Heroes' Bane MTG Card


Heroes’ Bane excels in growth, becoming a must-answer threat that scales each turn, offering card advantage. Its instant-speed growth enables surprise defenses and offenses, augmenting its already formidable presence on the battlefield. Potent synergy with mana ramp and counter-doubling effects, Heroes’ Bane promises versatility and game-ending power.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Heroes' Bane enters the battlefield with four +1/+1 counters on it. : Put X +1/+1 counters on Heroes' Bane, where X is its power.

Travelers' tales claim that hydras bite off their own heads to make themselves deadlier.


Cards like Heroes' Bane

Heroes’ Bane is a dynamic force in MTG’s pantheon of creature cards. It draws a natural comparison to fellow green creature Hydra cards, such as Mistcutter Hydra, which shares the ability to enter the battlefield with +1/+1 counters. However, Heroes’ Bane’s power lies in its potent ability to double its counters, not just arriving with them. This makes it a continuous threat that can grow beyond Mistcutter Hydra’s one-time counter allotment.

Another related card is Managorger Hydra, which grows whenever a player casts a spell, potentially quicker than Heroes’ Bane on a busy board. However, Managorger lacks the direct control Heroes’ Bane offers, as the latter’s growth is at the player’s discretion. Polukranos, World Eater brings a different angle, offering a monstrosity ability that gives it a power boost and board impact in one swoop, yet it doesn’t match Heroes’ Bane’s exponential potential.

Ultimately, Heroes’ Bane stands unique with its limitless growth capability, giving MTG players a creature that can harness the game’s momentum and become a massive threat that demands an answer at every stage of the game.

Mistcutter Hydra - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions
Mistcutter Hydra - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Heroes' Bane by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
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Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Seedborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Panther Warriors - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Seedborn Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heroes’ Bane offers unique card advantage by steadily becoming a larger threat each turn without the need for additional cards. As it grows, it forces opponents to answer it, often at the cost of two or more of their own cards, effectively nurturing your advantage.

Resource Acceleration: In decks focused on ramping mana, Heroes’ Bane can benefit massively. With enough mana, this creature can double its power and toughness repeatedly, turning any resource acceleration directly into potential lethal damage.

Instant Speed: While Heroes’ Bane itself isn’t an instant, its ability to increase its power and toughness can be activated at instant speed. This allows for strategic growth during the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, catching them off-guard with a suddenly more formidable creature.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Heroes’ Bane does not directly cause you to discard cards, but its inherent drawback lies in not providing any immediate board impact, which could be a disadvantage in fast-paced games where every card and turn counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card has a green-specific mana cost which may reduce its flexibility in decks that are not primarily green. Decks that are multi-colored or that struggle with mana-fixing may find it difficult to cast Heroes’ Bane consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial mana cost of five, including two green, Heroes’ Bane is a considerable investment for your mana resources. Given that it has no protection abilities or evasion, there is a risk of it being removed before you can utilize its powerful growth ability, making it less mana-efficient compared to other creatures in its mana range.


Reasons to Include Heroes’ Bane in Your Collection

Versatility: Heroes’ Bane can adapt to numerous game situations. Its ability to grow each turn makes it a dynamic threat that can quickly become a game-ender in green-centered decks.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with proliferate mechanics or any effect that doubles counters, allowing it to exponentially increase its power and toughness, making for potential one-shot victories.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Heroes’ Bane stands out as a resilient threat that can survive damage-based removal and become an unstoppable force on the battlefield.


How to beat

Heroes’ Bane is a formidable card known for its capacity to grow exponentially in power and toughness in Magic: The Gathering. This green creature thrives in environments rich with mana, utilizing its ability to double its current size at a potentially alarming rate. To counteract this threat, players must focus on a strategy that limits its explosive growth or removes it before it becomes too overwhelming.

Effective measures include keeping open mana for instant-speed removal spells that can target and destroy Heroes’ Bane before its power accelerates. Counterspells can be key to prevent it from hitting the battlefield altogether, and enchantments that limit creature abilities will stop its exponential growth. A card like Pacifism could halt the creature’s offensive capabilities, while a strategic Sacrifice effect could force the creature’s controller to get rid of it regardless of its size. Board wipes also serve as a clean reset button, removing Heroes’ Bane regardless of how massive it has grown.

Considering these tactics, players can prepare their decks to handle such daunting creatures and maintain control of the game. Staying one step ahead in card strategy can create the necessary edge to defeat a rising Heroes’ Bane.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic universe of MTG and learn the intricacies of playing Heroes’ Bane to your advantage. Harness the potential of this card to become a formidable presence on the battlefield that grows with each turn, bringing you closer to victory. Utilize the insights on mana acceleration, instant-speed plays, and the card’s place within the current meta to build a deck where Heroes’ Bane thrives. Continue your journey to become an adept MTG player by exploring further strategies, synergies, and countermeasures. Ready to enhance your gameplay and command the board? Join our community to find more in-depth analysis and tactics.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heroes' Bane MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Journey into Nyx Promos, 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 Heroes' Bane and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Heroes' Bane Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2014-04-26 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 523282003NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
22014-04-26Journey into Nyx PromosPJOU 126★2003NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32014-05-02Journey into NyxJOU 1262003NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
42017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1662015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
52020-04-17Commander 2020C20 1752015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heroes' Bane has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-11-17 If Heroes' Bane's power is less than 0 when its second ability resolves, X is considered to be 0.
2017-11-17 The value of X is determined using the power of Heroes' Bane when the ability resolves.