Hair-Strung Koto MTG Card

Hair-Strung Koto - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
2004-10-01 - Number 252

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number H37

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Mill

Key Takeaways

Hair-Strung Koto offers deck control and the chance to find crucial cards when you most need them.
Its untap ability can lead to a tempo gain, but there’s a card discard cost to weigh.
Instant speed creature plays become possible, counter-balanced by the Koto’s higher mana cost.

Text of card

Tap an untapped creature you control: Target player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

"The Kami War drove many members of Konda's court insane. As their spiritual world turned against them, so too did their minds turn from reality." —*The History of Kamigawa*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Hair-Strung Koto offers unique card manipulation by letting you control the top of your deck, effectively providing a way to dig for the cards you need to turn the tide of the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card has the capability to untap all permanents you control, potentially unlocking additional mana sources or reusing other key permanents for a powerful tempo swing within your turn.

Instant Speed: While Hair-Strung Koto itself isn’t an instant, it allows you to play creatures with flash at an opportune moment, setting up defensive plays or end-of-turn surprises that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hair-Strung Koto necessitates you to discard a card in order to activate its ability. This can be a setback when you’re trying to maintain card advantage or have a hand with crucial pieces you can’t afford to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: Activating the ability of Hair-Strung Koto requires a specific combination of mana, which might not always be readily available, especially in multicolored decks that need a streamlined mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be seen as steep for its effect, players might find it challenging to justify a slot for Hair-Strung Koto over other cards with lower mana investments or more immediate impacts on the game state.

Reasons to Include Hair-Strung Koto in Your Collection

Versatility: Hair-Strung Koto demonstrates great adaptability by fitting into multiple deck archetypes. As an artifact, it can seamlessly integrate into decks focused on artifact synergies or just any strategy looking for a utility card that manipulates the top of the library.

Combo Potential: This card offers unique interactions as it allows players to control draws and manipulate decks. It aligns well with strategies that either capitalize on knowing the top card of the library or require moving specific cards around to set up winning combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscapes of various metagames, Hair-Strung Koto can play a critical role in decks that seek to counter top-deck tutors or manipulate draw strategies, allowing it to remain a relevant tool in many different competitive environments.

How to beat

The Hair-Strung Koto presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, offering its wielder a rare control over creatures. When facing this artifact, an adept MTG player knows that card removal spells can become your greatest ally. As with any artifact-heavy strategy, including a decent suite of artifact destruction cards in your deck could tilt the odds in your favor. Cards like Shatter, Naturalize, or more versatile options like Assassin’s Trophy provide a means to dismantle the combo engines that cards like the Koto enable.

Moreover, countering the Koto before it hits the field is another strong line of defense. Efficient counter-spells like Mana Leak or Negate can ensure the artifact never gets a chance to impact the board. Don’t let the rhythm of the Koto dictate your game — cut the strings before the performance begins, and keep the control in your hands. Remember, understanding the harmony of your deck and preparing it to face various threats will make you a formidable player in any MTG match.

Ultimately, whether through direct dismantling or preventive tactics, mastering the art of disruption is key in turning the tide against the Hair-Strung Koto’s seductive melodies.

Cards like Hair-Strung Koto

Hair-Strung Koto, a unique artifact from the world of MTG, shares some traits with other cards that allow you to manipulate opponents’ libraries. Oft-used Jester’s Cap is a card that also interferes with your opponent’s deck by allowing you to look at an opponent’s library and exile up to three cards. While Jester’s Cap has an immediate impact by removing key cards, Hair-Strung Koto requires more setup, slowly exiling cards as you deal combat damage.

Another similar card is Millstone, which permits a player to put the top two cards of a target player’s library into their graveyard. Millstone, much like Hair-Strung Koto, can be activated multiple times as long as you have enough mana, providing a steady way to deplete an opponent’s resources. However, unlike Hair-Strung Koto, Millstone doesn’t require your creatures to deal combat damage, offering a more direct way to reach the same end.

By evaluating the nuances of Hair-Strung Koto against its counterparts, we can appreciate its role in strategic deck building where combat damage and resource depletion synergize, despite its conditions and pace compared to other similar MTG artifact cards.

Cards similar to Hair-Strung Koto by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hair-Strung Koto MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Hair-Strung Koto and other MTG cards: