Foundry Helix MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2021-06-18
Set symbol
Set name	Modern Horizons 2
Set code	MH2
Number	196
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zezhou Chen

Key Takeaways

Unleash artifacts’ potential by trading them for impactful damage and board control with Foundry Helix.
Employ instant speed to disrupt opponents’ plans, protecting resources or seizing the element of surprise.
Amidst prevalent creature strategies, Foundry Helix emerges as a flexible and synergistic tool in your arsenal.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a permanent. Foundry Helix deals 4 damage to any target. If the sacrificed permanent was an artifact, you gain 4 life.

Steel never forgets the strike of the forge.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Foundry Helix, you’re leveraging the utility of an artifact you already have on the board. By sacrificing something potentially of lesser value, you can deal direct damage to a creature or planeswalker, which could potentially eliminate a threat and keep your board presence solid. This exchange is an excellent opportunity to turn surplus or expendable resources into significant impact.

Resource Acceleration: Foundry Helix does not directly accelerate resources. However, it enables you to make the most of the artifacts you already control. By using these assets as fuel for Foundry Helix’s effect, you can maintain tempo and pressure without having to invest additional cards or mana from your hand, thus indirectly contributing to your resource management.

Instant Speed: Having the flexibility to cast Foundry Helix at instant speed gives you a strategic advantage. You can respond to your opponent’s actions, potentially disrupting their plays or saving your own creatures from destruction. The ability to use this card during your opponent’s turn adds an element of surprise and allows you to make decisions with the most current information available.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Foundry Helix requires you to sacrifice an artifact or land, which might not always be convenient or beneficial, especially when you’re struggling with maintaining a strong board presence or looking to preserve key pieces for a combo.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost demands both red and white, which could restrict it to decks that run those colors. Players not invested in a Boros color scheme or those looking to optimize their mana base may find the specific mana requirement challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana for a four-damage spell, Foundry Helix faces competition from other removal options that cost less. In a game where tempo is vital, the relative expense of this card could slow you down compared to other direct damage spells.

Reasons to Include Foundry Helix in Your Collection

Versatility: Foundry Helix offers a unique blend of removal and life gain, making it a suitable pick for a variety of red or Boros (red and white) centered decks. Its ability to target both creatures and planeswalkers gives players options in how they manage the battlefield.

Combo Potential: The requirement to sacrifice a permanent as part of its casting can be turned into an advantage with the right deck. Cards that benefit from or replace themselves upon being sacrificed can work hand-in-hand with Foundry Helix, generating additional value and synergy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having efficient removal spells is key. Foundry Helix’s capacity to remove key threats while simultaneously buffering life totals positions it favorably in a meta-game concerned with board presence and life total management.

How to beat

Foundry Helix stands out in MTG as a versatile instant spell that can turn the tide of a game. Its ability to deal 4 damage while potentially saving one of your own permanents makes it a force on the battlefield. To successfully navigate against this card, timing and strategy are critical. Recognizing the mana availability of your opponent is a must, as well as holding onto instant-speed removal or counterspells to deny its casting or minimize its impact.

One clever approach is to make sure the permanents that your opponent may want to sacrifice have already been dealt with, thus reducing the value they get from Foundry Helix. Moreover, keeping a healthy life total can lessen the blow from this unexpected burst of damage. Given the right strategies and reactions, overcoming the challenge of Foundry Helix and gaining the upper hand in your MTG matches is entirely within reach.

Ultimately, respecting the power of Foundry Helix but not fearing it can be the key to outsmarting an opponent who relies on it. With a combination of foresight and sharp play, countering this card’s strengths can swing the momentum in your favor.

Cards like Foundry Helix

Foundry Helix is a distinctive option for players seeking direct damage options in Magic: The Gathering. Reminiscent of the classic Lightning Helix, both cards channel damage to any target while offering a secondary benefit. Foundry Helix, however, requires the additional step of sacrificing a permanent, which, while a drawback compared to the more straightforward Lightning Helix, offers a chance to take advantage of artifacts or creatures that have fulfilled their purpose.

Another parallel can be drawn with Sizzle, a spell that deals damage to each opponent. Foundry Helix lacks Sizzle’s reach, but it compensates with its targeted precision and synergy with artifact-centric decks. We also see similarities with Galvanic Blast, which, in the right deck, can deal comparable damage. However, Galvanic Blast’s potential is heavily tied to having a critical mass of artifacts in play, whereas Foundry Helix is more flexible, allowing for strategic sacrifices and instant-speed interventions.

Assessing these cards side by side, Foundry Helix offers a blend of control and synergistic value, standing out for its utility in decks that can turn the required sacrifice into an asset.

Cards similar to Foundry Helix by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Foundry Helix MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2, 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 Foundry Helix and other MTG cards: