Killian, Ink Duelist MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 197
2021-04-23 - Number 30s
2021-04-23 - Number 30
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Warlock |
| Abilities | Lifelink,Menace |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Lifelink Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Spells you cast that target a creature cost less to cast.
"When your father is Dean Embrose, second best really isn't an option."
Cards like Killian, Ink Duelist
Killian, Ink Duelist shines in the realm of boost-focused creatures within Magic: The Gathering. He parallels cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in terms of providing tactical advantages in a match. While Thalia makes opponents’ noncreature spells cost more, Killian, inversely, reduces the mana cost for your own spells that target a creature or player. It’s a subtle but significant distinction that can turn the tides of a game, especially in aura or control-centric decks.
Shadowmage Infiltrator is another card that draws comparison. Both cards carry a cost of two mana, but Killian’s abilities cater more towards strategic spellcasting over time, unlike the Infiltrator’s direct card draw advantage. In similar decks, Adanto Vanguard is often weighed against Killian for its resilience and aggressive stance. While the Vanguard can become indestructible, Killian offers long-term value by cheapening your spell arsenal, cultivating a more formidable board state as you buff creatures or remove threats with ease.
Assessing their strategic assets, Killian, Ink Duelist emerges as a distinctive choice for players who favor interaction and value over straightforward aggression or passive advantage, carving out his own niche in the dynamic landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By reducing spell costs, Killian, Ink Duelist ensures you save mana while casting powerful spells, effectively increasing your hand’s potential without necessarily drawing more cards.
Resource Acceleration: Killian’s cost-reduction ability acts like a form of resource acceleration, letting you deploy additional spells or activate abilities with the saved mana, optimizing your plays each turn.
Instant Speed: While Killian himself is a creature, his cost-reduction effect benefits playing instants at a reduced rate, giving you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ moves while committing fewer resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Killian, Ink Duelist offers cost reduction on spells, the lack of any discard mechanics within its abilities could lead to missed synergy opportunities in decks that capitalize on graveyard interactions or discard benefits.
Specific Mana Cost: Killian requires a precise combination of white and black mana, which can restrict deck-building options to those colors or require a mana base capable of generating both, potentially leading to inconsistency in mana draw.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a two-mana 2/2 card with lifelink and menace is efficient, there are instances where cards at the same cost could potentially provide broader utility or more immediate impact on the board state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Killian, Ink Duelist shines as a flexible option for deck builders, easily slotting into various archetypes. With an ability that reduces the cost of spells that target creatures or players, this card can support a wide range of strategies from aura-based to control decks.
Combo Potential: Killian’s cost-reduction ability offers tremendous synergy with spells that have multiple targets or those with strive mechanics. This creates potent combinations that can swing games in your favor by efficiently deploying powerful effects for reduced mana costs.
Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic nature of the current MTG landscape, Killian fits well in an environment rich with spellslinger decks. His low mana value combined with lifelink and menace makes him a formidable presence in both aggressive and grindy matchups.
How to beat
Killian, Ink Duelist champions versatility and cost-efficiency in Magic: The Gathering, presenting a challenge to opponents through its ability to reduce spell costs and withstand damage with lifelink. Tackling this card successfully involves a strategic approach, focusing on removal spells that are not dependent on power or toughness to deliver their effect. Cards like Path to Exile are highly effective because they can exile Killian, regardless of its defensive capabilities. Moreover, avoiding combat where Killian’s lifelink can prolong the game in your opponent’s favor becomes crucial.
Besides direct removal, countering Killian before it hits the battlefield is another avenue. Counterspells that can handle creatures before they come into play eliminate the concern altogether. On the board, enforcing a strict control over the pace and making use of board wipes that circumvent Killian’s cost-reducing advantage can turn the tide. In essence, keeping a keen eye on your removal and control options can provide the upper hand against the efficiency Killian brings to the table.
In essence, knowing your deck’s strengths and employing a responsive strategy can neutralize the potential Killian brings to a game, affirming that understanding the nuances of your removal and control spells is key to gaining victory against such versatile threats in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Killian, Ink Duelist MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages and Strixhaven Art Series, 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 Killian, Ink Duelist and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Killian, Ink Duelist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 197 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 30s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Ryan Pancoast | ||
| 3 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 30 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Killian, Ink Duelist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Killian, Ink Duelist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | If a spell has additional costs, apply those increases before applying cost reductions. |
| 2021-04-16 | Killian can reduce alternative costs. For example, if you choose to pay the alternative cost for Baleful Mastery while targeting a creature, that cost would be reduced to . |
| 2021-04-16 | Killian, Ink Duelist can’t reduce the colored mana requirement of a spell’s mana cost. |