Mishra's Helix MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Gaining card advantage by hindering opponents with Mishra’s Helix enables strategic upper hand during matches.
  2. The card’s instant speed activation disrupts opponents, showcasing its potential in control decks.
  3. Inclusive in collections for its versatile control capabilities, fitting several deck archetypes and strategies.

Text of card

o X, oc T: Tap X lands.

The helix was the finest example of Mishra's campaign strategy: if he couldn't have Argoth, no one could.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mishra’s Helix can effectively tap an opponent’s lands during their upkeep, preventing them from utilizing critical resources and potentially causing them to miss important plays. By denying your opponent the opportunity to cast spells, you indirectly gain card advantage as they are forced to hold cards in hand.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself does not directly accelerate your resources, it can indirectly affect the speed of the game to your advantage. By controlling when your opponent can access their mana, you’re able to dictate the pace and possibly accelerate your own board state without interference.

Instant Speed: While Mishra’s Helix is not an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed. This gives you the flexibility to end your turn without committing to a play, allowing you to react to an opponent’s actions and disrupt their plan at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mishra’s Helix demands a discard action for its activation, which might put you at a disadvantage should your hand be nearly empty or if vital cards are in play.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires a precise set of mana to both cast and activate. Its demand for a singular color can be restrictive, especially in multi-colored decks that may find it challenging to satisfy the cost consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana to get onto the battlefield, Mishra’s Helix is an investment. In games where speed is crucial, its high cost may slow down your overall game strategy, allowing opponents to gain a crucial advantage while you’re setting up.


Reasons to Include Mishra’s Helix in Your Collection

Versatility: Mishra’s Helix is a highly adaptable card capable of fitting into multiple decks. With its ability to lock down an opponent’s mana, it suits control strategies that aim to deny resources and trickle the game to a favored conclusion.

Combo Potential: In decks designed around untapping artifacts or generating large amounts of mana, this artifact can become a linchpin. It can repeatedly be used to disrupt opponents, especially when combined with cards that untap your artifacts.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments that are heavy with combo or spell-based strategies, Mishra’s Helix shines. It becomes a tool to preemptively hamper combo execution, making it a relevant sideboard option or main deck inclusion, depending on the prevalence of such strategies.


How to beat

Mishra’s Helix is an intriguing artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out due to its unique ability to tap opponents’ resources. With its potential to shut down an opponent’s mana pool, it’s critical to understand how to disrupt this strategy. Players often rely on artifact removal spells to deal with the Helix. Well-timed removal like Disenchant or Krosan Grip can counter the restrictive effects of this card. Additionally, maintaining a reserve of untapped lands can lessen the impact of Mishra’s Helix’s mana lockdown ability.

Countering artifacts isn’t the only strategy. Players can also protect their mana base by utilizing land untapping effects or diversifying their resource types, such as relying partly on creature or treasure tokens for mana. Cards such as Seedborn Muse or Murkfiend Liege that frequently untap your lands can significantly minimize the disruption caused by Mishra’s Helix. If the Helix lands on the battlefield, activating it becomes the controller’s priority, so be ready to respond before it can be utilized. Vigilance and strategic mana management are crucial in outpacing the constraints Mishra’s Helix may impose on your game.


Cards like Mishra's Helix

Mishra’s Helix is an intriguing artifact in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, securing its niche among cards with the ability to tap opponents’ lands. It finds kinship with the card Winter Orb which also restricts land accessibility, but it addresses all lands while not being selective. However, Mishra’s Helix allows for targeted land lockdown – a precision that can be capitalized on when you’re aware of key lands in your opponent’s arsenal.

Another similar card is the infamous Static Orb. While Static Orb affects all players by limiting the number of permanents that can be untapped, Mishra’s Helix provides a strategic advantage by being selective and only targeting an opponent’s resources. Additionally, unlike Static Orb, Mishra’s Helix demands a mana investment each turn to utilize its ability, making it a more controlled yet resource-intensive choice.

Analyze these artifacts’ functions and their implications on the game reveals the strategic depth they offer. Mishra’s Helix stands out for its precision and the capacity to disrupt opponents’ strategies, making it a potent card for players aiming to control the tempo of the match. This focus on selective interference distinguishes it within its category.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Static Orb - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Mishra's Helix by color, type and mana cost

Gauntlets of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Ring of Renewal - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Avian - MTG Card versions
Soldevi Steam Beast - MTG Card versions
Sand Golem - MTG Card versions
Pandora's Box - MTG Card versions
Belbe's Portal - MTG Card versions
Crumbling Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Mind's Eye - MTG Card versions
Horizon Stone - MTG Card versions
The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions
Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Timesifter - MTG Card versions
Leveler - MTG Card versions
Gilded Lotus - MTG Card versions
Myr Matrix - MTG Card versions
Dross Golem - MTG Card versions
Razormane Masticore - MTG Card versions
Thran Golem - MTG Card versions
Gauntlets of Chaos - Chronicles (CHR)
Ring of Renewal - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Clockwork Avian - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Soldevi Steam Beast - Alliances (ALL)
Sand Golem - Mirage (MIR)
Pandora's Box - Astral Cards (PAST)
Belbe's Portal - Nemesis (NEM)
Crumbling Sanctuary - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Mind's Eye - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Horizon Stone - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
The Deck of Many Things - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Coat of Arms - The List (PLST)
Clockwork Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Timesifter - Mirrodin (MRD)
Leveler - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Gilded Lotus - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Myr Matrix - Darksteel (DST)
Dross Golem - Darksteel (DST)
Razormane Masticore - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Thran Golem - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mishra's Helix MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Mishra's Helix and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Mishra's Helix Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Berry.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 3021997normalblackBerry
21999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 kb3021997normalgoldBerry
31999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 kb302sb1997normalgoldBerry
42000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jf302sb1997normalgoldBerry
52000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jf3021997normalgoldBerry
62020-09-26The ListPLST USG-3021997normalblackBerry

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mishra's Helix has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mishra's Helix card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 You can target already tapped lands.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks