Defend the Hearth MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	156
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Raymond Swanland

Key Takeaways

Enhances gameplay by defending multiple creatures with a single card, countering several threats efficiently.
Instant speed casting allows for tactical plays and surprise defenses, disrupting opponent strategies.
Flexibility with Strive mechanic suits various game situations, ensuring mana is used effectively.

Text of card

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to players this turn.

The defenders said not a word. Their shields, spears, and stances were warning enough.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Defend the Hearth provides strategic depth to your gameplay by protecting multiple creatures rather than just single-target prevention. This multiplicative effect can offer a distinct advantage by countering numerous threats with just one card, helping to maintain a robust defense without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in the conventional sense, the scalable nature of Defend the Hearth allows you to efficiently manage your mana with its flexible casting cost. The ability to cast it for its base cost or enhance it with the Strive mechanic ensures that your mana can be appropriately allocated based on the game’s circumstances.

Instant Speed: The capacity to cast Defend the Hearth at instant speed provides a tactical edge, allowing you to react swiftly to opponents’ moves. Waiting until the last possible moment to reveal your defense can disrupt your opponents’ strategies, potentially wasting their resources while you protect your permanents undeterred.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Defend the Hearth requires both generic and green mana, which could restrict its integration in multi-colored decks that don’t heavily feature green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost and an additional cost for its strive ability, it can be costly when trying to prevent multiple attacks in one turn. Other cards may offer similar protection or more versatile effects for a smaller investment.

Discard Requirement: While Defend the Hearth does not have a discard requirement, it necessitates having sufficient mana available, potentially forcing players to hold back spells or creatures they otherwise would have played.

Reasons to Include Defend the Hearth in Your Collection

Versatility: Defend the Hearth is a dynamic card that can be a crucial inclusion in decks that are focused on survival and defense. Its ability to prevent damage from multiple creatures for one turn – and even more turns with the strive mechanic – makes it a flexible choice against a variety of aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: As a card that prevents damage, Defend the Hearth has synergy with cards that trigger upon preventing damage or can be part of a combo to safeguard your life total while setting up your winning conditions, effectively buying you time to turn the tables.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-heavy and aggro decks are prevalent, Defend the Hearth provides a cost-effective shield. Having it in your repertoire can dampen the impact of high-damage swings, making it a key sideboard card that can shift the momentum of a match.

How to beat

Defend the Hearth is one of those magic cards that can throw off your aggressive battle plans in MTG. As a spell capable of preventing all damage that would be dealt to you by attacking creatures, it shines as a protector in moments when an opponent swings in for the win. To effectively maneuver around this card, you might consider incorporating uncounterable spells or abilities that don’t rely on dealing damage, such as “lose life” effects.

In many instances, cards like Questing Beast can circumvent Defend the Hearth’s ability due to its clause that prevents damage from being prevented. Additionally, direct damage spells that target the opponent rather than their creatures can bypass this type of defense. Timing also plays an important role here. Opting to deploy threats after the spell has been cast or attacking when your opponent’s mana resources are low, and they’re unable to pay the hefty cost for the ‘overload’ version of the spell, can be a strategic way to overcome it.

Taking these factors into account and planning your deck accordingly will prove to be helpful in standing up to the challenge Defend the Hearth presents in MTG matches.

Cards like Defend the Hearth

Defend the Hearth invites comparisons to a bevy of other protection spells within Magic: The Gathering. One such example is Fog, a classic card that prevents combat damage for a single turn at a very low cost. Where Defend the Hearth raises the stakes is with its option for a higher mana investment to gain a repeated effect through its Strive mechanic, which Fog does not offer.

Then there is Heroic Intervention, a card that confers both hexproof and indestructibility to your permanents for a turn. This spell costs more mana but offers more comprehensive coverage against all types of threats, not just combat damage. Comparatively, Defend the Hearth is more focused, dealing exclusively with combat damage, which might be more situationally useful depending on your game strategy.

Ultimately, players who prioritize flexibility may lean towards Defend the Hearth, especially in multiplayer games where affecting multiple targets can be critical. It stands as a viable option in a deck’s defensive arsenal, particularly for those who value the potential for long-term board protection. Each card shines in different scenarios, making Defend the Hearth a solid contender among Magic: The Gathering’s wide array of protective spells.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Defend the Hearth MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Defend the Hearth and other MTG cards: