Burnished Hart

Burnished Hart Full Guide

Commander 2019 Uncommon
Mana Cost: {3}
Type: Artifact Creature — Elk
P/T: 2/2
Burnished Hart Text:
{3}, Sacrifice this creature: Search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Flavor:
Forged by divine hands to wander mortal realms.
Artist: Yeong-Hao Han
Collector Number: 211
Release Date: 2019-08-23
Art crop

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-29
TL;DR Summary

Burnished Hart is a 3/2 Artifact Creature that sacrifices itself to search your library for up to two basic lands, putting them onto the battlefield tapped.

As an uncommon card, it's not overly powerful but offers significant value in certain scenarios. In the right deck, Burnished Hart can help you ramp into more expensive spells or accelerate land drops.

Burnished Hart sees play in Commander, particularly in elf-themed decks, where its ability to find basic lands on demand is highly valuable. It's also seen in some EDHREC-featured lists due to its efficiency and low cost.

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Burnished Hart is an artifact creature with a mana cost of {3}, allowing it to be played on turn 3. Its power and toughness are both 2, making it a somewhat respectable but not particularly formidable attacker.

The oracle text provides the main mechanism for Burnished Hart's functionality: "{3}, Sacrifice this creature: Search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle." This means that to activate the ability, you need to sacrifice Burnished Hart on turn 6 (or later) by paying {3} and discarding it from the battlefield. The resulting effect allows you to search for and play up to two additional basic lands.

Key points about the ability:

  • It's a state-based action, so if you sacrifice Burnished Hart and then immediately gain control of it or return it to the battlefield through some means (e.g., with Sage of Fable), the ability won't resolve.
  • You can only use this effect once per turn, as it's tied to sacrificing Burnished Hart. If you have multiple copies of the card, you'll need to sacrifice each one separately to use its ability.
  • The two basic lands placed onto the battlefield are tapped, which might be a drawback in some scenarios, particularly if you're trying to accelerate your mana development with ramp spells or other means.

In Commander, Burnished Hart can serve as a somewhat reliable way to accelerate land development and increase card draw potential. However, its relatively low power and toughness make it more of an auxiliary tool than a main attacker or blocker.

One possible edge case is the interaction between Burnished Hart's ability and cards that trigger when you search your library (e.g., Adarkar Wurm). In such cases, resolving the Burnished Hart ability can potentially trigger additional effects, which might be worth exploring in specific decks.

Strategic Applications

Burnished Hart is a versatile artifact creature that offers a unique card draw engine, allowing players to search for up to two basic land cards. This can be particularly beneficial in decks focused on ramping or generating mana.

In Commander strategies, Burnished Hart finds a home in Golgari and Selesnya colors, where it synergizes with Evolving Wilds and Llanowar Wastes, enabling players to search for basic lands at instant speed. Its ability also pairs well with cards like Golgari Findbroker and Elvish Mystic, providing an additional way to fetch lands.

The artifact creature's 2/2 power and toughness make it a decent attacker, but its true value lies in its ability to help ramp into more expensive spells. In Selesnya strategies, Burnished Hart can be used alongside Feldon of the Third Path to create a consistent land drop engine.

Some specific Commander decks that benefit from Burnished Hart include:

  • Golgari Ramp Stompy: This deck focuses on generating early mana and then ramping into more expensive spells. Burnished Hart helps with this process by allowing players to search for basic lands.
  • Selesnya Abzan Tokens: In this deck, Burnished Hart pairs well with Blossoming Defense and Golgari Findbroker, enabling players to generate a large number of small creatures while also ramping into more expensive spells.

Casual players may find it easier to include Burnished Hart in their decks due to its lower price point and versatility. However, competitive players can also take advantage of its ability to search for basic lands at instant speed, particularly in formats where mana fixing is crucial.

Overall, Burnished Hart is a solid addition to any deck that relies on ramping or generating mana, offering a unique card draw engine that can be used to great effect in various Commander strategies.

Advanced Techniques

Burnished Hart is an underutilized artifact creature that offers a unique and powerful ability to search for basic lands. When sacrificed, it allows you to search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. This interaction has several implications for Commander gameplay.

One way to maximize Burnished Hart's potential is by pairing it with Llanowar Elves. With its ability to tap and untap lands, Llanowar Elves can enable repeated activations of Burnished Hart, allowing you to search for multiple basic lands in a single turn. This can be particularly useful in ramp-heavy decks that rely on accelerating through the mana curve.

Burnished Hart also synergizes well with Griselbrand. By sacrificing Griselbrain and reanimating it with the searched-for basic lands, you can create an infinite combo potential. This is especially potent when combined with other cards like Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit or Atraxa, Praetors' Voice, which provide additional life gain and card advantage.

Another consideration for Burnished Hart is its colorless nature, making it an attractive inclusion in monocolored decks. Its ability to search for basic lands can help mitigate the lack of land disruption in these archetypes, providing a crucial safety valve against removal spells or enchantments that target lands.

When evaluating Burnished Hart's potential, consider incorporating it into your Commander deck as a flexible and adaptable card. By combining its ability with other cards like Llanowar Elves or Griselbrand, you can unlock powerful combos and synergies that enhance gameplay.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Burnished Hart

Burnished Hart is a versatile artifact creature that can provide card advantage and ramp, but players often make mistakes when playing it. Here are some common errors to avoid:

  • Misunderstanding the timing of its ability: Players sometimes sacrifice Burnished Hart at instant speed to search for basic lands, forgetting that they must sacrifice it during their main phase, not as a triggered ability.
  • Not combining with other ramp spells: Burnished Hart's ability can be amplified by cards like Simian Spirit Guide or Explore, which can make it easier to find and play expensive spells. However, players often forget to include these combinations in their decklists.
  • Failing to recognize the importance of basic lands: Burnished Hart's ability is only useful if you have a deck that can take advantage of its basic land search. Players who focus on playing more powerful spells may overlook the need for a robust basic land package.
  • Overlooking the potential for repeatable card draw: While Burnished Hart's ability only searches for two basic lands, players often forget that it can be sacrificed repeatedly to generate card advantage over time.

Common Synergies and Mistakes

Here are some common synergies and mistakes to watch out for:

Synergy Card Combination
Simian Spirit Guide + Burnished Hart
Explore + Burnished Hart
Cultivate + Burnished Hart

Poor Synergies and Mistakes

Avoid the following combinations, as they often lead to disappointment or underperformance:

Poor Synergy Card Combination
Burnished Hart + lands that don't generate card advantage (e.g., Forests, Swamps)
Burnished Hart + cards that rely on land destruction or disruption

By being aware of these common mistakes and synergies, players can make the most of Burnished Hart's potential in their Commander decks.

Conclusion

Burnished Hart is an uncommon artifact creature from the Core Set 2019 (c19). It has a unique ability that allows players to sacrifice it and search their library for up to two basic land cards, putting them onto the battlefield tapped. This card can be used in conjunction with other powerful artifacts like Sylvan Library, which enables players to search their library and find just the right combination of spells to turn the tide of battle.

Burnished Hart is an excellent addition to decks focusing on ramp and land synergies. Its relatively low cost of 3 mana makes it an attractive option for decks that aim to ramp quickly and maintain a high threat density. When paired with cards like Cultivate or Kodama's Reach, Burnished Hart can accelerate the draw of combo pieces, allowing for faster and more consistent wins.

In Commander, Burnished Hart is often found in decks centered around artifact recursion and token generation. Its ability to search for basic lands makes it a valuable asset for ramping into more expensive spells. Players seeking alternative options in their Commander decks should consider cards like Sultai Signet, Liliana, Dreadhorde General, or Sol Ring.

The Burnished Hart's existence is deeply intertwined with the natural world. Its presence is often associated with moments of great transformation, as if it holds within itself the power to reshape the very fabric of reality. This card can be used in conjunction with other powerful artifacts like Sylvan Library, which enables players to search their library and find just the right combination of spells to turn the tide of battle.

Burnished Hart is an uncommon find in the card pool, but its effects are by no means rare in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its unique blend of natural and mystical elements makes it an intriguing addition to any deck that seeks to tap into the deeper forces at work within the multiverse.

In terms of printings, Burnished Hart has only appeared in Core Set 2019, as well as its subsequent reprints in various sets such as Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2). Its EDHREC ranking is at 296, indicating a moderate level of popularity among players.

Deckbuilding & Synergies

Building Around Burnished Hart

Burnished Hart is an excellent addition to decks focused on ramp, lands, and self-mill strategies. Its ability to sacrifice itself to search for basic land cards makes it a great enabler for aggressive or tempo-oriented builds.

Commanders and Color Identities

  • Ramp Commanders: Ajani's Pridemate, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, and other ramp-focused commanders can benefit from Burnished Hart's ability to accelerate the search for basic lands.
  • Colorless Commanders: The card is particularly well-suited for colorless or low-color identity decks, such as those built around creatures like Estrid, the Masked or Atraxa, Praetors' Voice.

Themes and Engines

  • Ramp and Lands: Burnished Hart's ability to search for basic lands makes it a natural fit for ramp-heavy decks. Consider pairing it with cards like Arcane Signet, Sol Ring, or Mox Opal.
  • Self-Mill Strategies: The card can also be used in self-mill decks, where it enables the player to generate an additional land drop through its sacrifice ability.

Synergy Cards

  • Basic Land Cycles: Cards like Llanowar Elves, Flooded Strand, or Stomping Grounds can create a strong synergy with Burnished Hart's ability.
  • Ramp and Lands Enablers: Consider adding cards that provide additional ramp, such as Eldrid Luthari or Sylvan Caryatid, to further accelerate the search for basic lands.

Combo Notes

  • Combos with Land Cycles: Burnished Hart can create powerful combos when paired with land cycles like Llanowar Elves and Flooded Strand.
  • Self-Mill Combos: When combined with self-mill cards like Sultai Skirmisher or Grapple with the Past, Burnished Hart can generate an additional land drop through its sacrifice ability.

Some sample decklists that showcase Burnished Hart's potential include:

  • A ramp-heavy Ajani's Pridemate deck focused on accelerating basic lands
  • A colorless Estrid, the Masked deck leveraging Burnished Hart's ability to search for basic lands
  • A self-mill strategy centered around Sultai Skirmisher and Grapple with the Past

Keep in mind that these are just starting points, and you can adapt the card to fit your specific playstyle and preferences.

Format Roles

Burnished Hart in Commander

In the Commander format, Burnished Hart is a solid choice for decks that focus on ramping up to more expensive cards. Its ability to sacrifice itself and search for two basic lands is particularly valuable in a format where having access to additional lands can be a major advantage.

  • Pros:
    • Can help fix colors and find necessary lands
    • Relatively low cost, allowing it to be played earlier in the game
    • Can serve as a tempo swing by sacrificing itself to search for lands
  • Cons:
    • Limited impact on its own due to its relatively weak power and toughness
    • May not be as effective in decks that already have an abundance of basic lands

Burnished Hart's ability can also be used to find other cards, such as Goblin Rabblemaster or Savannah Lions, which can then take advantage of the newly drawn lands. However, its impact is generally limited to providing a small tempo swing and land fixing.

Other Formats

In Modern, Burnished Hart's ability to search for basic lands makes it somewhat playable in combo decks that rely on having multiple sources of mana. However, its relatively weak power and toughness make it less competitive against more powerful creatures.

In other formats, such as Standard or Pauper, Burnished Hart is largely overlooked due to the availability of better creatures with similar abilities.

Price Point

As an uncommon card from the Guilds of Ravnica set (C19), Burnished Hart's price point is relatively low. It can be found for around $0.08 USD and $0.12 EUR, making it a reasonable inclusion in a Commander deck.

Key Scenarios

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Burnished Hart excels in scenarios where drawing lands is crucial, such as in aggressive or tempo-based decks. Its ability to search for up to two basic land cards can turn the tide of a game in favor of the player controlling it.

  • Against Control Decks: Burnished Hart's ability can disrupt control decks' plans by giving its controller a steady supply of lands. This is particularly effective against decks relying on a single, expensive spell.
  • In Combo-Based Decks: When paired with cards like Mox Opal or Chrome Mosaic, Burnished Hart's ability can accelerate the draw of combo pieces, allowing for faster and more consistent wins.

Burnished Hart struggles in situations where its controller is focused on other aspects of the game, such as combat or removal spells. Its inability to deal direct damage or interact with the board makes it a less-than-ideal choice in these scenarios.

  • Against Aggressive Decks: When facing aggressive decks that prioritize dealing direct damage, Burnished Hart's 2/2 power and toughness make it vulnerable to early-game aggression.
  • In Removal-Based Decks: Against decks focusing on removal spells like Path to Exile or Abrupt Decay, Burnished Hart is often a liability due to its inability to interact with the board.

Multiplayer Politics

Burnished Hart's ability can be a double-edged sword in multiplayer games. On one hand, it provides an excellent way to stabilize and maintain a strong board presence. On the other hand, its ability to search for lands can be seen as a threat by opponents, potentially leading to conflicts and card advantage battles.

  • In Low-Mana Decks: When paired with cards like Ridged Goat or Grizzly Bears, Burnished Hart's ability can help stabilize the board and provide a steady supply of mana.
  • Against High-Tempo Decks: In games featuring high-tempo decks, Burnished Hart's ability can be seen as a liability due to its potential to disrupt opponents' plans for quick wins.
History & Meta

Burnished Hart, a 2/2 artifact creature from the Core Set 2019 (c19), is an uncommon card with a unique ability. When sacrificed, it allows players to search their library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle their deck.

In terms of printings, Burnished Hart has only appeared in Core Set 2019, as well as its subsequent reprints in various sets such as Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2). Its EDHREC ranking is at 296, indicating a moderate level of popularity among players.

Burnished Hart's ability makes it a potential addition to decks focusing on ramp and land synergies. It can be paired with cards like Cultivate Cultivate or Kodama's Reach Kodama's Reach, allowing for more efficient land drops and accelerating the game's pace.

In Commander, Burnished Hart is often found in decks centered around artifact recursion and token generation. Its relatively low cost of 3 mana makes it an attractive option for decks that aim to ramp quickly and maintain a high threat density.

Flavor & Lore

In the mystical realm of Ravnica, where guilds vie for power and influence, the Burnished Hart roams the vast expanses of the wild. This majestic elk is said to possess a spirit both fierce and noble, its antlers shining with an inner light that seems almost... burnished.

The Burnished Hart's existence is deeply intertwined with the natural world. Its presence is often associated with moments of great transformation, as if it holds within itself the power to reshape the very fabric of reality. In some corners of Ravnica, locals whisper tales of how this elk can sense the hidden patterns and rhythms that govern the land, allowing it to move unseen through even the most treacherous terrain.

The Burnished Hart's sacrifice ability is a poignant reminder of its connection to the natural world. By giving itself up for the greater good, it allows players to tap into the underlying forces that shape Ravnica. This card can be used in conjunction with other powerful artifacts like Sylvan Library, which enables players to search their library and find just the right combination of spells to turn the tide of battle.

When paired with creatures such as Kitchen Finks or Golgari Findbroker, the Burnished Hart's ability becomes even more potent, as it can be used to quickly flood the board with a steady supply of basic lands. This, in turn, allows players to deploy their entire arsenal of spells and strategies, much like a master cartographer laying out a comprehensive map of Ravnica.

The Burnished Hart is an uncommon find in the card pool, but its effects are by no means rare in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its unique blend of natural and mystical elements makes it an intriguing addition to any deck that seeks to tap into the deeper forces at work within the multiverse.

Budget/Alternatives

Budget-Friendliness and Reprint Status

Burnished Hart is an uncommon artifact creature from the Ravnica Allegiance set. Its price reflects its relative rarity, with a current value of $0.08 in USD and €0.12 in EUR.

  • Reprint Status: Burnished Hart has been reprinted several times, including in Commander 2019. This has helped keep its price relatively low.
  • Budget-Friendliness: While not the cheapest card in Magic, Burnished Hart is an affordable addition to any budget deck. Its ability to search for basic lands makes it a valuable asset for ramping into more expensive spells.

Similar Options in Commander

For players seeking alternative options in their Commander decks, consider the following cards:

  • Sultai Signet: A common artifact that allows you to tap for two mana of any color.
  • Liliana, Dreadhorde General: A legendary creature that provides a similar ramp effect and can help fix your mana.
  • Sol Ring: An uncommon artifact that lets you pay one less colorless mana cost.

These cards offer similar benefits to Burnished Hart, but with different abilities and in different rarity tiers. Players can choose the best option for their deck's specific needs.

Table of Prices

Currency Price
USD $0.08
EUR €0.12

Note that prices may vary depending on the seller and market conditions.