Kaya, Spirits' Justice MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Kaya
Abilities Surveil
Loyalty 3

Key Takeaways

  1. The card offers card advantage, instant-speed play, and resource acceleration for aggressive strategies.
  2. Kaya’s inclusion demands mindful deck construction, given its mana specificity and potential hand disruption.
  3. Its strategic exile ability and lifespan gains make it effective against numerous competitive decks.

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Kaya, Spirits' Justice. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Decklist Free formTorino Tournament - Murders at Karlov Manor
Orzhov Flash StandardOrzhov FlashTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 1, 2024
Abzan Greasefang PioneerAbzan GreasefangPioneer Challenge 64 2024-02-16
Four-color Control Standard4c ControlThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Orzhov Control StandardOrzhov ControlStandard League 2024-02-18
Orzhov Midrange StandardOrzhov MidrangeThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Mardu Tokens GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 10 2024
Esper Midrange StandardEsper MidrangeStandard League 2024-03-07
Orzhov Aggro StandardOrzhov MidrangeBOP! Standard Open
Cascade StandardCascadeStandard Challenge 32 2024-02-17

Text of card

Whenever one or more creatures you control and/or creature cards in your graveyard are put into exile, you may choose a creature card from among them. Until end of turn, target token you control becomes a copy of it, except it has flying. +2: Surveil 2, then exile a card from a graveyard. +1: Create a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying. −2: Exile target creature you control. For each other player, exile up to one target creature that player controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Featuring the influential planeswalker Kaya, Spirits’ Justice provides an edge by allowing you to potentially exile multiple threats in a single cast. This can shift the momentum of the game, keeping your hand full while diminishing your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Kaya, Spirits’ Justice can facilitate resource acceleration by clearing the way for your more aggressive creatures to swing in without blockers. This may lead to quicker victories or provide the necessary breathing room to build up your board presence.

Instant Speed: The versatility of casting Kaya, Spirits’ Justice at instant speed cannot be overstated. It empowers you to react on your opponent’s turn, making it a strategic tool for disrupting their plays or protecting your interests when it’s most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kaya, Spirits’ Justice demands that you discard a card to utilize its exploit, potentially putting you at a disadvantage if you’re running short on cards in hand. This can hinder your game strategy, especially in tight situations where each card’s value is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a stringent mana requirement, making it a less flexible option for decks that run on a diverse color base. Its need for both white and black mana can complicate its inclusion in multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana combination available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including two specific types, Kaya, Spirits’ Justice can be a considerable investment, especially when compared to other cards with similar effects but lower mana costs. This can often lead to inefficient mana usage, ultimately impacting your ability to play other cards or respond to your opponent’s moves.


Reasons to Include Kaya, Spirits’ Justice in Your Collection

Versatility: Kaya, Spirits’ Justice offers a broad range of uses across various deck archetypes. Its ability to exile a nonland permanent and provide life gain makes it a flexible tool in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: As a card that interacts with both the graveyard and exile zones, it can synergize with strategies focusing on resource denial or that capitalize on exile mechanics. This can lead to powerful combinations with cards that benefit from these effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prominence of graveyard-based decks and those relying on problematic permanents, Kaya, Spirits’ Justice can act as a useful counter, making it a practical choice in a variety of competitive environments.


How to beat

Kaya, Spirits’ Justice presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to disrupt gameplay and control the board. The key to overcoming this card lies in understanding its mechanics and finding the right strategies to mitigate its effects. To beat Kaya, it’s crucial to maintain a diverse array of creatures in your deck. Since Kaya targets non-token creatures, consider including cards that generate token creatures to apply pressure without risking valuable non-tokens.

Another effective tactic is to utilize instant-speed removal or counterspells to address Kaya before her abilities can be utilized. Timing is everything; if you can prevent Kaya from settling into the game, you’ll be at a distinct advantage. Additionally, keep an eye on your graveyard management. Kaya’s capability to exile cards from graveyards can be turned against her if you can play around it, minimizing the impact of her disruptive power. By adopting a careful approach and being strategic about when and how you play your creatures, you can navigate around Kaya, Spirits’ Justice and secure your position in the game.


Cards like Kaya, Spirits' Justice

Kaya, Spirits’ Justice is a powerful force on the battlefield, offering a unique set of abilities that distinguish it from other planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering. When evaluating cards akin to Kaya, Vraska, Golgari Queen comes to mind. Both cards have similar converted mana costs and the capability to protect themselves. Vraska offers token creature destruction and life gain, although it lacks Kaya’s targeted exile effect and potential for direct player damage.

Another counterpart in this niche is Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord. Sorin aids in creature reanimation and provides a lifelink ability to your creatures, creating different strategic avenues. However, it doesn’t include the direct interaction with opponent’s boards or flexibility in removing threats like Kaya. Kaya’s plus ability also affects nonland permanents, providing a broader range of options than Sorin’s more focused reanimation.

Despite similarities, Kaya, Spirits’ Justice stands out with its ability to disrupt your opponent’s game plan while also dwindling their life total, offering a dual threat that is less straightforward in other similar cards. These subtle differences highlight the varied approaches that planeswalkers can bring to MTG, with Kaya being a strong option for control and midrange strategies.

Vraska, Golgari Queen - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord - MTG Card versions
Vraska, Golgari Queen - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kaya, Spirits' Justice by color, type and mana cost

Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Solemn Visitor - MTG Card versions
Kaya, Ghost Assassin - MTG Card versions
Kaya, Ghost Haunter - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Solemn Visitor - MTG Card versions
Kaya, Ghost Assassin - MTG Card versions
Kaya, Ghost Haunter - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaya, Spirits' Justice MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Kaya, Spirits' Justice and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kaya, Spirits' Justice Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 3352015NormalBorderlessFay Dalton
22024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 2112015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve
32024-02-10Murders at Karlov Manor PromosPMKM 211p2015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve
42024-02-10Murders at Karlov Manor PromosPMKM 211s2015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaya, Spirits' Justice has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal