Tectonic Hellion MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Hellion |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Released | 2019-08-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Commander 2019 |
| Set code | C19 |
| Power | 8 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 29 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Piotr Dura |
Text of card
Haste Whenever Tectonic Hellion attacks, each player who controls the most lands sacrifices two lands.
Hellions measure their meals in mountains.
Cards like Tectonic Hellion
Tectonic Hellion is an impactful creature in Magic: The Gathering, falling into the realm of substantial red creatures with devastating abilities. Its most direct comparison might be to the likes of Thundering Spineback, another creature that also modifies the battlefield upon arrival. Tectonic Hellion, when it attacks, forces each player to sacrifice a number of lands to match the number of attacking creatures, which can significantly hamper opponents’ mana resources. Thundering Spineback doesn’t affect land, but it does offer a consistent benefit by buffing your dinosaurs and creating new ones.
Alternatively, we might look at Magma Giant for similarity in effect, with its arrival triggering damage to each creature and each opponent, providing a different but equally game-changing influence. Although it doesn’t directly disrupt land bases like Tectonic Hellion, it clears smaller creatures off the board. Avalanchers is another card with a potentially land-disruptive effect. While it requires players to sacrifice mountains instead of just any land, the idea of land sacrifice is similar in spirit to Tectonic Hellion’s land upheaval.
Choosing between these cards involves a strategic decision based on desired board impact. Tectonic Hellion stands out for its potential to disrupt opponents’ strategies by attacking their mana base, a particularly devastating move in the later stages of a game.
Cards similar to Tectonic Hellion by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tectonic Hellion has the potential to disrupt your opponent’s board by forcing them to sacrifice lands, indirectly generating card advantage as your opponent loses valuable resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Tectonic Hellion does not directly accelerate your resources, its 7/3 stat line can quickly close out games, acting as a form of tempo acceleration that puts opponents on the defensive.
Instant Speed: Although Tectonic Hellion itself doesn’t have instant speed, pairing it with instant-speed enablers like flash can lead to unexpected swings in your favor, taking opponents by surprise during their end step or after they’ve tapped out.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Tectonic Hellion demands that you sacrifice a land when it attacks, which can set back your board state and slow down your pace, especially if land drops have been scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: This behemoth comes at a specific mana investment of two red and five colorless, potentially straining your mana base and making it a challenging fit for multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven total mana cost to bring this creature out, players might find it taxing to cast, especially when facing faster decks that can exploit the turns while you’re gathering resources.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tectonic Hellion’s ability to adjust to various playstyles makes it a valuable addition for players who enjoy impacting the board as soon as it enters. It excels in land-heavy decks, potentially devastating opponents’ mana bases.
Combo Potential: It pairs well with landfall strategies, encouraging the play of additional lands to trigger its ability. This opens the door for combos that can quickly dominate the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors permanence on the board, the Hellion’s land bouncing mechanic can significantly disrupt opponents’ plans, making it a tactical choice against decks that rely on land synergies.
How to Beat Tectonic Hellion
Tectonic Hellion emerges as a formidable force on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering, demanding an answer from opponents due to its devastating land sacrifice ability. Navigating around this destructive creature card can be challenging but achievable with the right strategy in place. The key is to mitigate its havoc before it unravels one’s mana base.
To counter the Hellion’s strength, consider employing creature removal spells that can target and dispose of it before it gets a chance to attack. Due to its high power, spells that destroy based on power, such as ‘Reckless Spite’ or ‘Doom Blade’, become invaluable in your arsenal. Moreover, utilizing control elements like counter-spells when the Hellion is cast is an efficient pre-emptive tactic. Cards like ‘Essence Scatter’ can effectively negate its summoning altogether.
Lastly, keeping a low land count on the field can minimize the effects of Tectonic Hellion’s land sacrifice ability. By focusing on land efficiency and low-curve spells, you ensure that the Hellion has a less impactful presence. In all, success against Tectonic Hellion lies in pre-emptive control, efficient removal, and strategic land management within your MTG game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tectonic Hellion MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2019, 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 Tectonic Hellion and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tectonic Hellion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tectonic Hellion card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-08-23 | If more than one player controls the most lands, each of those players sacrifices two lands. If everyone controls the same number of lands, everyone sacrifices two lands. |
| 2019-08-23 | If more than one player will sacrifice lands as Tectonic Hellion’s triggered ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses two lands they control (if they control the most lands), then each other player in turn order does the same if they control the most lands, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen lands are sacrificed at the same time. |
| 2019-08-23 | The player or players who will sacrifice lands is determined only as Tectonic Hellion’s triggered ability begins to resolve. |