This Planeswalker has a bunch of gimmicks in her back pocket, and she's not afraid to use 'em!
Catch up on the Planeswalker Deck Project with my introduction article and past characters before reading on.
Most of the time, when it comes to regular Constructed Magic, the ideal Planeswalkers are the rate monsters. Just give me Jace, the Mind Sculptor or Teferi, Time Raveler. I sink in some mana and get a ton of options, or loyalty, or power...or all of the above! Generically powerful is the goal. But when it comes to a project like this, those PWs are the ones I enjoy the least. I want the ones with some direction! One that says "Build the deck to maximize _______, and I will be the best card in your deck. Build towards what I do best, and the end product will shine."
Huatli, the Sun's Heart is one of those Planeswalkers. Contrary to popular opinion, I really enjoy the passive abilities on the War of the Spark Planeswalkers, specifically because they incentivize this specialization. And let's be clear: the passive ability is what makes Huatli fun. We'll be activating her sometimes, but the goal here is just to have her stick around to let our high toughness creatures rumble with the best of them.
In any event, Huatli's flavor reminds me of one of my favorite legends of all time: Doran, the Siege Tower. Doran does what I would describe as "doing a lot with a little." It's a simple concept that upends how we generally consider creatures. For the most part, high toughness is okay, but high power is really what matters. It's hard to defend yourself to victory, after all.
Or is it? Cue the Sir Mix-a-Lot:
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Huatli, the Sun's Heart by Andy Hurst
'Huatli, the Sun's Heart' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Andy Hurst
Event:
Rank:
Freeform (Casual)
Market Price: $37.77
Indomitable Ancients
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.95
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/17998_200w.jpg
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/morningtide/indomitable-ancients
Emmessi Tome
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/118655_200w.jpg
{5}, {T}: Draw two cards, then discard a card.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/eternal-masters/emmessi-tome
Slice in Twain
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212534_200w.jpg
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Draw a card.
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Bazaar Krovod
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/66527_200w.jpg
Whenever Bazaar Krovod attacks, another target attacking creature gets +0/+2 until end of turn. Untap that creature.
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Grasslands
Market Price: $2.48
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/140104_200w.jpg
Grasslands enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}, Sacrifice Grasslands: Search your library for a Forest or Plains card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2017/grasslands
Plains
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.99
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230464_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {W}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/plains
Grizzled Leotau
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/31746_200w.jpg
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/alara-reborn/grizzled-leotau
Fairgrounds Warden
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/123066_200w.jpg
When Fairgrounds Warden enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until Fairgrounds Warden leaves the battlefield.
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Loxodon Lifechanter
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192558_200w.jpg
When Loxodon Lifechanter enters the battlefield, you may have your life total become the total toughness of creatures you control.
{5}{W}: Loxodon Lifechanter gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is your life total.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/loxodon-lifechanter
Tranquil Expanse
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/171454_200w.jpg
Tranquil Expanse enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {G} or {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2018/tranquil-expanse
Tower Defense
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/183441_200w.jpg
Creatures you control get +0/+5 and gain reach until end of turn.
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Neck Snap
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/15586_200w.jpg
Destroy target attacking or blocking creature.
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Gauntlets of Light
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192851_200w.jpg
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +0/+2 and assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Enchanted creature has "{2}{W}: Untap this creature."Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/gauntlets-of-light
Kjeldoran Frostbeast
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/4762_200w.jpg
At end of combat, destroy all creatures blocking or blocked by Kjeldoran Frostbeast.
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Citanul Woodreaders
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/122218_200w.jpg
Kicker {2}{G} (You may pay an additional {2}{G} as you cast this spell.)
When Citanul Woodreaders enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, draw two cards.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/duel-decks-nissa-vs-ob-nixilis/citanul-woodreaders
Expose to Daylight
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/183365_200w.jpg
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Scry 1.
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Treefolk Umbra
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/191770_200w.jpg
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +0/+2 and assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power. Totem armor (If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura.)
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Reach of Branches
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68413_200w.jpg
Create a 2/5 green Treefolk Shaman creature token. Whenever a Forest enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Reach of Branches from your graveyard to your hand.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-masters/reach-of-branches
Swooping Talon
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/10714_200w.jpg
Flying
{1}: Swooping Talon loses flying until end of turn.
Provoke (Whenever this creature attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block it if able.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/legions/swooping-talon
Huatli, the Sun's Heart
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188655_200w.jpg
Each creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power. −3: You gain life equal to the greatest toughness among creatures you control.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/huatli-the-suns-heart
Selesnya Sanctuary
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222722_200w.jpg
Selesnya Sanctuary enters the battlefield tapped.
When Selesnya Sanctuary enters the battlefield, return a land you control to its owner's hand.
{T}: Add {G}{W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-zendikar-rising/selesnya-sanctuary
Aegis of the Heavens
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216350_200w.jpg
Target creature gets +1/+7 until end of turn.
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Runic Armasaur
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $3.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/169245_200w.jpg
Whenever an opponent activates an ability of a creature or land that isn't a mana ability, you may draw a card.
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Yoked Ox
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192869_200w.jpg
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Hundred-Handed One
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/121933_200w.jpg
Vigilance
{3}{W}{W}{W}: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
As long as Hundred-Handed One is monstrous, it has reach and can block an additional ninety-nine creatures each combat.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/conspiracy-take-the-crown/hundred-handed-one
Selesnya Locket
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/176432_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {G} or {W}.
{G/W}{G/W}{G/W}{G/W}, {T}, Sacrifice Selesnya Locket: Draw two cards.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/guilds-of-ravnica/selesnya-locket
Belligerent Brontodon
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/144786_200w.jpg
Each creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/belligerent-brontodon
Forest
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.99
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230468_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {G}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/forest
Path of Peace
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/161896_200w.jpg
Destroy target creature. Its owner gains 4 life.
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Assault Formation
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.59
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216167_200w.jpg
Each creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
{G}: Target creature with defender can attack this turn as though it didn't have defender.
{2}{G}: Creatures you control get +0/+1 until end of turn.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/assault-formation
Elven Cache
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/2542_200w.jpg
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
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Slagwurm Armor
Market Price: $0.37
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/11553_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +0/+6.
Equip {3} ({3}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the creature leaves.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/mirrodin/slagwurm-armor
Courser of Kruphix
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $3.66
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/161524_200w.jpg
Play with the top card of your library revealed. You may play lands from the top of your library. Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/masters-25/courser-of-kruphix
Tormented Angel
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.14
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/6263_200w.jpg
Flying
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/urzas-destiny/tormented-angel
Selesnya Guildgate
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222717_200w.jpg
Selesnya Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {G} or {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-zendikar-rising/selesnya-guildgate
Daybreak Chaplain
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192837_200w.jpg
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/daybreak-chaplain
Border Patrol
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/10159_200w.jpg
Vigilance
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/judgment/border-patrol
Nyx-Fleece Ram
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.44
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/161893_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, you gain 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/masters-25/nyx-fleece-ram
Radiant's Dragoons
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/6371_200w.jpg
Echo {3}{W} (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
When Radiant's Dragoons enters the battlefield, you gain 5 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/urzas-legacy/radiants-dragoons
Using either Huatli, Assault Formation (Downshift Alert! This deck might not be possible without you Iconic Masters!), and Belligerent Brontodon, our creatures suddenly go from "Eh, I guess it's a good blocker" to "How can the opponent possibly stop this?" Bad news: our card selection is fairly lackluster since we're dealing with a Green/White deck. The good news? We're extremely well positioned to block well and hold down the fort until those cards show up, at which point we will be very hard to beat.
Some of our pump spells are honestly laughable, but if we have one of those important toughness-as-power effects on the board, those same pump spells will turn the opponent's laughter to tears. I'm not sure if you've ever cast Aegis of the Heavens, but let me assure you, it's embarrassing. (Unless the Doran Effect is in place, in which it's a better Become Immense.) Tower Defense is an instant-speed Overrun! And Slagwurm Armor becomes quite the beating. Reach of Branches (Downshift Alert! Thanks Modern Masters!) makes for an absurd late game trump card.
Our creature removal is not good, but hey, it's a gimmick Green/White deck, them's the breaks. At least our disenchants are pretty good! Although our card selection isn't great or plentiful, the cards you get from Selesnya Locket aren't nothing, and Emmessi Tome isn't terrible (especially when your alternative is the wholesome power of prayer).
Armasaur here has fantastic stats to hold down the board, and provides us with some extra card advantage (assuming our opposition is more than just vanilla beaters). And if they are just vanilla beaters, our excellent blockers should hold up very well. Also, the Armasaur is absolutely the type of Rare that's meant for this project: I got it in a draft deck one time and it did some good work, but it's not quite good enough to hang with most of the Multiplayer decks it goes up against.
A one-time pillar of Standard, Courser made combat miserable for aggressive decks for years. And now it's back! The downside of Courser is that your opponent knows what you're working with for the rest of the game. The upside is that our game plan is really transparent anyway, and we don't have many combat tricks to give away. Courser can help us get slightly ahead on cards, pad the life total, and block well until it gets to attack well.
Huatli's BFF. Without it, I guess it holds the fort well. But it's just a goofy gimmick. With it? Your opponent's days are numbered. And we're not talking large numbers either. Think single-digits. The most gimmicky Rare in the deck, but it'll also be so fun and satisfying when you get to use it effectively.
When this resolves, your life total is going to become real fat, and its ability lets it be fat, too.
When I started playing (wayyy back in '96) the Frostbeast here was something of a favorite. First of all, it was gold, which was a novelty back then, and the old-school gold cards just looked great. Second, the art was—and remains—rad. Third, the ability basically made it unblockable because none of my friends or I ever played good kill spells, and blocking it would mean just throwing creatures away. Unfortunately, those attacks were only putting up damage 2 at a time, and ultimately that was a bit uninspiring even in those halcyon days.
(Side note: How do y'all pronounce Kjeldoran? When I was a kid I stuck to the Sound-It-Out Doctrine, which ended up giving me Keh-gel-door-an, which I realize now in my early 30s can't possibly be right, but the damage is done. I'm too set in my ways. How do you say it? Let me know.)
Huatli gives ol Frosty a little shot in the arm, and who can say no to a nice potent dose of nostalgia? Not this guy, that's for sure. As a functional 4/4 for 5 that blows up everything it gets into combat with, this guy is just as hard to deal with as it used to be, and it can connect for some meaningful damage as well.