Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator MTG Card


Rona offers card advantage and resource acceleration, bolstering mid to late-game plays significantly. Mandatory discard and specific mana requirements may hinder her inclusion in some deck types. Despite her limitations, Rona’s versatility and combo potential make her a compelling pick.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities Transform
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever you cast a legendary spell, untap Rona, Herald of Invasion. : Draw a card, then discard a card. {PB}: Transform Rona. Activate only as a sorcery. ({PB} can be paid with either or 2 life.)


Cards like Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator

Rona, Herald of Invasion stands out as a unique piece in the pantheon of creature cards in MTG. When we examine its nearest counterparts, cards like Rona, Disciple of Gix come to mind. Both Ronas share a penchant for interacting with exiled cards, yet Rona, Herald of Invasion takes things further by allowing the player to benefit from each opponent’s exile zone, creating layers of strategic depth.

Another card that enters the conversation is Gonti, Lord of Luxury. Like our latest version of Rona, Gonti enables you to play with cards from another player’s deck. However, Gonti’s ability is a one-time occurrence upon entering the battlefield, while Rona, Herald of Invasion potentially offers more sustained value over the course of a game.

Delving into the family of Invasion creatures, cards like Nightmare Shepherd also echo the theme of ‘use from exile’ but with a focus on your own creatures, while Rona, Herald of Invasion explores this dynamic through the lens of opponents’ exile zones. The subtle differences in these mechanics make Rona, Herald of Invasion a compelling choice for players seeking to capitalize on exile-zone tactics.

Rona, Disciple of Gix - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Rona, Disciple of Gix - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator by color, type and mana cost

Zuran Enchanter - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Hypnotist - MTG Card versions
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Shadowstorm Vizier - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Lazav, the Multifarious - MTG Card versions
Zuran Enchanter - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Hypnotist - MTG Card versions
Metathran Zombie - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Dimir Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Lurking Informant - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Witch - MTG Card versions
Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hibernation Sliver - MTG Card versions
Drowned - MTG Card versions
Woodlot Crawler - MTG Card versions
Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
Shadowstorm Vizier - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Lazav, the Multifarious - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rona, Herald of Invasion enables the player to fetch an instant or sorcery card from their graveyard to their hand when it enters the battlefield. This mechanism not only recycles valuable spells but also ensures a replenishment of resources which can be crucial during the mid to late game.

Resource Acceleration: Upon casting Rona, players get the additional benefit of creating a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. This token can be instrumental in ramping up one’s board presence and can be utilized for various synergies, including but not limited to sacrificing for mana or triggering artifact-related effects.

Instant Speed: While Rona, Herald of Invasion does not operate at instant speed, her ability to effectively recur instant-speed spells from the graveyard gives players a tactical edge. This gives the deck an element of surprise and versatility, as it allows the player to maintain a threat with the spells recovered through Rona’s triggered ability, which can be played at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rona, Herald of Invasion demands players to discard a card to trigger its powerful abilities. In the heat of a tight game, players may find this cost too steep, as it could diminish the already limited options in their hand. Holding onto a card just to discard it later is a strategic decision that not all deck types can afford to make.

Specific Mana Cost: Rona’s casting cost is color-specific, requiring both blue and black mana. This could potentially limit its inclusion to only blue-black or multicolor decks. Players strictly running mono-color or other combinations may find Rona incompatible with their strategic framework or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its particular type, it may not always be the most mana-efficient play. Other cards in the same mana range may offer more immediate impact, stronger board presence, or additional utility, providing competing choices for a slot in your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rona, Herald of Invasion offers flexibility in deck-building owing to her unique ability to exile and later cast historic spells. This trait allows her to synergize with a wide range of strategies, particularly in decks that heavily feature artifacts, sagas, or legendary cards.

Combo Potential: Her ability to retrieve key historic cards from the graveyard presents numerous combo possibilities. Building a deck that capitalizes on this can lead to powerful plays and unexpected comeback mechanisms within games.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where graveyard interaction and historic cards are prevalent, Rona becomes an invaluable asset. Her presence ensures that strategies tailored around such elements maintain their efficacy against opposing gameplay styles.


How to Beat Rona, Herald of Invasion

Rona, Herald of Invasion steps into the battlefield with the potential to shake up the pace of Magic: The Gathering games. This unique card not only fetches a historic card from your deck but also allows you to cast nonland cards from exile, building up an advantageous position. One key strategy to dismantle Rona’s advantage is by preemptively ripping cards out of your opponent’s hand, disrupting their game plan before Rona can retrieve value with disruptive cards like Thoughtseize or Duress.

Another method is to focus on removal that exiles or sends Rona to the graveyard from the battlefield directly, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push. Such cards cut short Rona’s reign, preventing further exploitation of historic spells. In addition, continuously applying pressure with aggressive creatures can overwhelm a Rona-centered strategy before it fully manifests, forcing your opponent to play defensively instead of capitalizing on Rona’s abilities.

Ultimately, to triumph over Rona, Herald of Invasion, adaptability is key. Knowing when to disrupt your opponent’s hand, remove Rona from play, or pressuring with relentless attacks will keep this herald’s invasion at bay, maintaining control over the flow of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine, 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 Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 2952015TransformBlackDaniel Lieske
22023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 752015TransformBlackVictor Adame Minguez
32023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 75s2015TransformBlackVictor Adame Minguez
42023-04-21March of the Machine Art SeriesAMOM 162015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 If the spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2023-04-14 If you cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay any additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
2023-04-14 Playing a legendary land won’t cause the first ability to trigger.
2023-04-14 The first ability of Rona, Herald of Invasion will resolve before the spell that caused it to trigger.
2023-04-14 The spell you cast from exile without paying its mana cost is cast during the resolution of the triggered ability. Timing restrictions of that spell based on card type are ignored.