Thraben Heretic MTG Card
2012-02-03 - Number 26
2016-02-26 - Number 20
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
: Exile target creature card from a graveyard.
"Let them decry me for burning the dead. I'm not giving those ghoulcallers any more fuel for their madness."
Cards like Thraben Heretic
Thraben Heretic has found its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a nifty graveyard hate card. It sits in the same realm as cards like Tormod’s Crypt and Sentinel Totem, which serve to exile cards from graveyards. Thraben Heretic offers a repeatable effect, allowing players to target specific cards in graveyards and exile them by tapping. Unlike Tormod’s Crypt, which removes all cards in a single graveyard at once, Thraben Heretic provides more controlled exile actions.
Relic of Progenitus is another contender with a similar impact. It can either target individual cards or exile all graveyards at once, coupled with a cantrip effect. However, Thraben Heretic stands out by being a creature, thereby contributing to board presence, which noncreature spells don’t offer. Additionally, Nihil Spellbomb gives the option of targeted graveyard removal with a draw effect, though it’s a one-time use compared to the renewable utility provided by Thraben Heretic.
Overall, Thraben Heretic provides a unique blend of graveyard disruption and creature utility, making for strategic gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. It demonstrates versatility and provides players with sustained graveyard control, distinguishing it from other similar effects in the game.
Cards similar to Thraben Heretic by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thraben Heretic allows players to target creature cards in graveyards, effectively diminishing opponents’ resources that could be used for recurrent game strategies or reanimation tactics. Though not a direct form of drawing cards, manipulating graveyards can offer significant indirect card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Thraben Heretic doesn’t directly accelerate mana resources, its ability to continually disrupt opponents’ strategies can lead to a quicker path to victory. By removing key creatures from the game, it enables a more controlled game state, reducing the need for excessive mana to handle revived threats.
Instant Speed: Thraben Heretic’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to graveyard-dependent actions during either player’s turn. This trait keeps opponents guessing, as they’ll need to consider potential graveyard exiles before committing to strategies requiring their creatures in the bin.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Thraben Heretic’s ability to take effect, a card must be in the graveyard, which requires strategic gameplay to ensure there are targets available for its exile ability. This could be particularly challenging in the early game where graveyards might not have much fodder for its effect.
Specific Mana Cost: Thraben Heretic’s ability requires white mana, which can constrain its role to mostly white-centric or white-inclusive decks. Players running decks without white mana might find this card incompatible with their mana base, limiting its utility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the cost of one white and one generic mana isn’t exorbitant, it competes for a spot in the two-mana curve against other potent white creatures and spells. Some might argue that its tactical benefit doesn’t consistently justify its slot when considering other options for a two-drop in a tightly curated deck.
Reasons to Include Thraben Heretic in Your Collection
Versatility: Thraben Heretic offers a flexible solution for decks that need graveyard control. This card thrives in metas where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, providing continuous utility each turn.
Combo Potential: With its ability to exile cards from graveyards, Thraben Heretic can be a key piece in disrupting your opponent’s strategies or enabling your own plays that benefit from graveyard interaction.
Meta-Relevance: Given the popularity of decks that leverage the graveyard for value, such as reanimator or dredge archetypes, having Thraben Heretic at your disposal means you’re well-equipped to handle these common threats in the current MTG landscape.
How to beat
Thraben Heretic presents an interesting challenge in Magic: The Gathering, standing out due to its graveyard manipulation abilities. This unique card can become quite a hindrance for decks that rely on graveyard strategies. To effectively neutralize this threat, it’s advisable to focus on removing the Heretic from the battlefield as swiftly as possible. Strategies include direct removal spells or employing creatures that can overpower it in combat.
Another approach is to sidestep the Heretic’s ability by limiting the number of valuable targets in your graveyard. Relying less on graveyard recursion tactics and more on in-hand or library synergies reduces Thraben Heretic’s impact on your strategy. Additionally, you can counteract the Heretic’s ability by using instant-speed reanimation spells in response to its activation, thus getting the most out of your graveyard before the Heretic has a chance to exile your cards.
Adapting your gameplay to minimize reliance on the graveyard, countering the Heretic’s ability, or outright removing the card from play are all effective ways to maintain your strategy despite the presence of Thraben Heretic on the opposing side of the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thraben Heretic MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed, 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 Thraben Heretic 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
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Printings
The Thraben Heretic Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2016-02-26. Illustrated by James Ryman.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-02-03 | Dark Ascension | DKA | 26 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 2 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thraben Heretic has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |