Heist Target Opponents....oh no

11 Nov, 2024

I'm generally all about trying out new mechanics in Magic the Gathering and I look forward to new sets each time - but something I've not been able to wrap my head around is Heist. Not in a mechanical sense mind you - I understand how it works - I just don't understand how it is at ALL fun to play against.

Heist - Look at three random nonland cards from target opponent's library. Exile one of them face down. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast that spell.

There've been various cards over the years that allow you to steal from your opponent's libraries (or hands) but heist not only allows it at a rapid pace, but then many snowball effects happen in succession that get out of hand exponentially - steal their cards, then say - gain treasure tokens and or free costs for spells you don't own - it becomes this absolute mess that, if they're taking cards from you early on, they likely know which cards will help stall what you're doing or prevent you from being able to stop them.

The excess of removal, the ridiculous amount of counterspells, even mill has become preferable to seeing someone turn 1 Grave Expectations followed by a turn 2 Impetuous Lootmonger and eventually, as always, Grenzo. Fucking Grenzo.

I usually give it one or two turns after a Grave Expectations before I decide if I want to waste my time or move onto someone else. It's not that there aren't ways to stop heist, it's that it becomes a slog to even try when they're stealing 2-3 cards from your deck per turn.

Grave Expectations {B}
<p>Instant</p>
<p>Choose one —</p>
<p>• Heist target opponent’s library.</p>
<p>• Exile up to three target cards from your opponents’ graveyards. You gain 3 life.</p>
<p>Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova

Impetuous Lootmonger {1}{R}</p>
<p>Creature — Human Rogue</p>
<p>First strike</p>
<p>When Impetuous Lootmonger enters, discard a card, then heist target opponent’s library.</p>
<p>Whenever you cast a spell you don’t own, create a Treasure token.
2/2</p>
<p>Illustrated by Inkognit

Grenzo, Crooked Jailer {4}{B}{R}</p>
<p>Legendary Creature — Goblin Rogue</p>
<p>When Grenzo enters and at the beginning of your upkeep, heist target opponent’s library.</p>
<p>Once each turn, you may pay {0} rather than pay the mana cost for a spell you cast that you don’t own.
6/4</p>
<p>Illustrated by Darren Tan

All this said, I had a fantastic round last night while grinding a 'play 30 white or green spells' with my cat deck - and someone grabbed my Ajani, Nacatl Pariah and played it. When I next attacked, they used the cat token Ajani created to block and I think expected that they would get the transformed planeswalker...but it says "owner's" control, not controller's, so the boy transferred back to me and I was able to use his -4 and board-wipe them the next turn.

Ajani, Nacatl Pariah {1}{W}
<p>Legendary Creature — Cat Warrior</p>
<p>When Ajani, Nacatl Pariah enters, create a 2/1 white Cat Warrior creature token.</p>
<p>Whenever one or more other Cats you control die, you may exile Ajani, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control.</p>
<p>His pride denied him; his brother did not.
1/2</p>
<p>Illustrated by Chris Rallis

It felt good - a top tier moment (not unlike Kenrith's Transformation-ing a Platinum Angel to end a game or using Mutiny on someone's Phyrexian Obliterator) but it depends on a very specific situation that I don't think will happen regularly OR will be goofed like that again.

I miss the world of Magic Arena before heist.

#magic the gathering #mtg