Akki Ember-Keeper MTG Card

Akki Ember-Keeper - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment Creature — Goblin Warrior
Released	2022-02-18
Set symbol
Set name	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Set code	NEO
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	130
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	April Prime

Key Takeaways

Akki Ember-Keeper excels in token generation, creating 1/1 goblins and boosting the board presence significantly.
Encore ability scales impact in multiplayer games, making it a formidable card in large playgroups.
Demands specific deck strategies and mana allocation given its red mana requirement and high casting cost.

Text of card

Whenever a nontoken modified creature you control dies, create a 1/1 colorless Spirit creature token. (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications.)

"Follow my lantern, little ones."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Akki Ember-Keeper enters the battlefield or dies, it creates a 1/1 red Goblin Shaman creature token, effectively leaving a body behind and ensuring you’re not at a disadvantage after its loss. This subtle but effective form of card advantage can sustain momentum in your play.

Resource Acceleration: The encore ability provides a surge in your board presence by creating a copy for each opponent you have. This translates to multiple creature tokens that can either be used for an aggressive strategy or as additional resources for abilities that require creature sacrifices.

Instant Speed: Although Akki Ember-Keeper itself is not an instant, the tokens it creates can instantly benefit from “haste,” allowing them to be significant and immediate threats as soon as they hit the battlefield. Instantaneous pressure can be just what you need to topple an unprepared adversary.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Akki Ember-Keeper is its need for a discard to amplify its abilities. While this can synergize with graveyard strategies, it might also deplete your hand quickly, leaving you at a card disadvantage in crucial moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Harnessing the full potential of this card demands a dedicated red mana source. Players running multicolor decks may find it challenging to consistently meet the specific mana requirements, which can hinder the card’s effectiveness and its incorporation into diverse deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Akki Ember-Keeper’s casting cost is considered high when evaluated against other cards with similar effects. This may result in a slower gameplay, reducing its impact in fast-paced matches where efficiency and low-cost spells often determine the game’s momentum.

Reasons to Include Akki Ember-Keeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Akki Ember-Keeper brings a flexible approach to deck building, fitting seamlessly into red-based aggro or token strategies, thanks to its ability to generate a token upon death.

Combo Potential: The elemental tokens it creates can synergize with sacrificial mechanics or cards that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or dying, offering diverse combo possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where small creatures can make a significant impact, Akki Ember-Keeper holds its ground by providing consistent board presence and pressure, making it a pertinent choice for the current game dynamics.

How to beat

Akki Ember-Keeper can prove to be a challenging opponent in Magic: The Gathering, providing players with a creature that creates additional value upon entering or leaving the battlefield. This red creature card is known for its kinship ability, which potentially allows for a free spell each turn. However, effective strategies can be employed to mitigate the impact of this card and maintain control of the game.

One of the simplest approaches to counter Akki Ember-Keeper is to utilize removal spells targeting creatures as soon as the Ember-Keeper enters the battlefield. Direct damage spells or destruction spells that don’t rely on the creature’s power are optimal to avoid triggering its last ability. Efficient, low-cost removals like Shock or Fatal Push can remove the Ember-Keeper before its controller reaps too much benefit.

Furthermore, exiling effects are particularly potent against Akki Ember-Keeper because they prevent the ‘leaves the battlefield’ triggered ability from resolving. Cards like Path to Exile offer a clean solution. Additionally, making strategic plays, such as waiting for your opponent to tap out before removing the Ember-Keeper, can also minimize their chances of utilizing instants in response to protect the card. With careful planning and timely use of removals, players can undermine Akki Ember-Keeper’s effectiveness and preserve their position in the game.

Cards like Akki Ember-Keeper

Akki Ember-Keeper brings a unique flavor to the realm of creature cards in MTG. It holds a resemblance to tokens-generating cards such as Dragon Fodder, which similarly creates two creature tokens for a two-mana investment. Yet, Akki Ember-Keeper stands out with an enticing twist—the ability to capitalize on modified creatures to spawn additional tokens. Dragon Fodder lacks this scaling potential and is strictly limited to its initial token creation.

Exploring further parallel options uncovers Mogg War Marshal. This goblin also musters tokens upon entering the battlefield and when it leaves. Nonetheless, it doesn’t share the Ember-Keeper’s quality of feeding off modified creatures to produce even more tokens. Moreover, compared to the War Marshal’s echo cost, the potential ongoing benefit of Akki Ember-Keeper can represent a sustained advantage without the need for immediate mana reinvestment.

In sum, Akki Ember-Keeper carves out a notable spot among its peers in MTG, offering inventive token-generating strategies that can snowball, especially in decks designed to leverage creature modifications. This capability to scale its effect elevates it within creature-based tactics that are hungry for repeated token production.

Cards similar to Akki Ember-Keeper by color, type and mana cost

Emblem of the Warmind - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akki Ember-Keeper MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Akki Ember-Keeper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Akki Ember-Keeper has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal