Split-Tail Miko MTG Card


Split-Tail Miko - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Fox Cleric
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number23
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. It provides card advantage by enabling card draw and presents combo potential with its tap ability.
  2. Instant speed use for Split-Tail Miko enhances gameplay versatility and strategic reactions.
  3. The card’s utility is weighed against downside factors like discard requirements and specific mana cost.

Text of card

, : Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.

"I wish there were no use for those with my talents. I wish that I could walk Kamigawa forgotten and unneeded, with no war wounds to heal and no broken bones to mend."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Split-Tail Miko offers a strategic edge with its looting effect, permitting players to draw a card when needed. This ability is pivotal for digging deeper into your deck to access pivotal spells and resources.

Resource Acceleration: With it’s tap ability, Split-Tail Miko can be a subtle form of resource acceleration, untapping other mana-generating permanents or enabling convoluted combos that may require multiple inputs of mana during a single turn.

Instant Speed: The utility of being able to use Split-Tail Miko’s abilities at instant speed cannot be overstated. This versatility allows players to react to the evolving state of play, ensuring that every action can be perfectly timed to disrupt an opponent or to bolster their own position on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Split-Tail Miko requires you to discard another card in order to activate its ability. This can be quite the drawback when your hand is already dwindling, and you’re in dire need of maintaining card advantage on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a combination of white and generic mana to be cast. This mana specificity means players running multicolor decks might find it challenging to summon Split-Tail Miko consistently, especially early in the game when mana flexibility is vital.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set a bit on the higher side for its abilities, Split-Tail Miko often competes with other cards that could provide a stronger board presence or more immediate impact. Savvy players are always on the lookout for maximizing their mana efficiency, making the cost-to-benefit ratio of Split-Tail Miko a potential issue.


Reasons to Include Split-Tail Miko in Your Collection

Versatility: Split-Tail Miko brings a unique blend of abilities to the table, able to serve as both a defensive and offensive asset. Its ability to tap creatures can be crucial for controlling the battlefield and protecting your life total while also setting up for advantageous attacks.

Combo Potential: This card’s capability to untap another target creature encourages synergies with tap-ability creatures or with untap-triggered abilities. These interactions can fuel combo decks or enhance existing strategies within your deck’s framework.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape adjusts to new sets and strategies, Split-Tail Miko can be a smart response to creature-heavy metas. The ability to selectively remove opposing threats from combat without using a spell slot allows for more flexible game plans and reactive measures.


How to beat

Overcoming Split-Tail Miko in your Magic: The Gathering matches requires strategic planning. As a creature that can dish out extra damage when attacking alone, it presents a unique challenge. Among options to outplay this card, removal spells are especially effective. Spells that can target creatures directly, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, can dispatch Split-Tail Miko before its ability becomes a significant threat. Board wipes like Wrath of God also serve as a reliable reset if the board state gets too tilted in your opponent’s favor.

Moreover, countering Split-Tail Miko as it’s cast is another strategy to consider. Counterspells like Cancel or Mana Leak can ensure this creature doesn’t even see play. If Split-Tail Miko does hit the battlefield, deploying creatures with deathtouch or those who can block and survive the encounter reduces its impact – creatures like Typhoid Rats or Acolyte of Affliction work well. Lastly, keeping pressure with your own creatures can force your opponent to hold back Split-Tail Miko for defense, mitigating its offensive capability and allowing you to maintain control of the game’s pace.


Cards like Split-Tail Miko

Exploring the landscape of utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Split-Tail Miko offers a unique blend of life-gain and creature protection. This card echoes the abilities seen in cards like Benevolent Bodyguard and Mother of Runes, both of which offer protective measures for your creatures. However, Split-Tail Miko stands out with its additional life-gain ability. Unlike Mother of Runes, which can provide protection from colors, Split-Tail Miko requires a mana investment to save a creature, which makes it less flexible.

Another card that offers a resemblance is the Selfless Spirit. Both cards can protect your team, but Selfless Spirit affects all creatures you control at once, making it a one-off use compared to the repeatable nature of Split-Tail Miko’s ability. Moreover, while Selfless Spirit is sacrificed for the greater good, the Miko requires presence on the battlefield and mana for each activation, leading to strategic differences in deck building and gameplay.

In a game that greatly values the synergy between cards, Split-Tail Miko finds its niche among creatures that provide defensive strategies with an incremental advantage. Its requirement for mana investment for each usage is a trade-off for the flexibility it offers in prolonged games.

Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions

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Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Split-Tail Miko MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Split-Tail Miko and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Split-Tail Miko has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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