In just a few days, Tarkir: Dragonstorm cards will be available on MTG Arena and Magic Online for players to utilize. This set has a lot of powerful tools that could make a splash across a variety of different formats.
We’ve talked at length about a lot of the cards that we feel are the strongest in the set, but there is one card that we wanted to highlight as a potential sleeper. This rare artifact isn’t the flashiest design, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make an impact in Standard in the right shell. As a mana producer and card advantage engine, there’s a lot to like, even if the card is a bit restrictive.
A Mana Rock with Major Upside
The card we’re discussing today is Herd Heirloom. On the surface, Herd Heirloom certainly looks a bit underwhelming. After all, how good can a two-mana artifact that only helps ramp out creature spells be? Well, thanks to the combination of both activated abilities, Herd Heirloom can provide a lot of value over the course of the game.
Strictly as a mana producer, Herd Heirloom stacks up poorly in a Standard format where Llanowar Elves already exists. However, Llanowar Elves has fallen by the wayside for a couple reasons. First, the removal in Standard is excellent, and Llanowar Elves rarely survives. Second, in grindy games, Llanowar Elves is a horrible topdeck.
While Llanowar Elves is at its best in green decks that are looking to curve out with threats, such as the Gruul Afterburner Expert shells, Herd Heirloom looks like it could do some real damage in midrange decks that can maximize the final activated ability.
Getting to play cards like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse or Thrun, Breaker of Silence reliably ahead of schedule is powerful. Once you manage to stick one of your burly threats, you can now start relishing the card advantage that Herd Heirloom provides and pull ahead.
What’s especially nice about this ability is that you can activate it at instant speed. Being able to give Sheoldred or one of your flying Demons like Archfiend of the Dross trample mid-combat makes blocking a nightmare for the opponent. As long as you have a high density of big creatures, Herd Hierloom does exactly what you want, and scales nicely as the game goes on.
A Big Boost
Golgari midrange may be the premier option that immediately comes to mind for Herd Heirloom in Standard. That being said, there are some more fringe archetypes where Herd Heirloom could prove to be a pretty big upgrade.
Herd Heirloom pairs particularly well with Brightglass Gearhulk, for instance. Herd Heirloom fixes your mana, making it much easier to cast Brightglass Gearhulk on turn three. One of the more intriguing Brightglass Gearhulk shells is Selesnya artifact aggro, and Herd Heirloom is a natural fit.
Beyond ramping into Gearhulk, Herd Heirloom synergizes with Tough Cookie both as an artifact to target and as a way to give trample to whatever else you target. It gives Regal Bunnicorn trample, which is extremely scary.
There’s a lot you can do with this simple artifact. At minimum, Herd Heirloom should be an appealing Commander card for mono-green creature decks as an accelerant and card advantage machine. In the right Standard environment, though, Herd Heirloom has the potential to shine bright.