Heliod, God of the Sun MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Enchantment Creature — God
Abilities Indestructible
Power 5
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Cleric token creation by Heliod allows for strategic board influence and a diverse range of in-game tactics.
  2. As an indestructible enchantment creature, Heliod’s mana-to-token conversion offers a valuable resource utilization method.
  3. Instant-speed token generation adds a layer of tactical surprise, maximizing Heliod’s effectiveness during play.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Indestructible As long as your devotion to white is less than five, Heliod isn't a creature. (Each in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to white.) Other creatures you control have vigilance. : Put a 2/1 white Cleric enchantment creature token onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heliod, God of the Sun stands out as a source of consistent card utility versus outright card draw. The ability to generate token creatures can often equate to drawing action cards, as each Cleric token made can influence board presence and enact defensive or offensive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: In the ecosystem of MTG, where ramping up resources can be the difference between victory and defeat, Heliod offers a unique kind of acceleration. Being an indestructible enchantment before becoming a creature, Heliod persistently offers the opportunity to use mana to create creature tokens. This provides a solid backup plan, turning any excess mana into potential board advantage.

Instant Speed: While Heliod himself is not an instant, his token generation ability can be activated at instant speed. This provides a player with the tactical advantage of creating blockers or applying pressure during an opponent’s end step, keeping mana untapped during their own turn for other instant-speed interactions and surprises, which can severely disrupt the opposing strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although not directly requiring a discard, Heliod God of the Sun does necessitate a substantial devotion to white mana, which means players might need to forego valuable hand resources to maintain its divine presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Heliod’s casting cost is strictly white mana, demanding a heavy commitment to white mana sources in a deck. This can restrict deck building for multicolored strategies and could impact mana flexibility during gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, including triple white, Heliod God of the Sun can be considered an investment that might not align with the tempo of faster, more aggressive decks. Its cost might outweigh immediate benefits when compared to lower-cost creatures or enchantments that offer swifter board impact.


Reasons to Include Heliod, God of the Sun in Your Collection

Versatility: Heliod, God of the Sun, serves multiple roles in your lineup. This enchantment creature can be a resilient threat on the battlefield and simultaneously boost your creatures with his activated ability. Unlike many other cards, Heliod remains useful in various situations whether you are aiming to be offensive or in need of defensive measures.

Combo Potential: With the ability to give your creatures vigilance and create Cleric tokens, Heliod pairs well with numerous other cards. For instance, combining Heliod with “Serra’s Blessing” or “Brave the Elements” can lead to formidable defenses while still allowing for a full attack. Token generation synergizes with numerous strategies, enhancing decks centered around creature tokens or those that leverage the devotion mechanic.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where enchantments and indestructible creatures pose a significant advantage, Heliod fits right in. The current trends often see decks that struggle against resilient permanents, and Heliod can capitalize on that. His consistent board presence ensures he’s always a card to consider when building or updating your collection.


How to beat

Heliod, God of the Sun presents a formidable challenge on the battleground with its indestructibility and the capacity to empower creatures with its activated ability. However, even divine cards have their Achilles’ heel in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Overcome this celestial being by disrupting its devotion. Without enough white mana symbols on the field, Heliod ceases to be a creature, significantly diminishing its offensive capabilities.

Furthermore, exploit enchantment removal spells which can bypass indestructibility, like Erase or Return to Nature. Exiling effects are especially potent against gods, ensuring that Heliod doesn’t linger on the battlefield. Some players may guard against removal by using protection spells, so be prepared with a diverse arsenal to neutralize such strategies. Lastly, edict effects that force an opponent to sacrifice a creature can be effective since they don’t target, thus circumventing Heliod’s protection and possibly clearing the way for a decisive strike.

Although Heliod, God of the Sun can often seem like an insurmountable opponent, a well-constructed strategy that leverages the right spells can secure victory even in the face of divine power in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Heliod, God of the Sun shines in many MTG decks with its versatility and resilience. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to both using the card effectively and countering it when facing it across the battlefield. Whether you’re enhancing your collection to leverage Heliod’s token generation ability or seeking ways to harness its full potential in white-centric decks, there’s much to explore. Remember, in the world of MTG, knowledge is power. Delve deeper with us to discover the synergies, strategies, and tactics that make Heliod an asset to any player aiming to cement their dominance over opponents. Learn more and grow your MTG prowess with BurnMana.


Cards like Heliod, God of the Sun

Heliod, God of the Sun stands out as a unique enchantment creature within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering. Its attributes evoke comparisons to other legendary deities such as Thassa, God of the Sea. While both cards share indestructibility and remain unaffected by the yardstick of devotion before becoming creatures, Heliod’s focus on creating creature tokens and providing vigilance differentiates it from Thassa’s unblockable granting and scry abilities.

Another celestial parallel is Erebos, God of the Dead. While Erebos inhibits life gain and offers a steady stream of card draw at the expense of life and mana, Heliod centers around bolstering your battlefield presence. His ability to summon Cleric tokens ensures a renewable source of creatures, which can be critical for stalling or aggressive strategies depending on board state. This contrasts the more self-contained Erebos, who thrives in control setups, manipulating life totals and card advantage.

Ultimately, Heliod’s versatility in life-gain themed decks, particularly in Commander format, grants him a reputable place among similar God cards in Magic: The Gathering. His ability to both populate the board and enhance creatures’ capabilities through vigilance renders him advantageous in a variety of strategic setups.

Thassa, God of the Sea - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Thassa, God of the Sea - Theros (THS)
Erebos, God of the Dead - Theros (THS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heliod, God of the Sun MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Heliod, God of the Sun and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Heliod, God of the Sun Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 172003normalblackJaime Jones
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 682015normalblackJason A. Engle
32020-09-26The ListPLST THS-172003normalblackJaime Jones
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8262015normalblackJaime Jones

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heliod, God of the Sun has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-09-15 Hybrid mana symbols, monocolored hybrid mana symbols, and Phyrexian mana symbols do count toward your devotion to their color(s).
2013-09-15 If an activated ability or triggered ability has an effect that depends on your devotion to a color, you count the number of mana symbols of that color among the mana costs of permanents you control as the ability resolves. The permanent with that ability will be counted if it's still on the battlefield at that time.
2013-09-15 Mana symbols in the text boxes of permanents you control don't count toward your devotion to any color.
2013-09-15 Numeric mana symbols (, , and so on) in mana costs of permanents you control don't count toward your devotion to any color.
2020-01-24 As a God enters the battlefield, your devotion to its color will determine whether any replacement effects that affect creatures entering the battlefield apply to that God. Because replacement effects are considered before the God is on the battlefield, the mana symbols in its mana cost won't be counted when determining this.
2020-01-24 Counters put on a God remain on it while it's not a creature, even if they have no effect.
2020-01-24 If a God is attacking or blocking and it stops being a creature, it will be removed from combat. It won't rejoin combat if it resumes being a creature later during that combat.
2020-01-24 If a God stops being a creature, it loses the type creature and the creature type God. It continues to be a legendary enchantment.
2020-01-24 If an effect causes a God to lose all abilities, its ability that causes it to stop being a creature still applies if appropriate.
2020-01-24 The abilities of Gods function as long as they're on the battlefield, regardless of whether they're creatures.
2020-01-24 The type-changing ability that can make a God not be a creature functions only on the battlefield. It's always a creature card in other zones, regardless of your devotion to its color. It's always a creature spell while it's on the stack.
2020-01-24 When a God enters the battlefield, your devotion to its color (including the mana symbols in the mana cost of the God itself) will determine if a creature entered the battlefield or not for abilities that trigger whenever a creature enters the battlefield.

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