Helionaut MTG Card


Helionaut - Apocalypse
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Flying
Released2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set nameApocalypse
Set codeAPC
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number13
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byFranz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

  1. Helionaut provides card advantage, speed, and resource acceleration, essential for outpacing opponents.
  2. Some drawbacks include a discard requirement and specific mana cost, potentially limiting its utility.
  3. It boasts versatility, combo potential, and meta relevance, making it a worthy collection addition.

Text of card

Flying o1, oc T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.

Hope kept the defenders aloft, but only courage kept them in the fight.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Helionaut card shines in maintaining a strong grip on the game by providing card advantage. This edge can be pivotal as you outmaneuver opponents with a deeper reservoir of options at your disposal. Drawing cards also synergizes well with strategies capitalizing on hand size or card count, making it a versatile option in many decks.

Resource Acceleration: Helionaut can potentially lead to significant resource acceleration. Whether it enables a faster deployment of high-cost cards or just smoothens out your mana curve, this aspect can critically tip the scales in your favor during a match, giving you a lead that opponents might struggle to overcome.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells in MTG cannot be overstated, and Helionaut’s capability to act at this pace adds a layer of strategic depth to gameplay. It allows you to react in real time to the evolving state of the battlefield, potentially disrupting an opponent’s plans or maximizing the impact of your own turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Helionaut requires discarding a card to activate its ability, constraining your hand and potentially hindering your overall game strategy, especially in the early game phases where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Helionaut comes with a mana cost that necessitates white mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolor deck strategies, thereby reducing its versatility across various MTG deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end compared to other creatures with similar abilities, Helionaut could impact your tempo by consuming a significant portion of your mana pool, potentially delaying your ability to play other important spells on curve.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Helionaut offers flexibility to varied deck builds, particularly those in need of a reliable flyer with a useful enter-the-battlefield ability, allowing you to diversify your in-game strategy.

Combo Potential: Helionaut’s ability to untap lands upon entering the battlefield gives it synergy with cards that benefit from lands being untapped, creating opportunities for combo plays and unexpected maneuvers.

Meta-Relevance: Given its modest casting cost and impactful presence, Helionaut is well-suited to current metagames that prioritize efficient creatures, bolstering its value in competitive play.


How to beat

Helionaut, as a card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, introduces a specific layer of strategy to consider during gameplay. With its nuanced ability to potentially grant you an additional turn, it prompts players to think carefully about how to neutralize its impact. To effectively counteract this celestial automaton, consider maintaining a strong line of instant-speed removal spells in your gameplay arsenal. Managing your resources to keep mana open can be critical to disrupt your opponent’s pivotal plays involving Helionaut.

Employing counterspells is also an excellent strategy to prevent this persistent artifact creature from making its mark on the board. When evaluating the timing of your actions, it is crucial to seize the initiative and anticipate your adversary’s moves. Denying them the chance to reap the extra turn can often pivot the course of the duel in your favor. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to outplay and invalidate the Helionaut’s potential, keeping the rhythm of the match under your control.

In summary, the key to overcoming the challenge posed by Helionaut lies in strategic anticipation, carefully timed interaction, and a strong defense. By adopting these tactics, you bolster your position and assert dominance in your Magic: The Gathering matches.


Cards like Helionaut

The Helionaut card makes a splash as an innovative creature in the MTG arena. It draws parallels to other creatures like Skymarcher Aspirant, which also emphasizes an ascend ability, granting it flying when the city’s blessing is obtained. However, Helionaut introduces a twist with an energy counter system, distinguishing it from Skymarcher Aspirant’s more straightforward approach.

Comparable as well is Aethergeode Miner, which operates on energy counters to gain an advantage, but focuses more on flickering itself in and out of play. While Aethergeode Miner uses energy in a different manner, Helionaut uses it to bolster its offensive capabilities, highlighting its unique positioning within the creature lineup. Another card worth noting is Voltaic Brawler, a force to be reckoned with due to its energy synergy, though it leans towards building power and toughness, whereas Helionaut takes to the skies with potential long-term flight capabilities.

Upon review, Helionaut holds its own within Magic: The Gathering’s roster, thanks to its blend of energy mechanics and aerial superiority, offering a tactical edge in the right decks and playing style.

Skymarcher Aspirant - MTG Card versions
Aethergeode Miner - MTG Card versions
Voltaic Brawler - MTG Card versions
Skymarcher Aspirant - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Aethergeode Miner - Aether Revolt (AER)
Voltaic Brawler - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Helionaut by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Elvish Healer - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Soltari Crusader - MTG Card versions
Town Sentry - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Prelate - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Elvish Healer - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Soltari Crusader - Tempest (TMP)
Town Sentry - Portal Second Age (P02)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Sanctum Prelate - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

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

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Helionaut has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks