Karlach, Tiefling Zealot MTG Card


Enhances card advantage with potential for adding cards to hand, key in long games. Enables extra land drops, accelerating resource generation for quicker, bigger plays. Works at instant speed, offering tactical flexibility and surprise to outmaneuver opponents.
Karlach, Tiefling Zealot - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Tiefling Barbarian
Abilities First strike,Haste
Released2022-07-07
Set symbol
Set nameAlchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Set codeHBG
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number14w
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBilly Christian

Text of card

First strike, haste When this card specializes from your graveyard, return it from your graveyard to the battlefield. It perpetually gains "This creature can't block." When this card specializes from any zone, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token. Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain haste until end of turn.


Cards like Karlach, Tiefling Zealot

Karlach, Tiefling Zealot carves a unique niche among MTG creatures with self-sacrifice themes. It shares similarities with cards like Judith, the Scourge Diva, which also offers a bonus whenever a nontoken creature you control dies. Unlike Karlach, Judith doesn’t allow you to sacrifice another creature at will; however, she does boost the power of your creatures and deal damage directly to any target upon your creatures’ deaths.

Akin to Karlach’s ability to potentially swing combats in your favor, Zulaport Cutthroat provides a way to gain life and drain opponents whenever your creatures die. Despite being less aggressive than Karlach, the Cutthroat turns all your creatures into potential life swings. Then there’s Fireblade Artist, another creature that offers a sacrifice outlet to wreak havoc every turn. Unlike Karlach, Fireblade Artist requires sacrificing only at the beginning of your upkeep but can consistently ping your opponent’s life total.

Reflecting on these comparisons, Karlach, Tiefling Zealot aligns well within its category, bringing aggressive board control and consistent pressure to the battlefield, appealing to strategies that benefit from sacrificing creatures for tactical advantages.

Judith, the Scourge Diva - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Fireblade Artist - MTG Card versions
Judith, the Scourge Diva - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Fireblade Artist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Karlach, Tiefling Zealot by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Karlach, Tiefling Zealot’s ability to potentially draw you additional cards each turn enhances your overall card advantage. This continuous draw mechanism ensures you have a steady flow of options, crucial for pulling ahead in longer games.

Resource Acceleration: With Karlach, Tiefling Zealot on the battlefield, you often get access to an extra land drop, which bolsters your resource acceleration significantly. This can lead to powerful plays earlier than usual, giving you a decisive edge by ramping up your mana resources.

Instant Speed: Karlach, Tiefling Zealot’s triggered abilities operate at instant speed, allowing for instantaneously advantageous plays during your turn or in response to opponents’ actions, thus providing both flexibility and surprise in gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Karlach, Tiefling Zealot does necessitate you to part with another card from your hand, which can be quite the pitfall when your grip on resources is already tenuous. Decks that can’t readily refill their hand may find this cost prohibitive.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a stringent mana cost that draws solely from red’s magical pools. This could hamper its inclusion in multi-colored decks that do not run red as a primary color, reducing its adaptability in the diverse meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at four mana, Karlach’s cost stands on the higher side for its capabilities. While it offers an aggressive stance in battle, players might contemplate opting for alternatives that boast a lower mana curve with similar, if not better, board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Karlach, Tiefling Zealot boasts flexibility in deck building. Its ability to coerce opponents into combating or punish those who refuse positions it strategically in various red deck archetypes, from aggressive strategies to more controlling builds.

Combo Potential: With Karlach, Tiefling Zealot, players have the opportunity to craft inventive combos using its incite mechanic. This card thrives in an environment that rewards clever manipulation of combat phases and can work in tandem with cards that capitalize on forced attacks or benefit from multiple combat steps.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape dotted with passive control decks, Karlach injects a dynamic playstyle that can shift the balance of power. Its relevance in the meta is further cemented if the environment slants towards proactive and creature-based strategies, making it a valuable asset for red mages.


How to beat Karlach, Tiefling Zealot

Karlach, Tiefling Zealot, is a formidable card that can put players on a strict clock with its potential for swift and devastating combat plays. With its ability to gain haste and grow more powerful with each attacking creature, one of the effective counter-strategies involves controlling the board state. This can be achieved by limiting the number of creatures your opponent has in play, thereby restraining Karlach’s ability to become a threat. Using board wipes or targeted removal can be key in maintaining a manageable battlefield.

Another strategy to counter Karlach is to prevent it from attacking altogether. Cards that can lock down creatures or remove their abilities are crucial in this regard. Enchantment effects can play a pivotal role in neutralizing Karlach before it even has the opportunity to swing. Reflecting on the nature of tempo, using instant-speed interaction to disrupt your opponent’s combat phase or end step can significantly reduce the impact of Karlach’s zealous assaults. By prioritizing resourceful play and strategic removal, players can navigate around the challenges posed by the fiery zealot.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Karlach, Tiefling Zealot MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: 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 Karlach, Tiefling Zealot and other MTG cards:

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