Kolaghan Aspirant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	143
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Aaron Miller

Key Takeaways

Indirect card advantage gained by removing opponents’ creatures can tilt the game balance in your favor.
Pressure applied by the Aspirant forces opponents into inefficient resource usage, enhancing your resource efficiency.
Synergy with instant speed interactions amplifies the Aspirant’s combat potential and strategic flexibility.

Text of card

Whenever Kolaghan Aspirant becomes blocked by a creature, Kolaghan Aspirant deals 1 damage to that creature.

She answers the call of the Crave, the desire for battle sated only by bloodshed.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When discussing the prowess of the Kolaghan Aspirant, card advantage plays a subtle role. While the Aspirant itself does not directly allow a player to draw cards, its ability to potentially remove an opponent’s creature from the board presents an indirect way to gain upper hand. Each creature eliminated can be viewed as one less card for the opponent, thus contributing to a more favorable balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Kolaghan Aspirant may not generate Treasure tokens or lands, but its presence on the battlefield accelerates your game resource-wise by applying pressure on the opposing player. With each attack, it demands an answer, often forcing opponents to make unfavorable trades or use their resources prematurely to handle this threat, thereby giving the controller an edge in resource efficiency over the course of the game.

Instant Speed: The Aspirant might not function at instant speed, yet it is worth noting that its synergies with instant speed interactions can be a tremendous pro. For instance, coupling it with an instant speed removal card can clear the way for it to attack. Moreover, having the Aspirant attack can bait opponents into unfavorable blocks or spells, after which you can respond with instant speed tricks to ensure favorable outcomes in combat scenarios.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the heat of the game, the Kolaghan Aspirant demands you to discard a card to activate its potential. This can backfire, especially when your hand is already dwindling and every card counts for maintaining your strategy and momentum on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The Aspirant’s casting cost isn’t generic; it requires a strict combination of red and black mana. This cost can put a strain on multi-colored decks that aren’t primarily built around those two colors, sometimes leaving the Aspirant stranded in your hand at crucial moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its stats and abilities, the Aspirant competes with a variety of other creatures and spells in the same mana range that could provide more immediate impact or versatility within the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kolaghan Aspirant is a dynamic addition to any deck focusing on swift and aggressive plays. Its ability to enhance your attacking creatures by granting them first strike makes it adaptable across various strategies, ensuring your forces are always a step ahead during combat.

Combo Potential: Given its synergy with cards that benefit from creatures with first strike or boost attack phases, Kolaghan Aspirant can be the catalyst for powerful combo plays. This card unlocks the potential for devastating attack chains that can outmatch opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where quick aggro decks prevail or can disrupt elaborate setups, Kolaghan Aspirant shines. Its capacity to accelerate your offensive might adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of the game, making it a prudent choice for forward-thinking players.

How to beat

Kolaghan Aspirant is a dynamic force in the MTG battlefield, known for its ability to buff itself when a creature an opponent controls dies. To stymie this card’s effectiveness, a strategy that revolves around creature removal spells that exile rather than destroy can be pivotal. This prevents the Aspirant from leveraging its power-boosting ability while ensuring your opponent does not accumulate any advantage.

Spot removal spells such as Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone work impeccably in this scenario by exiling the creature directly, keeping the Aspirant’s threat at bay. Alternatively, employing strategies that bypass creatures altogether—like direct player damage or planeswalker abilities—can be effective in undermining the prowess of creature-focused cards like Kolaghan Aspirant. Remember, maintaining control over the battlefield and carefully selecting when to remove threats are key components in outmaneuvering an opponent who relies on such cards.

In essence, when facing off against Kolaghan Aspirant, quick removal and strategic control are essential. By implementing these tactics, you can ensure the Aspirant’s potential for growth is severely limited, maintaining the balance of power in your favor throughout the game.

Cards like Kolaghan Aspirant

Kolaghan Aspirant enters the vast panorama of hasty attackers in MTG with fervor and precision. When drawing comparisons, one can’t help but think of Raging Goblin, a classic one-drop that also delivers an immediate impact on the battlefield. While both cards share the quintessential characteristics of haste and aggressive early gameplay, the Aspirant elevates this formula with extra power, posing a more formidable threat out of the gate.

Lightning Berserker is another relative in this speed-driven family, offering flexibility with its firebreathing ability. Unlike the static power of Kolaghan Aspirant, Lightning Berserker can scale its damage output depending on the available mana, making it a variable threat each turn. Conversely, the Aspirant offers consistent pressure without the need for further mana investment, enabling players to allocate resources elsewhere.

Evaluating these cards, Kolaghan Aspirant finds its niche in MTG decks that value constant and reliable damage. Amidst its peers, this card stands out for enabling a steady offensive front, integral for aggressive decks aiming to overwhelm opponents swiftly and efficiently.

Cards similar to Kolaghan Aspirant by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kolaghan Aspirant MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Kolaghan Aspirant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kolaghan Aspirant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-02-25	If Kolaghan Aspirant becomes blocked by multiple creatures, its ability will trigger once for each of them.
2015-02-25	The damage Kolaghan Aspirant deals because of its triggered ability isn’t combat damage. If that damage causes each creature blocking it to leave combat, Kolaghan Aspirant will remain blocked. It won’t be dealt combat damage in this case.