Every MTG deck tells a story. Some decks are built to control, some to swarm, and some to Outlast, but every now and then, a mechanic comes along that pushes you to step forward, defy the odds, and become stronger for it. And on the plane of Theros (2013), a world shaped, or dare I say, Inspired (that's a Journey into Nyx mechanic for those of you who don't know) by Greek mythology, the mechanic Heroic captures that very essence as it rewards you every time you empower your creatures by casting spells that target them.

So, if you've ever dreamed of turning small, seemingly ordinary creatures into unstoppable figures of legends, join me in this week's Mechanic's Overview Segment as we take a closer look at this mechanic, where it began, and what it means to be truly Heroic.

What is Heroic?

"Heroic -- Whenever you cast a spell that targets [creature], [triggered ability]."

Heroic is an ability word that rewards you for casting spells that target your creatures. So,every time you cast an instant, sorcery, or aura that targets a creature with Heroic, its ability will trigger, granting you a powerful benefit. Maybe your creature will gain a +1/+1 counter. Maybe it will summon up some allies to join the fight. Maybe it will strike down your opponent's forces or even grant you some much-needed card draw. Whatever the result, Heroic rewards you for lifting your creatures up and giving them the blessings they need to succeed.

The History of Heroic

On the plane of Theros, Gods constantly watched from above, and mortals who dared to perform great deeds were blessed with great power. And with numerous Gods in attendance, Heroic was rightfully spread across all five colors, all granting different effects:

• White granted protection by adding counters or preventing damage.
• Red embraced aggression by creating tokens or dealing damage.
• Blue offered utility by letting you scry and manipulate the board at will.
• Green brought sheer power by piling on multiple +1/+1 counters.
• lack simply did what Black often does best by forcing opponents to sacrifice, discard, or lose life.

Then, when Theros Beyond Death came out in 2020, while it brought us back briefly to the plane of Gods and champions, the Heroic keyword itself didn't return. Instead, its spirit lived on in cards like Hero of the Nyxborn, Hero of the Winds, Hero of the Games, Hero of the Revel, and Hero of the Pride, all of which rewarded you for casting spells that targeted them, much like their predecessors, but their effects were streamlined, granting all your creatures a straightforward +1/+0 buff across the board.

To Be Heroic

As Philoctetes from Disney's Hercules would say, "Rule number 95, kid: concentrate." Being a hero isn't always straightforward, so let's go over some quick rules to always keep at the back of your noggin' when you're training up your Heroic creatures:

Only You Can Make Your Creatures Heroic

Heroic triggers only when you cast a spell targeting your creature. If an opponent targets it, the ability won't trigger.

Multiple Heroes, Multiple Triggers

If you target several creatures with Heroic in a single spell (like with past Standard all-stars Twinflame or Launch the Fleet), all of their abilities trigger.

Activated Abilities Don't Count

Abilities like Equip don't trigger Heroic. Only spells you cast do.

Auras Trigger Heroic

Casting an Aura on a creature will trigger Heroic because Auras have the word "target."

Heroic Triggers Resolve Before the Spell

Your Heroic ability will always resolve before the spell that's triggering it. This means that if a spell deals damage to your creature, Heroic could potentially make it big enough to survive.

Copies of Spells Don't Count

If you copy a spell with something like a Fork, it won't trigger Heroic because copying a spell isn't the same as casting a spell.

Even Countered Spells Trigger Heroic

If a targeted spell gets countered, Heroic still triggers. That's right, Standard Red players, not even the almighty Counterspell can stop your creature from getting its moment of glory!

The Future of Heroic

With Heroic recently having made its triumphant return in Foundations: Jumpstart (2024), its potential to return in future sets certainly feels inevitable. After all, modern Magic design often thrives on creating new mechanics that interact seamlessly with older ones, and I personally feel that Heroic would certainly be no exception.

Eternal formats like Commander and Pioneer already provide fertile ground for more in-depth Heroic strategies. For instance, Feather, the Redeemed, has already cemented itself as a viable Heroic-style Commander. At the same time, decks with Heroic-esque cards like Tenth District Legionnaire and Favored Hoplite continue to pop up from time to time in Pioneer (Heck, even Simon Nielson opted to play a Boros Heroic deck to a great finish in this year's Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor).

And at the end of the day, can I just say that Heroic just feels very rewarding and interactive? Not to mention, it's just so darn flavorful and fun. Like, who doesn't want to just go all-in on a turn-one Favored Hoplite and hope to dodge all the removal and sacrifice effects? Even as a former Aggro enthusiast, I can tell you that there's truly no better feeling.

But, with all that said, that's it for me this time around. As always, happy brewing, and may your very own Favored Hoplite go forth and become the legend it was always meant to be! Until next time!