Earthshaker Khenra MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 4
2017-07-14 - Number 90
2017-07-15 - Number 90s
2020-08-13 - Number 152
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Creature — Zombie Jackal Warrior |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- The card thrives in aggressive decks, with strong early game impact and late-game staying power.
- Eternalize mechanic provides a significant advantage by reanimating Khenra as a potent threat.
- Versatile and meta-relevant, it’s a strategic addition to red-focused MTG decks.
Text of card
Haste When Earthshaker Khenra enters the battlefield, target creature with power less than or equal to Earthshaker Khenra's power can't block this turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Earthshaker Khenra provides card advantage by integrating a strong early presence with its Eternalize ability, ensuring it remains relevant throughout the game. When you bring it back from the graveyard, it’s as if you’ve drawn an additional card that can impact the board immediately.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, this card can accelerate your game plan by applying early pressure. It forces your opponent to deal with it quickly, potentially diverting resources away from their own acceleration.
Instant Speed: Though it’s not cast at instant speed, Earthshaker Khenra’s ability can be activated right before combat on your turn to disrupt your opponent’s blocking strategy. Its prowess at disabling blockers can enable a swift and lethal attack, especially when combined with other instant-speed plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Earthshaker Khenra doesn’t directly ask for a card to be discarded, its Eternalize ability effectively commands a steep price from your hand. To utilize the resurrected form, you must exile it from the graveyard after paying the cost, which can leave you with one less card to play or use for other purposes.
Specific Mana Cost: Earthshaker Khenra’s initial casting cost is quite affordable at one generic and one red mana. However, the color specificity renders it suitable largely for red or red-inclusive decks, potentially restricting its versatility across the broader spectrum of deck archetypes available to players.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Eternalize ability of Earthshaker Khenra is locked behind a notable mana investment of six, which includes two red mana. Given the fast-paced nature of many games, especially when operating within mono-red or aggressive strategies, there may be more impactful ways to utilize such a substantial amount of mana resources, especially in the later phases of a match.
Reasons to Include Earthshaker Khenra in Your Collection
Versatility: Earthshaker Khenra is a dynamic card that can be slotted into various aggressive decks. Its initial effect disrupts the opponent’s early game, while its eternalize ability ensures it remains a threat even in the late stages of a match.
Combo Potential: This card pairs exceedingly well with strategies that capitalize on graveyard mechanics or need additional battlefield presence to overwhelm opponents. Its synergy with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or attacking can be a game-changer.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the early game can decide the outcome, Earthshaker Khenra can shift the momentum in your favor. Its capability to stifle blockers can pave the way for a successful red deck strategy, especially when timed correctly against control or combo opponents.
How to beat
Earthshaker Khenra is an agile creature card that can make immediate impact in MTG by hindering an opponent’s line of defense. This card is often used to disrupt the opponent’s blockers and pave the way for lethal damage. To effectively counter this strategy, it’s essential to remove Earthshaker Khenra from the battlefield swiftly. Spell removals such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile serve as efficient methods to dispose of it before its Eternalize ability becomes a concern.
Countering Earthshaker Khenra also relies on strategic deck-building. Incorporating cards that can exile creatures from the graveyard will nullify its reanimation threat. Cards like Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus can be vital tools in preventing the Khenra from making a comeback. Additionally, opting for decks that feature a range of low-cost creatures can ensure that the temporary disabling effect of the Khenra’s ability has a less destructive impact on your board presence.
By staying ahead in the removal game and sustaining a flexible lineup of creatures, players can mitigate the advantages Earthshaker Khenra brings to the table. Understanding the dynamics of Earthshaker Khenra is crucial for anyone aiming to maintain dominance in MTG gameplay.
Cards like Earthshaker Khenra
Earthshaker Khenra finds its place among the exciting roster of red creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its similarities with other creatures, such as Goblin Heelcutter, stem from their abilities to disrupt enemy defenses by making creatures unable to block. Goblin Heelcutter’s dash mechanic allows for repeated use of this tactic, though it lacks the secondary effect that comes with Earthshaker Khenra’s eternalize ability.
Comparable too is the Ahn-Crop Crasher, both hailing from the Amonkhet block and emphasizing the exert mechanic to prevent blocking. While the exertion grants a recurring advantage, Earthshaker Khenra’s eternalize provides a one-time boost in power, turning it into a formidable 4/4 Zombie. It’s a trade-off between consistency and potential impact. Another kin is the Harsh Mentor, which, while not affecting blocking, shares the same spirit of aggression and battlefield control to restrict the opponent’s options.
What makes Earthshaker Khenra noteworthy is its blend of initial board presence and late-game resilience. Whether it’s an early game offensive or a late-game return from the graveyard, Earthshaker Khenra provides versatility and enduring value, distinguishing it within its category of red creatures.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Earthshaker Khenra MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation, 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 Earthshaker Khenra and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Earthshaker Khenra Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 2 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 3 | 2017-07-15 | Hour of Devastation Promos | PHOU | 90s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 4 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 152 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle |
