Hoisted Hireling MTG Card
Text of card
Hoisted Hireling has flying as long as it's being held above the battlefield.
Zarv no longer trusted the kitten posters telling him to "hang in there."
Cards like Hoisted Hireling
The Hoisted Hireling card brings a unique twist to creature cards in MTG, especially when it comes to those with flying. Typically, cards like Skyknight Legionnaire offer the benefit of flying without any conditions. Hoisted Hireling, however, requires you to have at least one other creature with flying on the battlefield to unlock its potential. This conditional aspect adds a strategic layer to deck building and gameplay, as you’ll need to ensure a synergistic build to maximize its value.
Cloudkin Seer is another card to consider alongside Hoisted Hireling. Both cards draw a card upon entering the battlefield, but Cloudkin Seer consistently has flying. Meanwhile, the Hireling can be a more cost-effective option but demands additional support to truly shine. Then there’s Mistral Charger, a simple and straightforward card with flying, offering a reliable but less interactive option compared to the conditional airborne prowess of Hoisted Hireling.
While evaluating these cards, it’s clear that Hoisted Hireling’s performance is highly dependent on the player’s ability to meet its condition. Despite this, its potential for cost-effective flying capabilities marks its spot within MTG creature cards with contingent abilities.
Cards similar to Hoisted Hireling by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Hoisted Hireling, you get to keep a flier in play as long as you control your most expensive artifact or enchantment, ensuring continuous pressure on opponents and a defensive asset.
Resource Acceleration: Although Hoisted Hireling doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows you to deploy other spells sooner, which indirectly accelerates your game plan.
Instant Speed: While Hoisted Hireling itself doesn’t have an ability that works at instant speed, its persistent aerial ability can be an effective deterrent, allowing you to leave mana open for other instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of using Hoisted Hireling is the necessity of meeting certain conditions to utilize its abilities fully. Not having the appropriate setup on the battlefield can render this card less effective.
Specific Mana Cost: Hoisted Hireling requires a precise mana alignment to be cast. This can be restrictive for decks that are not tailored to incorporate the specific mana requirements of this card, potentially creating a bottleneck in your mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In relation to its ability output, Hoisted Hireling comes at a higher mana cost which might not be as mana-efficient compared to other options within the same resource bracket. Players might find other cards in the game that offer similar or better advantages without having to expend as much mana, making it less appealing to include in competitive play.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Hoisted Hireling offers flexibility in deck building due to its flying ability when controlled by the right player. This can aid in both offense and defense, fitting seamlessly into various deck themes that require evasive creatures.
Combo Potential: With certain enchantments or equipment that can grant permanent control of cards, Hoisted Hireling can turn into a reliable airborne threat. This enables strategies revolving around leveraging its conditional flying trait consistently.
Meta-Relevance: As aerial offense is often a crucial element in shifting game dynamics, Hoisted Hireling can play a meaningful role. Its ability to dodge common ground blockers makes it relevant in a meta where ground-based aggro decks are dominant.
How to beat
The ebb and flow of Magic: The Gathering’s battlefield often hinges on the dexterity of outsmarting your opponent’s moves. With that in mind, when encountering Hoisted Hireling, a keen understanding of flying mechanics comes into play. Deceptively simple, Hoisted Hireling gains flying as long as it’s crewed, which means it can swing overhead unfettered unless prepared for.
To counter this aerial nuisance, strategies that include removal spells such as Fatal Push or targeted creature disables like Pacifism can ground the Hireling, rendering its advantage null. Furthermore, one can employ creatures with reach or those equipped with abilities to block flying threats. Having a flexible defense allows players to adapt against it and tip the balance in their favor.
Remember, it may also prove fruitful to remove potential crew sources beforehand, preventing Hoisted Hireling from ever taking flight. Forethought and anticipation of your adversary’s tactics are as crucial as the execution of your game plan in outmaneuvering such tricky cards. It’s about creating a scenario where, despite the Hireling’s potential, it remains a mere spectator to the ongoing aerial supremacy you command on the board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hoisted Hireling MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Unsanctioned, 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 Hoisted Hireling 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
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Printings
The Hoisted Hireling Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Alex Konstad.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 58 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Alex Konstad | |
| 2 | 2020-02-29 | Unsanctioned | UND | 37 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Alex Konstad |