Kinjalli's Dawnrunner MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Scout |
| Abilities | Double strike,Explore |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 19 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Arash Radkia |
Text of card
Double strike When Kinjalli's Dawnrunner enters the battlefield, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Cards like Kinjalli's Dawnrunner
Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner is a versatile creature card with potential to impact the battlefield in MTG. Similar to other creatures such as the classic Savannah Lions, the Dawnrunner offers a creature with a high power level for a low mana cost. While Savannah Lions shines in being straightforward and cost-effective, Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner adds a layer of utility with its ability to make another target Dinosaur cost less mana to cast. This feature makes the Dawnrunner not just a low-cost creature but also an enabler for dinosaur-heavy decks.
Another card to consider is Raptor Hatchling. While this creature also supports dinosaur strategies, it focuses more on resilience, creating a larger dinosaur token upon being dealt damage. Meanwhile, Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner encourages a proactive game plan, allowing for smoother and more cost-effective plays as the game progresses. Its presence in the early game can accelerate a player’s strategy by reducing the casting cost of high-caliber dinosaur spells, leading to potentially game-changing effects.
As players evaluate Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner against other creatures within the landscape of MTG, it stands out for dinosaur enthusiasts. Its blend of low mana cost and strategic dinosaur synergy lends itself well to creating powerful and efficient plays early on in the game.
Cards similar to Kinjalli's Dawnrunner by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner is designed to give players a strategic upper hand by bolstering their board presence. Its ability to potentially untap another target Dinosaur you control upon attack can lead to unexpected card draw if that Dino has a relevant effect or it may encourage favorable combat trades, ultimately translating into maintaining card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: This card, especially in a deck focused on Dinosaur synergy, contributes to resource acceleration by potentially untapping lands or other mana-producing permanents. It can enable multiple spell casting in a single turn, or allow you to keep up mana for reactionary spells while still advancing your board state.
Instant Speed: While Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner itself isn’t an instant, it can synergize well with instant-speed spells. Its untap effect can free up a key creature to interact during your opponent’s turn, such as using a Dinosaur with a tap ability at instant speed for strategic plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner requires a card to be discarded when used for its exert ability, potentially depleting your hand and valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card needs a precise combination of mana, including white, to be cast, which might not easily slot into decks that aren’t specifically tailored for such requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to get Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner on the field could be deemed steep by some. Given its abilities and stats, evaluating the opportunity cost is crucial as there may be alternatives that could fulfill a similar role for less mana.
Reasons to Include Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner in Your Collection
Versatility: Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner is a dynamo in decks centered around dinosaur synergies or that focus on exerting creatures for value. As a low-cost creature, it can be easily played early in the game, making it a solid option for a variety of strategies.
Combo Potential: With the ability to untap another target creature, the Dawnrunner can be an essential piece in combos that seek to exploit repeated uses of tap abilities, or simply to allow your key creatures to attack and block or use their abilities multiple times in a turn cycle.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tempo plays a crucial role, the Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner’s exert flexibility can help outpace and outmaneuver your opponents, maintaining pressure while providing strategic advantages on the battlefield.
How to beat
Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner is a card that brings an interesting dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This Dinosaur boasts abilities that make it a formidable addition to any deck focusing on creature synergy and aggression. Its potential to create advantageous combat situations cannot be underestimated, forcing opponents to reconsider their blocking strategies. However, no card is without its counters, and in the world of strategic plays, there are several tactics you can employ to neutralize this threat.
Spot removal spells are a direct method to deal with Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner. Instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can clear the way before it has a chance to impact the game significantly. Additionally, counter spells are effective pre-emptive measures to prevent Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner from hitting the board at all. Utilizing board wipes, such as Wrath of God, is another strategic approach, wiping the slate clean of all creatures and dodging its protection features.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the use of enchantments or abilities that prevent the creature from attacking or blocking, such as Pacifism. Effectively bypassing its abilities and neutralizing it as a threat. Keeping these strategies in mind will ensure your deck has the answers to Kinjalli’s Dawnrunner and similar challenges you may face.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kinjalli's Dawnrunner MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Kinjalli's Dawnrunner and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kinjalli's Dawnrunner has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kinjalli's Dawnrunner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature explores" trigger as appropriate. |
| 2023-11-10 | If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard. |
| 2023-11-10 | If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2023-11-10 | In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.) |
| 2023-11-10 | Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter. |
| 2023-11-10 | Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again. |