Heartstone MTG Card


Heartstone improves card advantage and resource acceleration, empowering your game state. Its discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit flexibility and deck compatibility. Despite its mana cost, Heartstone’s versatility makes it a valuable asset in many decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

The cost of each creature ability requiring an activation cost is reduced by o1. This cannot reduce an ability's generic mana cost to less then o1.

"Finding a true heartstone is even harder than finding a true heart." —Hanna


Cards like Heartstone

The Heartstone card in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) offers a unique dynamic in reducing the cost of activated abilities of creatures you control. In the realm of MTG, it is akin to the effect of Training Grounds, which also lessens activated ability costs for creatures but differs in the range of cost reduction. Where Heartstone offers a blanket decrease by one generic mana across the board, Training Grounds is more selective, only impacting abilities that cost two or more mana to activate.

Another counterpart to consider is Biomancer’s Familiar. This card takes a different approach by reducing the costs of abilities of your creatures and your planeswalkers, adding a larger scope of influence than Heartstone. Moreover, Biomancer’s Familiar has the added benefit of making activated abilities of mutant creatures you control cost two less to activate, not merely one.

Each of these cards brings strategic advantages in MTG, fitting different deck archetypes and strategies. While Training Grounds is more restrictive in its range, it offers a greater cost reduction. Biomancer’s Familiar, on the other hand, grants broader utility across creature and planeswalker abilities. Heartstone’s strengths lie in its across-the-board cost adjustment, making it pivotal in decks with numerous activated abilities.

Training Grounds - MTG Card versions
Biomancer's Familiar - MTG Card versions
Training Grounds - MTG Card versions
Biomancer's Familiar - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Heartstone by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heartstone excels at enabling abilities that can repeatedly draw or interact with cards. It ensures a steady flow of options, keeping you ahead in resources compared to your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The reduction in ability costs that Heartstone provides allows faster utilization of creatures and abilities. This acceleration means you can do more with the mana you have, giving you a significant edge, especially in the later stages of the game.

Instant Speed: While Heartstone itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it affects abilities that can. This means you get more value out of your instant-speed abilities, which you can use to react to threats or opportunities as they arise, keeping you always a step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Heartstone card is its discard requirement. When you play this card, you’re obliged to discard another from your hand. This can be a significant setback, especially when your hand size is dwindling and every card counts. It forces tough decisions on which resources to sacrifice, potentially hindering your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Heartstone’s mana cost is particularly stringent, requiring a specific combination of mana types. This can be restrictive because it necessitates a dedicated mana base, making it less flexible and harder to slot into a variety of decks. Players running multi-colored decks might find it challenging to consistently meet the mana requirements to play Heartstone effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the abilities it provides, Heartstone comes with a relatively steep mana cost. This can make it less appealing when compared with other cards in the same category that offer similar or better effects for less mana, allowing players to optimize their mana usage and maintain tempo in the game. In competitive play, where every mana point can make a difference, Heartstone might not always be the most efficient choice.


Reasons to Include Heartstone in Your Collection

Versatility: Heartstone is able to fit seamlessly into a multitude of deck types, particularly those looking to maximize the efficiency of activated abilities that require tapping creatures or other permanents.

Combo Potential: This card is notorious for its ability to synergize well in combo setups, often used to enable infinite looping actions that can lead to a win condition in just one turn.

Meta-Relevance: With its cost-reducing ability, Heartstone remains relevant in metagames where decks aim to leverage the power of activated abilities, giving players a significant edge in strategic maneuvers and resource management.


How to beat

Heartstone is a unique artifact card in Magic: The Gathering that stands out for its ability to alter the mana cost involved in activating abilities of creatures on the battlefield. This card can be challenging if not addressed quickly as it enables opponents to use creature abilities more frequently and at a reduced cost. To effectively counter Heartstone, players should consider implementing targeted removal spells or abilities to dismantle artifacts, like Naturalize or Shatter. It’s crucial to remove Heartstone before your opponent can fully leverage its cost-reduction benefit.

A strategic approach involves focusing on the timing of your artifact destruction spells. Activating them when your opponent is tapped out or unable to respond with a counter spell will ensure Heartstone is removed from play successfully. Additionally, employing counterspells such as Negate when Heartstone is cast can preemptively deal with this artifact before its effect comes into play. Remember, as with all strategies in Magic: The Gathering, anticipating your opponent’s plays and adapting your tactics are essential to gain the upper hand and ultimately achieve victory on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Elevate your MTG experience with the nuanced dynamics of Heartstone. Boasting unique abilities like card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed interactions, this card is a robust addition to any deck aiming to streamline its performance. However, its discard requirement and strict mana cost remind us of the delicate balance needed for optimal deck construction. Whether you’re reshaping your strategy around its cost-reducing capabilities or working out its best synergies, take your game to the next level. Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us and uncover the full potential of Heartstone in your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heartstone MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Premium Deck Series: Slivers, 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 Heartstone and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Heartstone Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2009-11-20. Illustrated by John Matson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-03-02StrongholdSTH 1341997NormalBlackJohn Matson
22009-11-20Premium Deck Series: SliversH09 262003NormalBlackJohn Matson
32020-09-26The ListPLST STH-1341997NormalBlackJohn Matson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heartstone has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 It will never reduce any colored mana portion of an activation cost.
2004-10-04 It will not add a to abilities with no generic mana in their activation cost.
2004-10-04 The cost reduction can be applied to additional costs.
2006-07-15 Can’t reduce Snow mana costs.
2016-06-08 Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “
-ost:
-ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.