For most Commander archetypes, mana rocks play an essential role in the deck’s success. Even with a ton of powerful tools at your disposal, one of the easiest ways to fall behind is to simply be too slow at deploying your haymakers, and mana rocks do a good job mitigating this issue.
Of course, not all mana rocks are created equal. There are some that stand out above the rest of the pack due to their efficiency and versatility. Super cheap options that also provide value as games go long aren’t easy to come by, which is all the more reason that a particular recent printing deserves a ton of praise.
MTG Herd Heirloom
Yesterday, Herd Heirloom garnered a lot of discussion on The Command Zone Podcast about it being one of the strongest artifacts printed for Commander in 2025. It may not have received a ton of hype during Tarkir: Dragonstorm spoiler season, but it has quickly proven its worth for creature-centric Commander decks.
Right off the bat, a two-mana rock that produces one mana of any color is already up to snuff for decks that feature a lot of colors. Obviously, you’re restricted to using this mana only to cast creatures, but any archetype from Dragons to Dinosaurs will be able to put this mana to good use.
Where Herd Heirloom really starts to separate itself from other mana rocks, however, is with its final activated ability. Being able to give Trample to any of your beefy creatures on a whim makes blocking a nightmare for your opponents, and the card advantage quickly adds up. When paired with creatures like Starwinder and Old Gnawbone, you have the luxury to see how the opponent blocks, making it more likely you’ll get a bunch of value out of your big bombs.
Beyond its general applications, there are some ways to get extra value out of Herd Heirloom’s second activated ability, too. Targeting any creature with Double Strike will enable you to draw multiple cards during a single combat. Similarly, any effects that grant you extra combat steps synergize perfectly with Herd Heirloom. So long as you have the right support around it, Herd Heirloom has the potential to be one of the best cards in your deck.
Best Commander Decks for Herd Heirloom
While Herd Heirloom is a solid addition to many green EDH decks, some Commanders provide better homes than others. Unsurprisingly, given that Herd Heirloom emphasizes connecting with creatures that have four or more power, legends such as Eshki, Temur’s Roar and The Earth King that incentivize you to fill your deck with big creatures will make good use of it. Digging deeper, though, there are a handful of specific legendary creatures where Herd Heirloom’s second activated ability really comes in handy.
Right off the bat, Xenagos, God of Revels comes to mind as a God that provides a serious buff to a creature of your choice but doesn’t give Trample itself. Meanwhile, there are Commanders, including Omnath, Locus of Mana, that are capable of attacking for lethal Commander damage in one swing, and Herd Heirloom is a low-cost way to help you cross the finish line in the face of chump blockers. Lumra, Bellow of the Woods has emerged as a competitive Duel Commander option, and Herd Heirloom is a perfect fit in those decks for the same reason.
Of all the Commander options out there, though, Herd Heirloom might be at its absolute best in Tifa, Martial Artist shells. Tifa decks tend to have a lot of big plays that Herd Heirloom lets you cast ahead of schedule, and the reward Tifa gives you when those haymakers connect in combat is huge. Before you know it, you’ll start drawing two extra cards a turn while simultaneously dealing tons of damage to your opponents.
A Cheap and Powerful Option
Herd Heirloom may be at its absolute best in Commander, but the card does continue to pop up here and there in Constructed as well. Selesnya Landfall has risen in popularity as of late, and even though Herd Heirloom typically appears in small numbers, it can lead to some of the deck’s fastest kills alongside Mightform Harmonizer and Fabled Passage. Given how popular Badgermole Cub decks are, having a low-cost way to push through damage against wide board states is essential, and Herd Heirloom fits right in.
In spite of the card’s vast uses, it barely cracks the $2 mark in traditional near mint form, according to TCGplayer market price. There’s no shortage of copies available in the secondary market, either, so it’s never been easier to pick up a couple copies and upgrade your decks. Don’t let the low price tag fool you; Herd Heirloom is as good as modern-day mana rocks come and is worthy of more recognition.
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