Herald of the Fair MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 18
2020-11-12 - Number 22
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts board presence efficiently by enhancing other creatures, tipping combat in your favor.
- Limited to white mana, it’s a specialized tool for decks leveraging white strategies.
- Permanent creature enhancement distinguishes it from similar one-time buff spells.
Text of card
When Herald of the Fair enters the battlefield, target creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
"Welcome, one and all! Right this way! Open your eyes, your ears, and your imaginations to the wonders of the Inventors' Fair!"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When delving into what makes Herald of the Fair a worthy addition to your deck, its subtle card advantage cannot be overlooked. Although it doesn’t draw cards outright, by boosting another creature’s power and toughness upon entering the battlefield, it effectively increases the value of your existing board presence. By making your creatures more formidable, Herald of the Fair can tip the scale in your favor without directly adding more cards to your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not producing mana or treasure tokens, Herald of the Fair acts as a form of resource acceleration in creature-centric or token decks. By strengthening your creatures, it helps you apply pressure and assert dominance on the board more rapidly. The augmentation of your creatures is an indirect yet significant acceleration of your game plan, propelling you toward victory with enhanced force.
Instant Speed: While Herald of the Fair operates at sorcery speed, this attributes strategic depth to your gameplay. By playing the card during your main phase, you have the ability to immediately influence combat scenarios, either defensively by deterring attacks or offensively by bolstering an attacker. Its speed encourages thoughtful navigation of turns and optimizes the impact of your combat phases.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Herald of the Fair doesn’t necessitate discarding directly, any card with a situational benefit often indirectly pressures your hand, potentially forcing you to make difficult choices about what to keep or discard throughout the game.
Specific Mana Cost: As a white card, Herald of the Fair requires a dedicated source of white mana, which may not seamlessly integrate into a multicolored deck or a deck with a heavy color spread, making it less versatile for players not focused on a white strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost higher than some other creatures of similar size, Herald of the Fair may not provide the immediate board presence or impact some players look for in a three-mana creature, especially given that its singular ability only triggers when it enters the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Herald of the Fair offers subtle yet powerful support in creature-centric decks, making it a flexible addition. It works well with strategies that involve bolstering creatures to swing the battlefield in your favor.
Combo Potential: This card possesses an inherent synergy with counter-based mechanics. It can set off a chain reaction when paired with cards that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, fostering compelling combinations and interactions within your game.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely on quick tempo, Herald of the Fair can provide a crucial boost. In the right environment, especially where longer games dominate, its impact on creature performance can be a game-changer by tipping the scales during crucial combat phases.
How to beat Herald of the Fair
Herald of the Fair stands out as a creature that can bolster your battlefield presence in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to give another target creature a modest power and toughness boost the turn it enters the battlefield makes it an asset in Limited formats. However, like any card, it has its weaknesses.
When facing Herald of the Fair, removal spells are your most straightforward response. Cheap and efficient removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the Herald before its effect becomes too impactful. Additionally, countering it with spells like Mana Leak or Negate ensures that your opponent doesn’t get the advantage of the +1/+1 buff, maintaining the balance of the board.
It’s also possible to outpace the Herald. Focus on establishing a board presence with creatures that offer higher value for their mana cost, or accumulate card advantage so that you can deal with Herald of the Fair and any beneficiary of its ability in a single swoop. Bear in mind that the Herald’s influence is temporary, so employing a strategy that optimizes long-term gains will frequently tilt the match in your favor.
Cards like Herald of the Fair
Herald of the Fair stands out in the panorama of creature-enhancing spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its family tree with cards like Trusted Pegasus, both cards have a knack for supporting your creature-focused strategies. However, Herald of the Fair carries the unique ability to buff a target creature upon its entrance to the battlefield, unlike Trusted Pegasus which provides an advantage only while it’s attacking.
Comparably, Inspired Charge is a fitting alternative that offers a boost to all your creatures, not just one. This can be particularly advantageous during a full swing to overwhelm your adversary. Inspired Charge, however, misses the tangible presence of a creature on the board after its use. Similarly, Strength of Arms might be mentioned in the same breath, granting an immediate effect with an additional soldier if you have an Equipment in play, yet it doesn’t offer the persistent board presence that Herald of the Fair provides.
Ultimately, in the context of MTG’s vast array of creature buffs, Herald of the Fair has a distinct place. It provides a permanent creature enhancement rather than a fleeting boost, giving it a solid standing among cards designed to empower your creatures on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Herald of the Fair by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Herald of the Fair MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Herald of the Fair and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Herald of the Fair Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 18 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Herald of the Fair has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
