Dimir Keyrune MTG Card


Dimir Keyrune presents card advantage and strengthens resource momentum, offering both tactical and mana benefits. Instant transformation into a creature enhances flexibility, meshing well with control and tempo decks. It’s vital to balance its benefits against its mana cost and strategic deck inclusion to maximize its potential.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

: Add or to your mana pool. : Dimir Keyrune becomes a 2/2 blue and black Horror artifact creature until end of turn and is unblockable this turn.

A key that slips through every lock.


Cards like Dimir Keyrune

The Dimir Keyrune stands as an interesting artifact option within Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels to other mana-producing artifacts like the Azorius Keyrune. Both share the functionality to transform into a creature, but the Dimir Keyrune becomes a 2/2 blue and black Horror artifact creature with unblockable, favoring situations demanding an elusive attacker. Azorius Keyrune turns into a 2/2 white and blue Bird artifact creature with flying, offering a different kind of evasion.

Another artifact to compare is the Rakdos Keyrune, which converts into a 3/1 black and red Devil artifact creature with first strike when attacking. This strength-oriented feature provides a different approach to combat focused on power over subtlety. Meanwhile, Dimir Keyrune prioritizes direct hits to the opponent’s life total, bypassing potential blockers entirely.

Analyzing their utility, Dimir Keyrune excels in stealthy offensive strategies for MTG players who value evasion. While it doesn’t pack the raw force of the Rakdos counterpart or the elevated tactics of the Azorius one, its unique unblockable nature gives it a significant edge in the right deck context.

Azorius Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Azorius Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Keyrune - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dimir Keyrune not only aids in mana fixing but also transforms into a creature that, when it deals combat damage to a player, permits you to draw a card. This effect is excellent for keeping your hand full and puts you ahead of the opponent in terms of resources available.

Resource Acceleration: Being a mana artifact, the Dimir Keyrune helps in ramping up your mana resources. It can be tapped for blue or black mana, which is crucial for advancing your gameplay and casting pivotal spells earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The ability to become a creature at instant speed grants you the flexibility to adapt to the board’s state. It allows you to hold up mana for counterspells or other instant actions and transform the Keyrune if no immediate threats or better plays are present.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Deploying the Dimir Keyrune requires careful hand management, as its activation may demand the potentially inconvenient prerequisite of discarding cards. For a player strategizing to maintain versatile options or facing hand disruption, this can become a critical setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Integration of the Dimir Keyrune into a deck necessitates a commitment to both blue and black mana sources. Decks that do not explicitly support this two-color combination will find the keyrune less than optimal, potentially affecting deck consistency and fluidity of play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, with a mana cost that is notably demanding, the Dimir Keyrune often competes with other three-mana artifacts and spells which may offer more immediate or impactful benefits. This can lead to difficult decisions in deck building and during gameplay when assessing the most efficient use of one’s mana resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dimir Keyrune offers a dual purpose; it can be used as a mana accelerant early on and transform into a stealthy creature later in the game, fitting into control or tempo decks with ease.

Combo Potential: As an artifact, it can synergize with cards that care about noncreature artifacts or creature counts, all while dodging common sorcery-speed removal when not a creature.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to switch between an unassuming mana rock and a creature, it slips under the radar of common board wipes, making it a resilient piece in various matchups.


How to beat

The Dimir Keyrune card can be a sly component in any MTG player’s deck, known for its duality as both mana source and unexpected creature. Carefully curated strategies can overturn its advantages. One effective strategy is to leverage artifact removal spells that can dispatch the Keyrune before it transforms, with options like Abrade or Disenchant being both efficient and commonly included in decks across formats. Moreover, countering its activation as a creature with instant speed removal like Fatal Push ensures that it never gets to swing for damage or block, thus meticulously eliminating the dual threat it poses. It’s important to remain vigilant and maintain mana for responses when playing against a deck that you suspect may cast Dimir Keyrune.

Strategic mana usage and timing is key in MTG, and the Keyrune’s ability to turn into an unblockable creature can be its strength or downfall. Ensure that your deck has the means to intervene either on the stack, with counter spells, or on the battlefield, effectively nullifying the Keyrune’s in-game value and putting you a step ahead. By anticipating your opponent’s moves and having a plan for the Keyrune, you can secure your defenses and keep the game’s tempo in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Dimir Keyrune is a multifaceted card that can significantly enhance your MTG experience. As it offers both mana acceleration and a unique way to draw cards, it’s essential for maintaining a strong hand. The blend of flexibility and the tactical edge it provides can be a game-changer, especially in decks that thrive on versatility and adaptability. If you’re intrigued by the strategic depth this card can add to your gameplay or curious about ways to optimize its use in your deck, delve deeper with us. Discover strategies, deck ideas, and more as you journey to becoming a more adept player in the MTG world. Let’s unlock the full potential of the Dimir Keyrune together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dimir Keyrune MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Zendikar Rising Commander, 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 Dimir Keyrune and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dimir Keyrune Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 2282003NormalBlackDaniel Ljunggren
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1102015NormalBlackDaniel Ljunggren
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8562015NormalBlackDaniel Ljunggren

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dimir Keyrune has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-04-15 Activating the ability that turns the Keyrune into a creature while it's already a creature will override any effects that set its power and/or toughness to another number, but effects that modify power and/or toughness without directly setting them will still apply.
2013-04-15 Until the ability that turns the Keyrune into a creature resolves, the Keyrune is colorless.