Harpy MTG Card


Harpy - Theros
TypeToken Creature — Harpy
Abilities Flying
Released2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set nameTheros
Set codeTHS
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number6
Frame2003
Layouttoken
Borderblack
Illustred byNils Hamm
TokenTokens act as indicators during gameplay and are not included into building a deck.

Key Takeaways

  1. Harpy cards offer both board development and hand replenishment, maximizing in-game advantage and momentum.
  2. Their ability to accelerate resources and be cast at instant speed affords players greater strategic flexibility.
  3. Despite potential drawbacks like high mana costs, Harpy cards can be key components in various MTG deck strategies.

Text of card

Flying


Card Pros

Card Advantage: A Harpy magic card that can create multiple tokens or draw cards embodies the quintessential value in card advantage. It can significantly develop your board presence or replenish your hand, keeping the momentum on your side of the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Harpies often have synergies that add to your resource pool, enabling you to accelerate your game plan. They might generate additional mana or allow you to utilize your life total as a resource for powerful effects, thus broadening your strategic options.

Instant Speed: Harpy cards that can be cast at instant speed give you flexibility. They allow you to respond to an opponent’s actions during their turn or at the end of their turn, optimizing your mana usage and maintaining the element of surprise, preserving your strategy’s efficacy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Summoning a Harpy often requires a sacrifice, compelling you to discard other valuable cards from your hand. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is sparse or the cards you’re holding are crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: A Harpy’s summoning could be demanding on your mana resources, typically requiring a combination of black mana and others. This specificity restricts its integration, making it less flexible for decks that don’t run heavily on black mana or multicolor combinations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Harpy creatures may come with high mana costs when evaluated against their impact on the gameplay. This cost assessment might lead players to consider alternative creatures or spells that provide more substantial effects or board presence for a similar or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Harpy cards are known for their adaptability in various deck archetypes. As creatures with often evasive abilities, they can be of great utility in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: Harpies frequently come with synergistic abilities that pair well with sacrifice mechanics or benefit from cards that penalize the opponent whenever a creature dies or attacks. This opens up interesting interactions and combo routes in gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: Given their presence in crucial interactions, Harpy cards can influence battlefield dynamics notably in metas where smaller creatures dominate or where incremental advantages yield significant benefits over the course of a match.


How to Beat Harpy Cards

Harpy cards are unique flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering that often pose a challenge with their flying ability and sometimes daunting life-link or other disruptive abilities. Many decks may struggle to counter these winged threats, especially if they manage to establish a presence on the board early in the game.

To effectively combat Harpies, consider incorporating removal spells that can target creatures in the air or apply global effects. Cards like Doom Blade and Murder are straightforward solutions that can eliminate these creatures at a relatively low cost. Additionally, board wipes such as Day of Judgment or Supreme Verdict can clear multiple Harpies at once, nullifying their combined threat.

For a more strategic approach, employ creatures with reach or spells that grant reach to your defenders. This way, you’re prepared to block Harpies when they swoop in for an attack. Also, adding cards that can reduce the opponent’s life gain, like Tainted Remedy, can cripple the effectiveness of Harpy cards with life-link and turn their strength into a liability.

Tackling Harpy cards requires a bit of foresight and planning. A balanced deck featuring targeted removal, board-wide resets, and defenses against flying creatures will stand a better chance at keeping these menacing birds at bay.


Cards like Harpy

In the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering, harpies are a species that embody the traits of flying and often leeching life from opponents. They compare to other creatures like Vampire Nighthawk, a creature well-known for its flying, deathtouch, and lifelink abilities. Although harpies may not always share the deathtouch attribute, they frequently have abilities that drain life, much like the Vampire Nighthawk.

Considering cards like Bloodthirsty Aerialist, we note parallels in how both creature types can capitalize on opponents losing life, growing stronger or providing incremental advantages. Harpies often thrive in a similar gameplay space, enhancing their board presence or debilitating the opponent directly through life point loss. Yet, MTG players might opt for harpies in scenarios favoring flying tribal synergies or specific combos within a deck.

In evaluating their roles within the game, it’s evident that harpy cards often offer strategic benefits for decks that emphasize aerial combat and incremental damage, positioning them as valuable choices for players looking to exploit these dynamics. As such, harpy cards bring unique and flexible options to the multifaceted ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Bloodthirsty Aerialist - Core Set 2020 (M20)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Harpy MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Harpy and other MTG cards:

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