Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven MTG Card
2021-02-05 - Number 302
2021-02-05 - Number 40
2021-02-05 - Number 40s
2002-06-24 - Number 88238
2021-02-05 - Number 9
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — God |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Provides persistent card advantage and scry, ensuring access to necessary spells for game advancement.
- Demands high card hand count and specific mana, which can limit deck integration and summoning timing.
- Flexibility and meta-relevance make Alrund an adaptable, strategic addition to diverse MTG decks.
Text of card
Alrund gets +1/+1 for each card in your hand and each foretold card you own in exile. At the beginning of your end step, choose a card type, then reveal the top two cards of your library. Put all cards of the chosen type revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Alrund, God of the Cosmos shines in providing a persistent edge in card advantage. Once on the battlefield, his ability to scry each time a player casts two or more spells per turn equips you with a reliable method to sift out the right tools for any situation. Furthermore, his other half, Hakka, Whispering Raven, flies back into your hand for potential re-casting, each time bringing with it valuable draw power.
Resource Acceleration: Alrund’s synergistic ability with multiple spell casts can lead to indirect resource acceleration. By optimizing your draw and scrying the right cards to the top of your library, you can significantly increase your chances of hitting land drops and accessing necessary spells more quickly, thereby accelerating your gameplay and outpacing your opponents’ resource development.
Instant Speed: Hakka, Whispering Raven, the flip side of Alrund, attacks and then returns to hand at instant speed, which provides flexibility. This allows you to surprise opponents with a mid-combat trick or simply use your mana efficiently by making decisions at the last possible moment. The dynamic nature of this card design makes Alrund adaptable in various stages of the game, ensuring that you’re always maximizing your options.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One limitation of Alrund, God of the Cosmos is its reliance on a high card hand count to leverage its full potential. This aspect may not align with strategies that involve frequent discarding or decks with low card draw capabilities.
Specific Mana Cost: As a legendary creature that demands a specific mana alignment, Alrund requires blue and generic mana, which may not be conducive to all deck types. Players without a strong blue mana base might struggle to summon Alrund at the opportune moment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five mana cost for its base form, Alrund might be considered a steep investment, especially when competing options may provide similar advantages at a reduced cost, making it a potential bottleneck in the early-to-mid phases of gameplay.
Reasons to Include Alrund, God of the Cosmos in Your Collection
Versatility: Alrund, God of the Cosmos stands out for its flexibility within the game. Its unique design allows it to perform well as both an early and late-game card due to its front side, Alrund, that scales based on the number of cards in your hand, and its back side, Hakka, Whispering Raven, which turns into a valuable scry resource when it hits your opponent.
Combo Potential: As a powerful source of card advantage, Alrund can slot into decks that capitalize on drawing and playing numerous cards. When paired with effects that care about high-powered creatures or increase card draw, Alrund becomes a combo enabler, paving the way for synergistic plays that can turn the tide of the game.
Meta-Relevance: Within the changing landscapes of MTG metas, having a card like Alrund can give any deck a competitive edge. Its adaptable nature ensures that it remains a beneficial force against a variety of strategies, earning its place in formats where knowledge of the opponent’s hand and setting up key turns is paramount.
How to beat
Alrund, God of the Cosmos is a versatile card that can challenge players in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to scale in power based on the number of cards in your hand. This dynamic Norse deity doesn’t just bring a strong presence to the battlefield but also possesses Hakka, Whispering Raven, which can flip to become Alrund itself after a strategic retreat.
To effectively counter this card, focus on strategies that minimize your opponent’s hand size, weakening Alrund’s power. Discard effects, such as those from Liliana’s Caress or Duress, can be particularly potent in diminishing its strength. Moreover, dealing with the card directly through spot removal or using board wipes before its hand-scaling effect becomes significant can also be a sound strategy. Preventing Alrund from flipping to its full potential with the Whispering Raven side can be done by managing flying creatures or utilizing spells that negate or bounce flying threats. However, always be mindful of the variable nature of Alrund’s power and adapt your approach accordingly, ensuring you maintain control over the battlefield.
Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of Alrund, God of the Cosmos is essential for any player facing this formidable opponent in Magic: The Gathering. Tailoring your strategy to dismantle the opponent’s hand while being prepared to counter the God’s transformations is key to coming out on top.
Cards like Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven
Alrund, God of the Cosmos stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a card of versatility and dynamic power. When assessing similar legendary creatures, it’s interesting to consider Thassa, God of the Sea. Both have the power to impact the game significantly but do it differently. Thassa offers consistent unblockability and a scry ability, promoting control of the board and deck manipulation.
Another comparable deity is Keranos, God of Storms, which offers card draw and direct damage. While Keranos leans towards a burn and value strategy, Alrund excels in its adaptability and potential card advantage due to the varying abilities it holds, especially when paired with Hakka, Whispering Raven. This other half offers a glimpse into the future of your draws, ensuring you’re never without options.
Ultimately, Alrund, God of the Cosmos carves a niche within legendary creatures in MTG. Its flexibility to switch between a potent creature or an insightful scry tool is unmatched, putting it a step above in terms of utility and strategic depth. Players looking for a god that adapts to the ebb and flow of the match will find Alrund to be an invaluable addition.
Cards similar to Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Kaldheim, 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 Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven 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
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Printings
The Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 88238 | 2015 | Modal DFC | Black | Richard Luong | ||
| 2 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 302 | 2015 | Modal DFC | Black | Richard Luong | |
| 3 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 40 | 2015 | Modal DFC | Black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 4 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim Promos | PKHM | 40s | 2015 | Modal DFC | Black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 5 | Kaldheim Art Series | AKHM | 9 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Kieran Yanner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-01-22 | Alrund recieved day 1 eratta to clarify that you select from the cards "revealed this way". For more information, see https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/kaldheim-release-notes-2021-01-22 |
| 2021-02-05 | A modal double-faced card can’t be transformed or be put onto the battlefield transformed. Ignore any instruction to transform a modal double-faced card or to put one onto the battlefield transformed. |
| 2021-02-05 | Alrund’s first ability applies only while Alrund is on the battlefield. In every other zone, Alrund is 1/1. |
| 2021-02-05 | If an effect allows you to play a land or cast a spell from among a group of cards, you may play or cast a modal double-faced card with any face that fits the criteria of that effect. |
| 2021-02-05 | If an effect allows you to play a specific modal double-faced card, you may cast it as a spell or play it as a land, as determined by which face you choose to play. If an effect allows you to cast (rather than “play”) a specific modal double-faced card, you can’t play it as a land. |
| 2021-02-05 | If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name, the name of either face may be chosen. If that effect or a linked ability refers to a spell with the chosen name being cast and/or a land with the chosen name being played, it considers only the chosen name, not the other face’s name. |
| 2021-02-05 | If an effect puts a double-faced card onto the battlefield, it enters with its front face up. If that front face can’t be put onto the battlefield, it doesn’t enter the battlefield. |
| 2021-02-05 | In the Commander variant, a double-faced card’s color identity is determined by the mana costs and mana symbols in the rules text of both faces combined. If either face has a color indicator or basic land type, those are also considered. |
| 2021-02-05 | The mana value of a modal double-faced card is based on the characteristics of the face that’s being considered. On the stack and battlefield, consider whichever face is up. In all other zones, consider only the front face. This is different than how the mana value of a transforming double-faced card is determined. |
| 2021-02-05 | The words “revealed this way” were inadvertently omitted from the printed card. Alrund’s current Oracle text appears above. |
| 2021-02-05 | There is a single triangle icon in the top left corner of the front face. There is a double triangle icon in the top left corner of the back face. |
| 2021-02-05 | To determine whether it is legal to play a modal double-faced card, consider only the characteristics of the face you’re playing and ignore the other face’s characteristics. |
| 2021-02-05 | You may choose any card type, but the ones that may appear in your library are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type found on some older cards). Supertypes such as snow and basic may not be chosen. Subtypes such as God, Aura, and Forest also may not be chosen. |
