Rosethorn Halberd MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 175
2019-11-07 - Number 1319
2022-12-02 - Number 722
2020-09-26 - Number ELD-175
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
Key Takeaways
- Automatically equips to a creature, offering a significant and immediate board presence upgrade.
- Can rapidly redeploy from the graveyard, sustaining pressure and resource efficiency.
- Presents immediate strategy advantage, even under evolving battlefield conditions.
Text of card
When Rosethorn Halberd enters the battlefield, attach it to target non-Human creature you control. Equipped creature gets +2/+1. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rosethorn Halberd efficiently improves your board state by equipping automatically to a creature when it enters the battlefield. This feature spells out an immediate power upgrade for the creature without costing an extra resource, potentially turning a stalemate in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: With a low initial cost and the ability to return it to your hand from the graveyard, the Rosethorn Halberd encourages a quick-paced play. This can lead to accelerated pressure on the opponent and faster game progress. Its reuse provides ongoing value, keeping your resources working for you throughout the game.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, this artifact equips at sorcery speed; however, its innate ability to attach to a creature upon entering the battlefield somewhat bypasses the typical speed restriction of equipping. This subtle nuance means you can unfold your strategy even when the battlefield state is rapidly changing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: With Rosethorn Halberd, players must be strategic about their hand as there is no discard tied to this card’s usage. Holding to ensure optimal play is essential.
Specific Mana Cost: This card needs one green mana to cast, potentially restraining deck-building flexibility, as incorporating it into non-green based decks leads to inconsistencies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s equip cost demands three mana, which can be a sticking point. When considering the tempo of gameplay, there are alternatives that offer better value or effects for equip costs that might appeal to players looking for efficient resource management.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Rosethorn Halberd is adaptable across various deck builds, giving a substantial boost to creatures both great and small. Its inherent ability to equip for free when targeting a green creature makes it a natural fit for green-centric or multicolored decks that leverage the power of nature.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with cards that benefit from equipment attachments or those triggering upon creature casting. Swiftly equipping newly summoned creatures can turn the tides of battle and intensify the offensive pressure in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Rosethorn Halberd can be a cost-effective tool to bolster your offense. Its low mana cost aligns with decks that aim to establish board presence early and overwhelm opponents before they stabilize.
How to beat Rosethorn Halberd
Rosethorn Halberd is an intriguing equipment card that offers a significant early-game advantage in Magic: The Gathering. When it enters the battlefield, it attaches to a target non-Human creature you control, giving it a boost with a +2/+1 increase to its power and toughness. This immediate enhancement can turn a modest creature into a formidable threat, catching an opponent off-guard and shifting the game’s momentum in your favor.
Defeating a creature empowered by Rosethorn Halberd requires strategic planning. Since it’s an equipment, removing the creature it’s attached to can be an effective method, though the Halberd can be re-equipped to another creature on subsequent turns. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells before the Halberd gets attached or when the equipped creature is about to attack or block can disrupt your opponent’s plans. Enchantment removal can also be useful, allowing you to directly target and incapacitate the equipment itself, rendering it useless regardless of its host creature.
Ultimately, handling Rosethorn Halberd efficiently entails recognizing the potential for increased aggression early on and retaining removal resources for critical moments. Anticipating the attachments and prioritizing targets can ensure the Halberd’s impact is minimized, helping to maintain control of the board.
Cards like Rosethorn Halberd
Rosethorn Halberd carves out its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a unique equipment card. It’s reminiscent of other equipment pieces, such as Bonesplitter, which also grants a power boost to your creatures. Rosethorn Halberd, however, stands out with its ability to auto-equip to a creature when it enters the battlefield providing a swift advantage without paying the equip cost initially.
Another comparable card, the Short Sword, offers a smaller power boost for a reduced equip cost. While it doesn’t have the initial auto-equip feature of Rosethorn Halberd, its permanence in buffing creatures could be more cost-effective in the long run. Then we have Veteran’s Armaments which scales its effect based on the number of soldiers you control, targeting a different strategy altogether.
Assessing these equipment cards altogether, Rosethorn Halberd certainly holds its ground due to its immediate impact and ability to turn any creature into a more formidable threat right from the moment it hits the battlefield — a strong start for any MTG player looking to press the advantage.
Cards similar to Rosethorn Halberd by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rosethorn Halberd MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Mystery Booster, 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 Rosethorn Halberd 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 Rosethorn Halberd Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Kari Christensen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1319 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | ELD-175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | ||
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 722 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rosethorn Halberd 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 |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rosethorn Halberd card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | If there are no creatures to attach Rosethorn Halberd to when it enters the battlefield, it simply remains unattached. |
