Kinetic Augur MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Abilities	Trample
Released	2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2021
Set code	M21
Power	*
Toughness	4
Number	154
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Colin Boyer

Key Takeaways

Kinetic Augur offers card advantage through scrying, fitting seamlessly into spell-based strategies.
The card blends well in instant speed decks, growing stronger with each spell played.
Its high mana cost can be a trade-off against lower-cost alternatives or immediate board impact.

Text of card

Trample (This creature can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.) Kinetic Augur's power is equal to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. When Kinetic Augur enters the battlefield, discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kinetic Augur’s ability to scry equal to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard can sift through your deck effectively, providing a strategic advantage and setting up future draws.

Resource Acceleration: While Kinetic Augur does not directly accelerate resources, it contributes to your game plan by allowing you to draw a card upon casting. This can indirectly accelerate your game by getting you the resources you need more quickly.

Instant Speed: Although Kinetic Augur itself isn’t an instant, it fits well in a deck that operates at instant speed. Its power increases with the number of instant and sorcery cards you cast, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield in decks designed around these card types.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kinetic Augur’s prowess in deck synergy is partly tied to a condition that requires you to discard a card. This may be a setback when you are holding a hand of essential cards, and depleting your resources could impede your gameplay strategy. Careful consideration is needed before activating such effects to ensure it aligns with your tactical advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements for Kinetic Augur demand both red mana and generic mana. This specific mana cost can potentially restrict its inclusion in multi-colored decks or those that don’t generate red mana efficiently. It’s essential to balance your mana base to accommodate the Augur without hampering the deck’s overall mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, the investment you make into Kinetic Augur could be substantial against the benefits it brings to the table. When considering its place in your deck, it’s worth weighing its abilities against other potential options that could be more cost-effective or offer a greater immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kinetic Augur is a solid choice for spell-heavy decks, fitting snugly into strategies that capitalize on instant and sorcery cards. Its prowess in drawing and filtering cards allows players to maintain a healthy hand size, adapting to various game states efficiently.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to scry X, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard, sets the stage for potential combos. It primes your deck for future draws, working in tandem with strategies that recycle or benefit from spell slinging.

Meta-Relevance: In environments heavy on creature-based strategies, Kinetic Augur stands out as a card that can swing the board in your favor. With powers tied to the number of spells you’ve played, it can grow into a significant threat while replenishing your options.

How to beat Kinetic Augur

Kinetic Augur is a card that thrives in a deck that’s heavy on instants and sorceries. This prowess-like creature grows in strength with each noncreature spell, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield. To overcome this threat, consider using removal spells that can dispatch it regardless of its size. Spells like Murder or Fatal Push are great choices as they can target and eliminate the Augur before its power swells.

Alternatively, you could also utilize counterspells to prevent the Augur from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Counterspell and Mana Leak are excellent examples of disruption that can stifle your opponent’s strategy early on. If the Augur has crescendoed to a significant threat, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation effectively reset the board, nullifying the advantage your opponent has gained.

In summary, while Kinetic Augur can be a relatively robust and scaling threat in the right deck, it is not without its weaknesses. Using targeted removal, counterspells, or global board wipes can effectively handle the augmented threat that Kinetic Augur poses, allowing you to maintain control of the game.

Cards like Kinetic Augur

Kinetic Augur is a unique creature that enchants MTG players with its card-trawling prowess. It shares some likeness with other spell-power creatures like Enigma Drake and Crackling Drake. Both Drakes calculate power based on the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard, similar to Kinetic Augur. Where the Augur stands out is in its immediate impact, offering card draw upon its entrance based on the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard.

While these Drakes are exclusively reliant on graveyard content for their power levels, Kinetic Augur takes a step further by providing a Trample ability, ensuring that, unlike the Drakes, excess damage gets utilized. We also see parallels with Spellheart Chimera, which carries both Flying and Trample. Although the Chimera might be a better airspace threat, Kinetic Augur’s card draw ability gives it an edge in refilling your hand, a critical aspect for spell-slinging strategies.

Delving into the potency of Kinetic Augur, its card draw coupled with Trample positions it as a strategic card, especially in decks that revolve around casting numerous spells. Ultimately, it not only contributes to your board presence but also replenishes your hand, a duality that is highly appreciated among passionate MTG deck builders.

Cards similar to Kinetic Augur by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kinetic Augur MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Kinetic Augur and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kinetic Augur has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kinetic Augur card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2020-06-23	As Kinetic Augur's triggered ability resolves, you choose whether to discard zero, one, or two cards, discard them, and draw that many. You can't discard one card, draw a card, then choose to discard again.
2020-06-23	The ability that defines Kinetic Augur's power works in all zones, not just on the battlefield.