Honden of Seeing Winds MTG Card


Honden of Seeing Winds scales card drawing with each shrine, offering a broad strategic advantage. It’s essential for shrine decks, fueling strategies with a consistent influx of resources. Despite its high mana cost, its long-term benefits can be a game-changer in various formats.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Shrine

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card for each Shrine you control.

To the sorrow of all, its winds found sin in the hearts of those who once learned from its wisdom.


Cards like Honden of Seeing Winds

Honden of Seeing Winds enjoys a unique position within the enchantment category of Magic: The Gathering. Closest to its abilities are cards from the Shrine family, like Sanctum of Calm Waters. Both contribute to hand advantage through card draw, yet Honden of Seeing Winds stands out by potentially drawing multiple cards each turn. It doesn’t offer the same control over your hand as Sanctum of Calm Waters, which allows you to choose and discard.

Another comparison is with Concentrate, a straightforward card draw that delivers three cards for four mana. Honden of Seeing Winds may initially seem less efficient, but in a long game, especially in a deck with other Shrines, it vastly outpaces Concentrate in card advantage. Then there’s Recurring Insight, which draws cards equal to the number of cards in the target opponent’s hand—a large number in some situations, but it lacks the repeatability of Honden of Seeing Winds.

Weighing their repeated benefits against upfront costs, Honden of Seeing Winds affirms its status as a powerful asset in any deck aiming to accrue card advantage over time. Its potential to transform each turn into a significant draw round solidifies its standing as a potent card in the Magic: The Gathering realm.

Sanctum of Calm Waters - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Recurring Insight - MTG Card versions
Sanctum of Calm Waters - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Recurring Insight - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Honden of Seeing Winds by color, type and mana cost

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Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Mind Control - MTG Card versions
Dispersing Orb - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Cowardice - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Biting Tether - MTG Card versions
Coma Veil - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Honden of Seeing Winds. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color MidrangeFive-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 06 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Honden of Seeing Winds in play, each of your upkeep phases becomes a draw phase, enabling you to pull an additional card for each Shrine you control. This incremental advantage scales with the number of Shrines, potentially drawing you into game-winning combos or the answers you need to control the board.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t produce mana or tokens directly, this MTG card synergizes with other Shrine cards to quickly fill your hand, ensuring you never run out of fuel. More cards mean more resources to deploy on the battlefield, giving you the speed necessary to outpace your opponents.

Instant Speed: While Honden of Seeing Winds itself isn’t an instant, it exponentially improves the effectiveness of your instant spells. With a fuller hand each turn, you can be more selective with your instants and other spells, choosing the optimal moment for disruption, protection, or removal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Honden of Seeing Winds itself doesn’t require you to discard, it does demand a significant commitment to the shrine strategy to be effective. Without a consistent way to populate your board with shrines, its impact can be minimal, making it feel as though you’ve discarded opportunities for other plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Honden of Seeing Winds’ mana cost necessitates a commitment to blue mana. This dedication can steer deck construction towards a heavier emphasis on blue, potentially limiting diversity and flexibility within a multicolored deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment of five mana is steep, especially when considering other card draw options available at lower costs. Since it also relies on having other shrines in play to optimize its ability, it can be slow to start, and you may find yourself behind more tempo-focused decks.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Honden of Seeing Winds offers a unique ability for players who desire consistent card draw. As a part of the “Honden” cycle, it works seamlessly within Shrine decks, but it can also enhance any blue-based control or combo deck looking for reliable draw.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can be a powerful engine when combined with other Shrines, exponentially increasing your card advantage each turn. It can also fit into decks that capitalize on having numerous enchantments on the field, triggering prowess-like effects or enhancing constellation strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to go long, the sustained card draw provided by Honden of Seeing Winds ensures that you don’t run out of resources. Especially useful in Commander formats, it can be a valuable asset against decks that aim to win through attrition.


How to Beat Honden of Seeing Winds

Encountering the Honden of Seeing Winds on the battlefield can be a significant challenge for many players. This Legendary Enchantment is part of a cycle of Shrines, and while it delivers consistent card advantage, there are strategic ways to mitigate its impact. One effective method is applying targeted removal on enchantments. Disenchant and Naturalize are excellent tools that provide an inexpensive solution to remove Honden of Seeing Winds from the game.

Another tactful approach is using counter spells when your opponent casts it. In this way, you stop the flow of cards before it begins. For those who prefer a more preemptive strategy, hand disruption can ensure Honden of Seeing Winds, or any other key cards, don’t make it onto the field in the first place. Thoughtseize and Duress are prime examples of spells that can pick apart an opponent’s strategy from the hand outwards. Lastly, going for a quick win through an aggressive deck can overpower the slow card advantage offered by the Honden.

The key lies in recognizing the timing to disrupt your opponent’s plans effectively. By knowing when to eliminate key pieces like the Honden of Seeing Winds, you maintain the upper hand and diminish the card’s impact on your game’s outcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re captivated by the strategic depth that Honden of Seeing Winds offers in your MTG gameplay, its consistent card draw ability makes it a compelling addition to your collection. With every Shrine you control, you enhance your in-game advantage, drawing you closer to victory. Consider incorporating this card within a well-structured Shrine deck to optimize its potential, or infuse it into your control decks to ensure you’re never short on options. While it may present some mana challenges, the payoff in sustained resources is undeniable. Dive in deeper and expand your strategic horizons with us — Honden of Seeing Winds might just become the cornerstone of your next triumphant deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Honden of Seeing Winds MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Eternal Masters, 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 Honden of Seeing Winds and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Honden of Seeing Winds Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by Martina Pilcerova.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-10-01Champions of KamigawaCHK 692003NormalBlackMartina Pilcerova
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 542015NormalBlackMartina Pilcerova
32020-09-26The ListPLST CHK-692003NormalBlackMartina Pilcerova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Honden of Seeing Winds has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal