Death Kiss MTG Card


Death Kiss offers card advantage by removing threats and accelerating mana. It also creates strategic surprise akin to instant-speed effects in MTG. Cautiously balance its high mana cost and discard requirement in deck building.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beholder
Abilities Goad,Monstrosity
Power 5
Toughness 5

Text of card

Whenever a creature an opponent controls attacks one of your opponents, double its power until end of turn. : Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Death Kiss becomes monstrous, goad up to X target creatures your opponents control.


Cards like Death Kiss

Death Kiss is an intriguing enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering, contributing significantly to the deck with its lifelink capabilities. It is similar to cards like Whispering Shade, offering lifelink and continuous power boost for each swamp on the battlefield. Yet, Death Kiss differentiates itself with the ability to siphon life from opponents, arguably a major game twist. Whispering Shade, while lacking this attribute, offers more potent power granted by the land cards.

Almost in tandem, we see Vampire of the Dire Moon. It, too, provides lifelink, but it stands out with its deathtouch feature, a deadly combination when paired with high power. On the downside, it can’t directly steal life like Death Kiss. Another considerable comparison is Nightmare’s Thirst, a versatile instant card with abilities reminiscent of Death Kiss. It can potentially remove creatures while also offering a lifegain feature, but it lacks the continuous pressure that Death Kiss provides.

To sum up, breaking down the attributes and evaluating the value of these alternatives, Death Kiss stands out amongst its lifelink counterparts in Magic: The Gathering, largely because of its life-draining function and the constant threat it poses.

Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Vampire of the Dire Moon - MTG Card versions
Nightmare's Thirst - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Vampire of the Dire Moon - MTG Card versions
Nightmare's Thirst - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Death Kiss by color, type and mana cost

Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Halam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Iron-Barb Hellion - MTG Card versions
Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Akki - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions
Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Halam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Iron-Barb Hellion - MTG Card versions
Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Akki - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Death Kiss MTG card brings significant benefits to your game plan by enabling card advantage. By utilizing its ability to get rid of an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield, you are effectively gaining a slight leverage in the game by removing a possible threat on the field.

Resource Acceleration: Apart from causing loss to your opponent, this card also aids in resource acceleration. When the Death Kiss card enters the battlefield, it allows you to add mana to your mana pool, thereby accelerating your resources and paving the way for you to play high-cost cards faster than normal.

Instant Speed: Even though the Death Kiss MTG card is a creature card and can’t be cast at instant speed, its effect of sending an opponent’s creature card to the graveyard can serve as a useful deterrent at critical moments in the game. The element of surprise involved can compare to the abilities of an instant-speed spell card, providing an unexpected shift in the game dynamics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Death Kiss Card requires you to discard a card while casting it. This additional cost to your hand’s resources becomes a drawback, especially when your deck is depleting or when you’re holding onto key cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Its mana cost necessitates a specific black mana, which could restrict the versatility of this card. Decks without black mana or those focusing on other color combinations might face challenges incorporating Death Kiss.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost for unleashing its effect is rather high. Consuming four mana for its abilities may be seen as costly considering there may be more effective alternatives for triggering similar effects at a lower mana expense.


Reasons to Include Death Kiss in Your Collection

Versatility: Death Kiss, as a lifelink vampire rogue, offers game shift potion on any game board. The combination of its race, class, and lifelink ability introduces a level of flexibility if you are building around specific themes. Death Kiss fits effortlessly in black decks, rogue decks, vampire strategies or lifelink-aimed compositions .

Combo Potential: Lifelink is a powerful mechanic that pairs exceptionally well with many features. Combine Death Kiss with an assortment of cards that amplify the effects of life gain, or cards that use life as a resource. Include her in a rogue deck for synergies, or vampire-themed decks for that powerful board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In the current meta, where speed and efficiency are critical, Death Kiss’s lifelink provides a cushion against aggressive strategies. It’s relevance not only resides in its capacity to write your life total back up, but also in the multitude of tribal and mechanic interactions it brings to the table.


How to Beat

The card Death Kiss in Magic: The Gathering is an intriguing counterpart among aggressive creatures. Staying ahead of Death Kiss demands a well-thought strategy due to its lifelink and deathtouch abilities. Cards with lifelink advantageously help a player to garner more life points with each successful attack, while a card with deathtouch can eliminate any creature it battles, regardless of its toughness.

A suitable countermove would be to play instant spells, which can disarm or eliminate Death Kiss before its abilities trigger. A card like Electrify can outright destroy a creature, circumventing the dreaded deathtouch. Similarly, spells such as Befuddle can lower the card’s strength, minimizing the overall life gain from lifelink.

Alternatively, evasive creatures having flying or unblockable can sidestep the confrontation. Using these methodical strategies and making the correct plays can often be the difference in nullifying the major threats posed by Death Kiss. It is crucial to play wisely to counter the dually threatening abilities of this card.

In essence, through diligent analysis of card abilities and strategizing appropriate countermeasures, a player can viably deal with the game-changing pitching and batting from a card like Death Kiss.


BurnMana Recommendations

With its ability to remove threats and accelerate resources, the Death Kiss card is undeniable in its power to alter the battlefield. However, knowing its drawbacks is crucial for any Duelist aiming for dominance. Does the risk of discarding a card pair well with your deck strategy? Are the mana requirements in sync with your color scheme? The decision to include Death Kiss should be made with your collection’s synergy in mind. Interested in elevating your tactical approach and integrating Death Kiss into your deck with precision? Join us for in-depth strategies and card analyses to ensure your deck composition is as lethal as it is strategic.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Death Kiss MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Death Kiss and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Death Kiss Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 6752015NormalBlackDaren Bader
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 6292015NormalBlackDaren Bader
32022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 102015Art seriesBorderlessDaren Bader

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Death Kiss has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
2022-06-10 Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
2022-06-10 Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.
2022-06-10 To double a creature's power, it gets +X/+0, where X is its power as that ability resolves.