Gimli, Counter of Kills MTG Card


Card advantage with Gimli creates tokens, growing your resources and pressuring opponents when destroying creatures. Resource acceleration is a bonus as the token creatures enhance interactions with your creature-count-reliant cards. Instant speed versatility allows swift reactions during an opponent’s turn, which can disrupt their strategy.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior
Abilities Trample
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Trample Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, Gimli, Counter of Kills deals 1 damage to that creature's controller.


Cards like Gimli, Counter of Kills

Gimli, Counter of Kills is an intriguing new card recently showcased in MTG, bringing versatility to your battle strategies. If you appreciate the mechanics of Gimli, Counter of Kills, you may find similar joy in analyzing the dynamics of Alesha, Who Smiles at Death. While Alesha offers a unique ability to resurrect small creatures to surprise your opponents, Gimli focuses more on the tallying of prowess through kills to gain an advantage.

Comparatively, Glissa, the Traitor offers a resemblance with her ability to retrieve artifacts from your graveyard whenever a creature dies. Where Glissa excels in recurring utility, Gimli thrives in gathering power. Both cards, however, can capitalize on the demise of creatures to enhance your position in the game. Additionally, consider Shriekmaw’s synergy with its inherent creature removal and evoke ability, which can potentially pair well with Gimli’s kill-counting mechanic, although Shriekmaw’s effect is more immediate and self-contained.

When it comes to fostering a strategy based on the accumulation of advantages by defeating creatures, Gimli, Counter of Kills stands out as a powerful asset. It garners strength progressively, which, when compared to the one-time effects of cards like Shriekmaw, depicts a different style of strategic depth and resource allocation for MTG enthusiasts.

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions

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Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gimli, Counter of Kills presents you with a unique mechanism to escalate your card advantage. By generating token creatures every time you defeat an opponent’s creature, you bolster your army and pressure your opponent while refilling your hand with valuable resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card also offers a form of resource acceleration. Each token produced can potentially interact with other cards in your deck that capitalize on the number of creatures you control, turning your creature count into an abundant resource that can fuel powerful game swings.

Instant Speed: Another impressive aspect of Gimli, Counter of Kills is its ability to operate at instant speed. This versatility allows you to react swiftly to your opponent’s actions during their turn, catching them off-guard and keeping you one step ahead. It’s this instantaneity that can turn the tide of battle in your favor, ensuring that you maintain momentum and potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gimli, Counter of Kills mandates that you must part with another card from your hand to leverage its abilities, a trade-off that might leave you at a disadvantage if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck builders must account for the specific mana alignment necessary to summon Gimli, Counter of Kills. This often necessitates a deck tailored around its mana needs, potentially restricting its integration into more diverse or color-flexible decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating cards for deck inclusion, the investment for Gimli, Counter of Kills can be steep in a match’s early stages. There are options available that might allow for a swifter board presence or faster impact in gameplay without such a demanding mana requirement.


Reasons to Include Gimli, Counter of Kills in Your Collection

Versatility: Gimli, Counter of Kills provides a unique flexibility to decks focused on -1/-1 counters, as it can serve multiple roles. Whether you’re looking to enhance your board presence or just want additional control tools, Gimli adapts to your strategic needs seamlessly.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with other cards that proliferate or manipulate counters, offering a level of synergy that can swiftly tip the scales in your favor during a match.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the evolving dynamics of gameplay, having a card like Gimli, Counter of Kills can be pivotal. It is particularly effective in matches where controlling opponent creatures and incremental advantage is crucial for victory.


How to beat

Gimli, Counter of Kills presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield for MTG players. This card thrives in combat scenarios, growing more formidable with every vanquished foe. Facing this warrior in battle requires a strategy that minimizes creature confrontations. To successfully counter Gimli, redirecting focus towards non-combat methods can tilt the odds in your favor. Consider removal spells that bypass the standard fight mechanic or use exile effects to definitively handle this threat.

Ensnaring effects are another avenue, locking Gimli out of combat without triggering his lethal abilities. The key is to avoid head-on clashes where he excels—a different approach like utilizing board wipes can clear the path without empowering your opponent’s card. In the end, sidestepping direct attacks and employing tactical removals can dismantle the threat posed by Gimli, Counter of Kills, preserving your standing on the playing field.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gimli, Counter of Kills MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and Tales of Middle-earth Art Series, 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 Gimli, Counter of Kills and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gimli, Counter of Kills Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3122015NormalBorderlessDominik Mayer
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth Art SeriesALTR 442015Art seriesBorderless
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth Art SeriesALTR 102015Art seriesBorderless
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 5802015NormalBlackViko Menezes
52023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 8042015NormalBorderlessDominik Mayer
62023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 1292015NormalBlackViko Menezes

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gimli, Counter of Kills has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 If Gimli, Counter of Kills dies at the same time as one or more creatures an opponent controls, the last ability will trigger for each of those other creatures.