Contraband Kingpin MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Contraband Kingpin shines by streamlining your deck’s efficiency. Whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, the Kingpin’s ability lets you scry, effectively curating your next draw to ensure you get the resources you need when you need them.

Resource Acceleration: This MTG card works well in artifact-heavy decks, synergizing to rapidly populate the board with useful artifacts. This strategy not only solidifies your board presence but accelerates your game plan by providing you with more options each turn, keeping the pressure on your opponents.

Instant Speed: The scry ability triggers from artifact plays, which can be executed at instant speed with the right cards, allowing for strategic planning and adjustments in response to the ever-changing landscape of an MTG match. This element of flexibility can keep opponents guessing and give you the upper hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This MTG card doesn’t force players to discard, which is a positive attribute in the context of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Contraband Kingpin requires both blue and black mana for casting, which can sometimes restrict deck-building flexibility if you’re not operating within a UB (blue/black) synergy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana – one blue, one black – Contraband Kingpin’s impact might not feel as substantial considering other two-drop creatures in the game. In competitive settings, players might opt for cards that have an immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Contraband Kingpin fits seamlessly into artifact-heavy and control-oriented decks, with its ability to scry each time an artifact enters your side of the field, streamlining your draw.

Combo Potential: This card’s scry ability has excellent synergy in strategies that involve frequent artifact play, allowing you to set up your deck for future combos while maintaining board presence with a deceptively tough lifelink defender.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting MTG landscape that often values quick information and board control, Contraband Kingpin can provide consistent value against a variety of competitive decks.

How to beat Contraband Kingpin

Contraband Kingpin is a formidable card known for its ability to strengthen artifact strategies in MTG. With its lifelink ability and the knack for manipulating the deck, it can be a challenge to overcome. However, it’s not impervious. Targeted removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can efficiently dispatch the Kingpin before his influence spreads on the battlefield. Graveyard removal is also effective, ensuring it doesn’t come back through various recursion methods.

Another tactic is to limit the number of artifacts your opponent controls, cutting off the Kingpin’s synergy. Cards that destroy or neutralize artifacts like Shatterstorm or Stony Silence can dismantle the linchpin of a Contraband Kingpin-centric strategy. In addition, employing counterspells when the Kingpin is cast can prevent it from entering the field at all, eliminating the threat before it begins to accrue value for your opponent.

While Contraband Kingpin can bolster your opponent’s position when left unchecked, with careful planning and the right cards, you can mitigate its impact on the game and maintain control over the match’s outcome.

BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the finesse of MTG’s intricate gameplay, decks that integrate the Contraband Kingpin are often a step ahead. Offering a unique blend of board control and foresight through its artifact-centric scry ability, this card can be the lynchpin of a well-oiled machine. Consider adding Contraband Kingpin to your collection to refine your strategy and to adapt to the meta that rewards keen insight and board presence. Visit BurnMana for a deeper dive into optimizing your deck’s potential with this multifaceted card and ensure your arsenal is equipped to face a diverse range of opponents.