Baral and Kari Zev MTG Card


Baral excels at card advantage and cost reduction for instants and sorceries, aiding blue control decks. Kari Zev creates board presence and pressure, perfect for red aggro strategies with her token companion. Both cards are pivotal in their archetypes, enhancing tailored strategies for competitive play.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human
Abilities First strike,Menace
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

First strike, menace Whenever you cast your first instant or sorcery spell each turn, you may cast a spell with lesser mana value that shares a card type with it from your hand without paying its mana cost. If you don't, create First Mate Ragavan, a legendary 2/1 red Monkey Pirate creature token. It gains haste until end of turn.


Cards like Baral and Kari Zev

The dynamic playstyle offered by Baral, Chief of Compliance is a key strategy in many blue control decks within Magic: The Gathering. Much like Goblin Electromancer, both reduce the cost of instant and sorcery spells, which accelerates the game plan for spell-slinging decks. While Goblin Electromancer applies a general reduction, Baral exclusively focuses on blue spells and brings an additional advantage with its looting ability whenever a counter spell is cast.

Comparably, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider provides aggressive red players a blend of quick offense and resilient threats, akin to other notorious attackers like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. Kari Zev offers an additional creature every attack, providing broader board presence. Unlike Ragavan, which can provide an immediate mana boost and card advantage, Kari Zev consistently applies pressure with her tandem of creatures.

In the landscape of MTG, these characters carve unique niches. Baral appeals to those seeking an efficient spell-heavy approach, while Kari Zev caters to players looking to quickly overwhelm their opponents. Both are pivotal in their respective deck archetypes, enforcing the importance of tailored strategies in deckbuilding.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Baral and Kari Zev. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
URUR StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024
Izzet PhoenixIzzet Phoenix PioneerIzzet PhoenixPioneer Super Qualifier 2023-12-29
Izzet MidrangeIzzet Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Izzet TempoIzzet Tempo GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Jeskai ControlJeskai Control GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Baral, Chief of Compliance, every time you cast a counter spell or an instant, you’re filtering through your deck by drawing a card and discarding one. This mechanic is invaluable for maintaining momentum and outpacing your opponents in hand resources. On the other side, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider offers consistent pressure and additional card value by generating a token that helps in dealing damage without overextending your own hand.

Resource Acceleration: Baral not only aids in card advantage but also acts as a resource accelerator by reducing the cost of your instant and sorcery spells. This enables faster and more efficient execution of your strategy. Kari Zev extends resource acceleration in the form of her companion, Ragavan, who essentially taps for extra damage or potentially more resources when combined with other effects.

Instant Speed: The ability of Baral to improve instant and sorcery spellcasting is significantly enhanced by his ability to operate at instant speed. This allows for flexibility and adaptability in response to an ever-changing battlefield. Kari Zev’s initial attack creates an immediate impact with Ragavan at instant speed before blockers are declared, catching opponents off guard and creating advantageous board states.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Baral’s ability to loot – drawing and then discarding a card – can backfire when your hand is already full of essential spells you don’t wish to discard. In such scenarios, his ability becomes more of a hindrance than a help.

Specific Mana Cost: Baral, Chief of Compliance, requires a specific blue mana in his casting cost, which may not fit seamlessly into multi-color decks that have a higher requirement for other colors. Similarly, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, demands red mana, making her less versatile outside of predominantly red or pirate-themed builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not excessively high, Kari Zev’s initial cost is a tad more than some other two-CMC creatures, potentially slowing down the aggressive start that red players often rely on. Baral’s cost efficiency is debatable when compared to other two-man cost wizards that could offer more immediate board presence or effects.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Baral, Chief of Compliance, excels in control decks by reducing spell costs and offering loot effects, while Kari Zev offers aggressive strategies agility with her quick-hitting potential and unique Ragavan token.

Combo Potential: Baral synergizes with counterspell mechanics for a powerful control combo, and Kari Zev enhances pirate and artifact-centered decks by interacting with cards that capitalize on attacking with multiple creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Baral remains a formidable option against spell-heavy opponents, and Kari Zev is ideal in meta where early board presence can dictate the pace of play.


How to Beat Baral and Kari Zev in MTG

When it comes to tackling decks that leverage the prowess of Baral, Chief of Compliance, and Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, it’s essential to disrupt their early game tempo. Baral’s strength lies in his ability to make your opponent’s instant and sorcery spells cheaper while allowing them to filter through their deck with his loot ability. Combating this, targeted removal spells can remove Baral from the board before his cost reduction and card selection advantages take effect.

Kari Zev, on the other hand, presents an aggressive threat with her ability to bring along Ragavan, adding an additional combatant each turn. Here, strategies that include board wipes or effects that prevent attacking, like ‘Ensnaring Bridge’, can keep her and her monkey at bay. Moreover, with her low toughness, she’s susceptible to most damage-based removal spells. When planning your game, consider including versatile interaction that can efficiently handle both these tricky characters and tilt the balance in your favor.

Ultimately, prevailing over decks featuring these two cards means disrupting the finely-tuned balance of control and aggression they offer. By thoughtfully choosing your removal and anticipating their plays, you can navigate past the advantages Baral and Kari Zev bring to the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on a journey through deck mastery with Baral and Kari Zev, key cards for any discerning MTG player. Baral, Chief of Compliance, is a cornerstone for blue control decks, enhancing spellcasting while Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, dominates with aggressive red plays. Both cards have unique abilities that can streamline your strategy, whether it’s gaining card advantage with Baral or applying consistent pressure with Kari Zev. If you’re looking to refine your approach or disrupt the enemy’s tempo, these characters warrant a spot in your collection. Harness their power to curate a winning strategy and dominate the game board. Dive deeper with us as we unravel the potential of these MTG staples, ensuring your next duel is as strategic as it is exhilarating.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Baral and Kari Zev MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Promos and March of the Machine Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Baral and Kari Zev and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Baral and Kari Zev Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 218s2015NormalBlackFariba Khamseh
22023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 218p2015NormalBlackFariba Khamseh
32023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 3022015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve
42023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 2182015NormalBlackFariba Khamseh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Baral and Kari Zev has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Baral and Kari Zev card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-04-14 Baral and Kari Zev will count any instant or sorcery spell you cast during a turn, even if it wasn’t on the battlefield at the time. This means if you cast an instant or sorcery spell, then Baral and Kari Zev comes under your control, its triggered ability won’t trigger that turn.
2023-04-14 If the spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2023-04-14 If you cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay any additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
2023-04-14 The spell you cast from your hand without paying its mana cost is cast during the resolution of the triggered ability. Timing restrictions of that spell based on card type are ignored. It will resolve before the spell that caused the ability to trigger.