Heartwood Storyteller Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	68
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Heartwood Storyteller grants card advantage each time an opponent plays a noncreature spell.
The card can accelerate resources indirectly, leading to potential advantages over opponents.
Its ability forces opponents to plan their noncreature spell plays more strategically.

Text of card

The first creature spell you cast each turn costs less to cast. The first noncreature spell each opponent casts each turn costs more to cast.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heartwood Storyteller rewards you during each opponent’s turn when they cast a noncreature spell by allowing you to draw a card. This generates a steady stream of extra resources, keeping your hand filled with more options.

Resource Acceleration: The capacity of Heartwood Storyteller to provide card advantage can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By drawing into more lands or mana-producing spells, you have the potential to increase your available resources and outpace opponents.

Instant Speed: While Heartwood Storyteller itself is not an instant-speed spell, it benefits from the instant-speed interaction in the game. Since it triggers on each opponent’s turn, your opponents must carefully consider the timing of their noncreature spells, knowing you might gain an advantage from them. This can influence their strategy, potentially providing you with indirect tactical benefits.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Heartwood Storyteller is the necessity of discarding cards to fulfill certain conditions. This can place a strain on your hand, especially when you’re running low on cards and need to maintain an edge over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes both green and colorless mana, the Heartwood Storyteller can be restrictive. It’s less versatile in multicolored decks that might struggle with green mana consistency, potentially leading to missed plays or delayed deployment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the resources invested versus the benefit gained, the Heartwood Storyteller’s mana cost is on the higher end. This can be problematic when considering other creatures or spells available at a similar or lower cost that contribute more immediately to your game plan.

Reasons to Include Heartwood Storyteller in Your Collection

Versatility: Heartwood Storyteller presents a unique effect that suits various strategies, thriving in decks aimed at spell-heavy or creature-light opponents, and complements green’s natural creature-focused gameplay.

Combo Potential: Its ability to draw you a card whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell makes it a perfect addition to strategies looking to capitalize on draw mechanics or even punish spell-heavy opponents while you advance your board state.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves with sets new and old, this card finds its place by tilting the scales in favor of creature-heavy decks, providing match-up advantages in environments where instants and sorceries dominate.

How to beat

The Heartwood Storyteller is an intriguing creature that can shape the flow of a game in MTG. Its ability to draw a card for each noncreature spell played is both an opportunity and a challenge. Defeating this card calls for a strategic shift, emphasizing creature-based strategies. Prioritizing the casting of creatures over noncreature spells can neutralize the advantage given to your opponent by the Storyteller. Cards like Cavern of Souls can ensure your creatures are uncounterable, reinforcing your creature-focused game plan.

Another effective tactic is to remove the Storyteller from the battlefield as soon as possible. Efficient removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can help you regain control over the card advantage game. It’s vital to consider timing these spells to minimize the benefit your opponent receives. Lastly, utilizing cards with flash allows you to optimize your plays during your opponent’s turn, thereby reducing the window of opportunity for them to draw from your actions. Adapting to the Storyteller’s presence and adjusting your strategy accordingly is key to outmaneuvering your opponent in this nuanced facet of the game.

Cards like Heartwood Storyteller Avatar

The enchanting Heartwood Storyteller from Magic: The Gathering finds its peers within a unique family of cards that impact the flow of the game through drawing mechanics. Notably, it shares the stage with Selvala, Explorer Returned, a card that also allows players to draw while adding a communal aspect to the mechanic, as each player has the chance to benefit from the card draw. The Storyteller, however, is conditioned by the casting of noncreature spells by opponents, adding a layer of strategy around the table.

Another card in this conversation is Runic Armasaur, which subtly generates card advantage by exploiting opponents’ activated abilities. While not directly tied to spell casting, it does echo Heartwood Storyteller’s philosophy of gaining from opponents’ actions. Comparatively, Armasaur is more passive with a narrower focus, yet both cards excel in metagames rich in their respective triggers.

Within the realm of reactive draw, Ghirapur Orrery is a notable mention. It incentivizes playing additional lands and sharing the wealth of card draw when hands are empty. This creates a vastly different dynamic but continues the theme of rewarding or responding to player behavior. Each of these cards adds strategic depth to gameplay, but Heartwood Storyteller stands out for its unique trigger that can turn the tide in a thoughtful player’s favor.

Selvala, Explorer Returned - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heartwood Storyteller Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, 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 Heartwood Storyteller Avatar and other MTG cards: