Ordeal of Heliod
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it. Then if it has three or more +1/+1 counters on it, sacrifice this Aura.
When you sacrifice this Aura, you gain 10 life.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Masters 25
- Price
- $0.13
- EDHREC rank
- #15399
Ordeal of Heliod pays off a 10-life swing when it pops, but it takes three attacks to get there — and in Commander, the enchanted creature often dies before it ever does. Outside of dedicated +1/+1 counter or Voltron shells that accelerate those counters artificially, the payoff doesn't justify the setup.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Ordeal of Heliod is a fringe inclusion — 10 life is meaningful in a 40-life format, but three unimpeded attacks on the same creature is a steep ask at a table with four players and open interaction. It earns a slot only in decks that can shortcut the counter accumulation through proliferate or extra combat steps. In Pioneer and Modern it competes in Heroic or Aura-based aggro shells where it triggers prowess-style effects and contributes to a faster clock, though even there it sits below more efficient payoffs. Legacy and Vintage don't want it at all — the tempo cost is prohibitive in formats where games end before the Ordeal resolves.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.13 bulk tier
At $0.13, Ordeal of Heliod is pure bulk — zero barrier to trying it in any list that wants it. That price is stable by nature rather than trajectory; there's no meaningful demand spike coming for a narrow enchantment with narrow homes.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.