Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 260
2023-03-21 - Number 256
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip,Transform |
Key Takeaways
- Transforming into Ashmouth Blade offers a substantial boost, providing an edge in combat for minimal mana investment.
- Its synergy with flip-able creatures facilitates sudden, powerful shifts in gameplay, optimizing mana use and strategy.
- Deck building featuring this card demands careful consideration, balancing its potential against its transformative prerequisite.
Text of card
Equipped creature gets +1/+1. When equipped creature transforms, transform Neglected Heirloom. Equip
"There is a rich history in a blade like this." —Old Rutstein
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade plays a clever role in deck strategies that hinge on transforming cards. Once flipped, it becomes Ashmouth Blade, equipping for just one mana to grant a significant +3/+3 boost. This creates an indirect form of card advantage, as it turns a simple equipment into a considerable threat, eliminating the need to draw additional power-increasing cards.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or resources, its low equip cost after transformation is a form of resource acceleration. Players spend less mana to equip compared to other power-boosting equipment, freeing up resources for additional plays each turn.
Instant Speed: While Neglected Heirloom itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it complements creatures with transform abilities that can activate at instant speed. This synergy allows players to adapt swiftly to combat scenarios or end-step transformations, effectively using their mana and new equipment potential on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not applicable in this card’s specific abilities, it does require the transforming condition to be met to optimize its value. In the case of Neglected Heirloom, you need a creature to transform, which may not always be at your disposal.
Specific Mana Cost: Although it has a low initial mana cost to cast, transforming it into Ashmouth Blade requires a red or green creature to transform, making it a bit restrictive in non-red or non-green decks. This limitation can affect deck flexibility and card synergy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Once transformed, the three mana cost to return Ashmouth Blade to the battlefield attached to a transformed creature can be relatively high in situations where mana resources are tight, particularly because it competes with other impactful plays at the same cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade is a dynamic card that can seamlessly adapt to various strategies. Its initial low equip cost can provide a quick power boost to creatures. Upon transformation, the card becomes Ashmouth Blade, further enhancing a creature’s strength and prowess in combat.
Combo Potential: This card excels in decks built around transforming or flipping cards. It works well with werewolves or other creatures that change forms, allowing you to maximize the value of both sides of the card in a single game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that appreciates aggressive strategies, the Neglected Heirloom can be a cost-effective way to apply early pressure. As a two-for-one, it supports a deck’s ability to surge in power without requiring additional card draw, making it a strategic inclusion against a variety of opposing decks.
How to beat
Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade is a unique Equipment card that brings an element of surprise to the battlefield in MTG. At its core, it’s a low-cost Equipment that initially grants a modest boost to a creature’s power and toughness. However, its true potential is unlocked once the equipped creature transforms, turning the Heirloom into the formidable Ashmouth Blade.
To effectively combat this card, it’s crucial to disrupt the transformation trigger. You can achieve this by removing creatures that could potentially transform or by using enchantment removal spells on the Heirloom itself before the transformation occurs. Without the ability to flip into Ashmouth Blade, the card loses much of its threatening potential. Additionally, you can employ artifact destruction spells post-transformation to deal with the powered-up Ashmouth Blade, ensuring it doesn’t turn the tide of combat in your opponent’s favor.
Ultimately, the key to beating the Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade lies in timing and controlling the flow of the game, preventing this seemingly innocuous artifact from becoming an overwhelming obstacle on the path to victory.
Cards like Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade
Neglected Heirloom and its transformed state Ashmouth Blade holds a unique spot in the arsenal of MTG artifacts. In a similar spectrum, we see Trusty Machete, which offers a consistent +2/+1 boost without the need for transformation. Yet, Neglected Heirloom overcomes this boundary by evolving into a form that delivers a substantial +3/+3 and first strike advantage once flipped, significantly strengthening its wielder.
Another comparable equipment is Captain’s Claws, which consistently generates 1/1 Ally creature tokens upon attacking, albeit with a lesser power upgrade. It provides a wider field presence compared to the concentrated force upgrade from Ashmouth Blade. Conversely, if we look at Embercleave, a card that dynamically alters the game’s momentum, especially when surprise-dropped mid-combat, we notice a higher impact with its double strike and trample buffs; however, its costlier nature and legendary status make it a less versatile addition than the Heirloom.
Evaluating the dynamics of these alternatives showcases that Neglected Heirloom and Ashmouth Blade occupy an intriguing niche in MTG, balancing hidden potential with an impactful reveal, poised to be a transformational force in the right deck build.
Cards similar to Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 260 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 256 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Neglected Heirloom // Ashmouth Blade card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | When Neglected Heirloom transforms, it remains attached to the creature it’s attached to. If the equipped creature transforms into a noncreature permanent, Neglected Heirloom will become unattached before it transforms into Ashmouth Blade. |
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |