Horned Stoneseeker MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Lizard |
Abilities | Menace |
Released | 2022-11-18 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | The Brothers' War |
Set code | BRO |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Number | 138 |
Frame | 2015 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Eric Velhagen |
Text of card
Menace When Horned Stoneseeker enters the battlefield, create a tapped Powerstone token. (It's an artifact with ": Add . This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell.") When Horned Stoneseeker leaves the battlefield, sacrifice a Powerstone.
Cards like Horned Stoneseeker
The Horned Stoneseeker enters the field giving MTG enthusiasts a new tool for their aggressive and ramp-heavy strategies. This card echoes the abilities of other mana-positive creatures, such as Llanowar Elves, which famously taps for green mana. Yet, the Stoneseeker’s unique trait of conditionally ramping into larger spells or creatures is what makes it stand out. Unlike Llanowar Elves, it doesn’t consistently provide mana each turn but potentially offers more explosive plays.
Another relative in this family is Elvish Mystic, once again offering that reliable one mana per turn. While less situational than the Horned Stoneseeker, it doesn’t scale with the game’s progression. Then consider Beastcaller Savant, which offers Haste and mana of any color for casting creature spells. Although more flexible in its mana generation than the Stoneseeker, it’s limited to creature spells and doesn’t aid in casting the impactful non-creature spells that Stoneseeker can accelerate into.
Whether you value the steady mana production of the Elves and Savant or the game-changing potential of the Horned Stoneseeker, this new addition certainly deserves consideration for decks aiming to trump opponents with powerful, early plays.
Cards similar to Horned Stoneseeker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Horned Stoneseeker provides a distinct edge by letting players potentially reveal multiple lands, ensuring that they hit their land drops and keep the cards flowing into their hand. This sets the stage for a potent and sustained presence on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Thanks to its exceptional ability to put lands onto the battlefield, the Horned Stoneseeker serves as a form of resource acceleration. It propels players ahead by boosting the number of lands they have in play, thus allowing them to deploy more sizable threats earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: The adaptability of operating at instant speed cannot be overstated. The Horned Stoneseeker’s capability to search for lands instantaneously antes up the strategy, allowing for reactive play patterns and increased versatility during critical phases of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Horned Stoneseeker challenges you by demanding a card discard to activate its key abilities. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you vulnerable if you’re not prepared with an ample hand size or ways to replenish it.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck building becomes a bit more constrained with Horned Stoneseeker as it requires green mana. This makes it less flexible, as you need to ensure your mana base can consistently support green or have sufficient mana fixing in place.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost to bring Horned Stoneseeker into play isn’t negligible, especially when you consider the tempo of the game. Other creatures or spells in the same mana range might provide immediate impact without the additional discard requirement.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Horned Stoneseeker offers flexibility in its use, making it a solid choice for decks that seek a robust creature presence. Its adaptability shines in various game scenarios, acting as a formidable blocker or an aggressive attacker when the board state allows.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key component in synergistic strategies, especially in decks that capitalize on its creature type or abilities. Building around Horned Stoneseeker could unlock powerful sequences and interactions, making it an impactful pick for players who like to experiment with intricate combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given its stats and abilities, Horned Stoneseeker could hold its own in the current gameplay environment. It matches well against many of the popular creatures and strategies, potentially offering deck resilience and giving players an edge in their matches.
How to beat
Horned Stoneseeker is an intriguing card that offers considerable utility in MTG strategies. To outmaneuver this card, one must first understand its strengths and exploit its vulnerabilities. The key to overcoming a Stoneseeker lies in swift removal spells or abilities that can eliminate it before its owner gets the chance to utilize its benefits. Direct damage spells like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push, which are staples in many competitive decks, can dispatch it cost-effectively and preemptively.
Alternatively, players can focus on containing the Horned Stoneseeker’s effects by employing enchantments or artifacts that restrict creature abilities or prevent the card from attacking or blocking effectively. Cards like Pacifism or the ever-versatile Icy Manipulator can effectively neutralize the Stoneseeker’s presence on the battlefield without having to remove it directly. Timing and strategic planning go a long way; consider keeping mana open for instant-speed responses to ensure that the Stoneseeker doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.
In essence, when faced with the Horned Stoneseeker, players equipped with ready solutions, whether it be through efficient creature removal or clever control mechanisms, will find themselves well-prepared to tackle the challenge it presents on the field of play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Horned Stoneseeker MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Horned Stoneseeker 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Horned Stoneseeker has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Horned Stoneseeker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2022-10-14 | Although all the cards in The Brothers' War that create Powerstone tokens create a tapped Powerstone token, entering the battlefield tapped isn't part of the token's definition. Notably, if you create a token that is a copy of a Powerstone token, the token copy won't enter the battlefield tapped. |
2022-10-14 | Powerstone tokens are a kind of predefined token. Each one has the artifact subtype "Powerstone" and the ability ": Add . This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell." |
2022-10-14 | You can use the added by a Powerstone token on anything that isn't a nonartifact spell. This includes paying costs to activate abilities of both artifact and nonartifact permanents, paying ward costs, and so on. |