Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 173
2020-09-26 - Number CHK-173
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Ogre Shaman |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Transforming at instant speed, this card disrupts opponents by threatening creature elimination at critical moments.
- Its requirement for red mana and creature sacrifice can complicate deck building and strategy execution.
- Initiate of Blood’s versatility and meta relevance make it a potent inclusion for red-focused MTG decks.
Text of card
: Goka the Unjust deals 4 damage to target creature that was dealt damage this turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust offers the ability to transform into a stronger version that can deal damage to target creature. Successfully eliminating an opponent’s creature can potentially lead to card advantage as you’re removing their resources while maintaining your own.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate resources, eliminating key creatures of your opponent can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By disrupting their board presence, you give yourself an opportunity to press the advantage and deploy your strategy more efficiently.
Instant Speed: The flip ability to transform Initiate of Blood into Goka the Unjust can be activated at instant speed. This provides flexibility in your gameplay, allowing you to wait for the most opportune moment to unleash Goka’s potential—potentially during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans or in response to an action they’ve taken.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust necessitates an additional sacrifice—a non-token creature. This can set players back if they don’t have expendable creatures on the battlefield, potentially impacting their board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Goka the Unjust’s ability is strictly red mana, which requires a commitment to red mana sources in your deck. This can restrict the card’s inclusion in multi-color decks that may not always have the necessary red mana available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a 2/2, Initiate of Blood falls behind in terms of mana efficiency. There are other creatures and spells at the same cost that could provide a greater immediate impact on the game or offer more versatility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust offers a dynamic play style, transitioning from a modest pinger in the early game to a formidable threat post-flip. This allows it to fit well in a variety of red-based decks that appreciate flexible removal options.
Combo Potential: In conjunction with cards that manipulate +1/+1 counters or damage-based triggers, Initiate of Blood can become a recurring source of board control. As Goka the Unjust, it can be a key piece in strategies aiming to wipe out larger creatures or maintain a clear field.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy formats or in metas where the ability to remove key threats is paramount, having a card like this can pivot the game in your favor. The transformation into Goka the Unjust can deter opponents from playing creatures with higher toughness, potentially disrupting their strategy.
How to beat Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust
The card Initiate of Blood, which transforms into Goka the Unjust, presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering. At first glance, it’s a 2/2 red creature that can, upon transformation, hamper an opponent’s board with its ability to deal damage to creatures. Facing this card requires a strategy that nullifies either its activation conditions or mitigates its damage-dealing capabilities.
An effective method is to control the creature count on the battlefield. With a lower creature density, Initiate of Blood’s transformation into Goka the Unjust becomes less threatening. Countering the card with instant-speed removal before it can flip or removing it post-transformation before it causes significant harm is key. Additionally, including cards in your deck that grant indestructibility or damage prevention for a turn can stave off the effects of Goka’s punishing ability.
Tactically, placing a higher value on instant-speed interactions and saving them for critical moments when Initiate of Blood tries to transform can mean the difference between a cluttered battlefield and maintaining a strong stance against your opponent’s creatures. In short, careful planning and timely reactions are your best bet in overcoming the challenges posed by Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust.
Cards like Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust
Initiate of Blood, also transforming into Goka the Unjust, offers a unique gameplay experience in MTG. This card bears similarity to other flip cards like Delver of Secrets, which evolves into the powerful Insectile Aberration. Both cards undergo a transformation that allows for more powerful abilities. Delver of Secrets, however, transforms through the mere reveal of a spell card whereas Initiate of Blood requires the condition of dealing damage to an opposing creature to become Goka the Unjust.
Comparing it with Skinshifter, another card that changes its form, Initiate of Blood presents different strategic advantages. Skinshifter’s transformation capabilities can be activated any time to adapt to the situation, offering versatility during combat. On the other hand, once Initiate of Blood switches to Goka the Unjust, the card gains the consistent power to weaken your opponent’s creatures, at the potential cost of not being able to adjust to the shifting tides of battle as Skinshifter can.
To summarize, Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust stands out among MTG cards with its transformative nature. While similar in flexibility to other flip and shape-shifter cards, its unique set of conditions and effects provide a distinctive edge during gameplay.
Cards similar to Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and The List, 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 Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2004-10-01. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 173 | 2003 | Flip | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | CHK-173 | 2003 | Flip | Black | Carl Critchlow |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Initiate of Blood // Goka the Unjust has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |