cast on it, illustrating a different angle of value compared to the token generation of Hero of the Nyxborn. Despite this, Hero of the Nyxborn holds its ground due to its ability to widen your army right off the bat.

Delving into the implications of these card interactions reveals Hero of the Nyxborn’s unique position within the milieu of heroic enchantment creatures. It blends offensive presence with strategic enhancements, forging its utility in decks designed to swarm and overpower opponents swiftly.

Akroan Crusader - MTG Card versions
Tenth District Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Akroan Crusader - MTG Card versions
Tenth District Legionnaire - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hero of the Nyxborn itself doesn’t allow direct card drawing, it adds considerable value by creating an additional 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token on entering the battlefield. This “two-for-one” effect bolsters your board presence, effectively giving you more resources to work with.

Resource Acceleration: This card may not directly impact your mana base, but the two bodies it provides can contribute to strategies centered around sacrificing creatures for benefits or powering up via synergistic enhancements, thereby accelerating your resource development indirectly.

Instant Speed: Though Hero of the Nyxborn is a creature that doesn’t have flash itself, it pairs well with instant-speed spells and abilities. Its static ability grants other attacking creatures you control a +1/+0 boost, which incentivizes swift and sudden plays during combat, making your instant-speed interactions even more lethal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hero of the Nyxborn might not require discarding as a cost, but it does necessitate a critical mass of other creatures or enchantments to truly shine. Without such synergy on the field, its impact can be somewhat muted, which feels like an indirect resource demand.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and white mana can restrict deckbuilding choices, as you’re bound to constructing around these colors to ensure consistency in casting it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a three-mana 2/2 that brings along a 1/1 creature and boosts others when casting spells isn’t the worst deal, there are cards in the same cost bracket that might provide more immediate board presence or utility, making Hero of the Nyxborn potentially less appealing in fast-paced or highly competitive environments.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hero of the Nyxborn is notable for its flexibility in deck building. This card offers both a substantial creature presence and the ability to enhance your team, making it a solid inclusion in aggro and synergy-based strategies alike.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to create additional creature tokens, Hero of the Nyxborn pairs well with mechanics that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or spells that buff your entire squad.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Hero of the Nyxborn can swing board states in your favor. Its immediate impact when it hits the battlefield helps maintain pressure against control decks and keeps the tempo in matches where every turn counts.

How to beat

Hero of the Nyxborn presents itself as a formidable creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, often hitting the battlefield with an instant impact. In decks that capitalize on Anax, Hardened in the Forge, Hero of the Nyxborn quickly escalates the threat by not only augmenting your force but also bolstering subsequent warriors with its prowess.

However, there are strategies to overcome this heroic challenge. Removal spells that can target multiple creatures, like Shatter the Sky or Storm’s Wrath, are highly effective. They clean the board, dealing with the Hero of the Nyxborn and its accompanying tokens in one fell swoop. Additionally, countering the spell with cards like Negate disrupts your opponent’s plans before they can take effect, ensuring the Hero’s arrival is just a myth. Utilize instant-speed removals like Heartless Act or Fatal Push to efficiently deal with the Hero before it can rally the troops.

Adapting to threats as they evolve is key in MTG, and while Hero of the Nyxborn poses a substantial challenge, a well-prepared player with the right answers can ensure the epic tales of this creature remain in the realm of legend.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hero of the Nyxborn MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 the Nyxborn and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hero of the Nyxborn has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 An ability that triggers when you cast a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-01-24 If you cast a spell that targets this creature multiple times, this ability triggers just once.
2020-01-24 This ability doesn’t trigger if you copy a spell that targets it, or if a spell’s targets are changed to target it.
2020-01-24 This effect affects only creatures you control at the time the ability resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +1/+0.