Hero of the Winds MTG Card


Hero of the Winds - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Flying
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 1
Toughness 4
Number23
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage through interaction with other targeting spells, leading to potential card draws.
  2. Can trigger resource acceleration, especially in enchantment-based strategies, enhancing gameplay significantly.
  3. Offers instant-speed play disruption, becoming a more effective attacker or blocker unpredictably.

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast a spell that targets Hero of the Winds, creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.

To tame a griffin is to ride into legend.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hero of the Winds stands out by offering a strategic edge in card utilization. One of its attributes is the ability to synergize with other cards that benefit from targeting spells, potentially translating into card draw or other advantageous interactions. This, in turn, can lead to a sustainable upper hand in card count over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Embodying versatility, this flying creature can be a catalyst for resource acceleration in enchantment-centric decks. Combining its presence with Aura or Equipment spells not only boosts its power but might also unlock additional mana sources or resources, effectively streamlining your gameplay and enhancing your battlefield presence.

Instant Speed: The prowess of Hero of the Winds is further amplified when used in response to an instant-speed spell. This allows for dynamic play during combat, as it can unexpectedly become a larger blocker or a more potent attacker, thereby disrupting the flow of the game in your favor. The agility to act at instant speed is a tactical boon in many scenarios, catching opponents off guard and forcing them to reconsider their strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Among its drawbacks, Hero of the Winds demands a card be discarded to utilize certain abilities. This can prove detrimental when your hand is already depleting, stripping you of crucial late-game plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation hinges on a very particular mana alignment, necessitating both white and additional colorless mana. Such a requirement can prove restrictive, especially in multicolored decks craving flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the cost to bring Hero of the Winds into play sitting at a notable four mana, the benefit gained might not measure up to other options in the same range. Savvy players often look for more impactful creatures or enchantments that can alter the battlefield immediately upon casting.


Reasons to Include Hero of the Winds in Your Collection

Versatility: Hero of the Winds offers a flexible role in decks that focus on flyers or enchantment synergies. Its ability to give another target creature flying ensures your pivotal creatures can evade ground-based defenses.

Combo Potential: With its activated ability, Hero of the Winds can be a key part of combos that revolve around tapping and untapping creatures for value or to enable intricate plays that could swing the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where evasion can be key, especially in limited formats or specific metagames that lack flying creatures, Hero of the Winds provides a strategic advantage by enhancing your board presence and enabling aerial assaults.


How to beat

Hero of the Winds presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to boost other creatures upon activation. In games of Magic: The Gathering, this Skyjack with its modest stats shines when paired with spells and abilities that target creatures. But like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities. To effectively counter this card, focus on removal spells that can bypass its ability to pump other creatures. Removals that don’t target, such as sweepers or -X/-X effects, are exceptionally effective. Cards like Wrath of God or Languish can clear the board and negate the advantages that Hero of the Winds provides without targeting individual creatures, sidestepping the card’s strength.

Additionally, instant-speed interaction is key. Utilizing spells during your opponent’s turn limits their ability to respond and make the most of Hero of the Winds’ ability. Being able to disrupt your opponent’s plans at the right moment is often the difference between victory and defeat. Consider spells like Abrupt Decay or Fatal Push for efficient, targeted removal when Hero lands on the table. Managing the board and choosing the right timing will ultimately guide you to triumph over your winged adversary.


Cards like Hero of the Winds

The Hero of the Winds card leads a trove of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering and shares traits with other cards of similar vein. It comes into play impacting both the board and other creatures with its ability to boost another target creature upon casting a spell. A card akin to Hero of the Winds is Concordia Pegasus, which also offers flying but without the capacity to empower others, making the hero a more versatile choice in a strategic deck build.

Feather, the Redeemed, stands out as a parallel card with a focus on recasting spells that target creatures you control, increasing utility beyond a single event. However, Feather comes with a higher mana cost but potentially more enduring advantage over the course of the game compared to the instant boost provided by Hero of the Winds. Another comparable card is Gustcloak Savior, which allows for defensive measures upon attacking that Hero of the Winds cannot provide, making it a valuable asset in protecting valuable creatures in combat.

In sum, while Hero of the Winds might not have the staying power or broader utility of some counterparts, its immediate impact and lower mana cost make it a unique role player in decks looking to utilize flying creatures and spells synergistically.

Concordia Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions
Gustcloak Savior - MTG Card versions
Concordia Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions
Gustcloak Savior - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hero of the Winds MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Hero of the Winds and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hero of the Winds has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 An ability that triggers when you cast a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-01-24 If you cast a spell that targets this creature multiple times, this ability triggers just once.
2020-01-24 This ability doesn’t trigger if you copy a spell that targets it, or if a spell’s targets are changed to target it.
2020-01-24 This effect affects only creatures you control at the time the ability resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +1/+0.

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