Kiora, Master of the Depths MTG Card


Kiora excels in card advantage by offering card draw and resource acceleration through land and creature untapping. Her specific mana requirements and higher casting cost can be restrictive, but her strategic depth is substantial. Flexibility in deck building and synergy potential make Kiora a noteworthy card for control and midrange strategies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Kiora
Abilities Fight
Loyalty 4

Text of card


+1: Untap up to one target creature and up to one target land.
-2: Reveal the top four cards of your library. You may put a creature card and/or a land card from among them into your hand. Put the rest into your graveyard.
-8: You get an emblem with "Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may have it fight target creature." Then create three 8/8 blue Octopus creature tokens.


Understanding Kiora Master of the Depths

Kiora Master of the Depths is a standout planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering. This card allows players to untap up to one creature and up to one land, which is somewhat reminiscent of Garruk Wildspeaker’s untapping ability. However, Kiora’s ability affects both land and creatures, showcasing a hybrid strength between land acceleration and creature utility.

Cards like Kiora, Master of the Depths

Kiora Master of the Depths shares some strategic versatility with Tamiyo, Field Researcher. Both planeswalkers offer a multi-faceted approach to controlling the game, with Kiora focusing on untapping potential and Tamiyo on detainment and card draw. Kiora can also dig four cards deep to find creatures or lands, a nod to Thassa, God of the Sea’s scrying ability, yet scales it up for a more significant impact.

Within the scope of utility, Nissa, Who Shakes the World mirrors Kiora’s land-focus, underscoring land ramping as a potent strategy. Although Nissa may not affect creatures, her ability to produce a considerable amount of mana is on par with Kiara’s depth of land untapping. Lastly, Jace, the Mind Sculptor might come to mind as well for his fabled deck manipulation. Still, Kiora’s dual-focus on creatures and lands creates a distinct tactical flexibility that many players find invaluable.

In summary, Kiora Master of the Depths displays a unique capability in manipulating game resources and offers a distinct approach compared to other similar cards in Magic: The Gathering, making her an asset in decks that value versatility and resource control.

Garruk Wildspeaker - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo, Field Researcher - MTG Card versions
Thassa, God of the Sea - MTG Card versions
Nissa, Who Shakes the World - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Garruk Wildspeaker - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo, Field Researcher - MTG Card versions
Thassa, God of the Sea - MTG Card versions
Nissa, Who Shakes the World - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kiora, Master of the Depths by color, type and mana cost

Tamiyo, Collector of Tales - MTG Card versions
Kiora, the Crashing Wave - MTG Card versions
Oko, the Ringleader - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo, Collector of Tales - MTG Card versions
Kiora, the Crashing Wave - MTG Card versions
Oko, the Ringleader - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Kiora, Master of the Depths. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Nykthos LeylineNykthos Leyline ModernNykthos LeylineModern League 2024-04-21
Simic DevotionSimic Devotion ModernGreen DevotionModern League 2024-03-24
Temur RampTemur Ramp ModernTooth And NailHBMO24 - Card Cache Saturday Modern ReCQ

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kiora Master of the Depths shines by providing substantial card draw. Its -2 ability allows you to reveal the top four cards of your library and put a creature and land card from among them into your hand, bolstering your hand and options on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: With her +1 ability, Kiora adds a layer of resource acceleration by untapping up to one target creature and one target land. This can lead to additional mana availability for casting spells or enable repeated use of tap abilities within the same turn.

Instant Speed: While Kiora herself is a planeswalker and not an instant, her capacity to untap a creature with a tap ability that can be used at instant speed notably enhances your flexibility to respond to threats or opportunities during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tapping into Kiora’s full potential often means discarding a card to fuel various abilities or synergies. This might strain your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage if you don’t have an ample reservoir of cards to draw from.

Specific Mana Cost: Kiora requires both green and blue mana, tailoring her to Simic or multicolored decks. This specific mana requirement may not fit into all deck strategies, potentially limiting the pool of players who can utilize her effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of four mana, two of which are colored, Kiora has a sizable investment upfront. When evaluating planeswalkers, some players may find others with a lower mana cost or with abilities that have an immediate impact on the game to be more cost-effective choices.


Reasons to Include Kiora Master of the Depths in Your Collection

Versatility: Kiora Master of the Depths is a dynamic card that offers multiple abilities to support various deck strategies. It can untap a creature and land, accelerating your board presence while providing numerous synergies.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker card pairs well with cards that have tap abilities or with permanents that benefit from being untapped, creating opportunities for powerful combos and interactions within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that emphasizes control or midrange decks, Kiora’s ability to provide card draw and ramp can give you an upper hand by maintaining a solid creature presence and land advantage.


How to beat

Kiora, Master of the Depths is a potent planeswalker card in Magic: The Gathering that offers players both creature manipulation and deck utility. To gain an edge against this multifaceted card, it’s crucial to disrupt its loyalty abilities. Applying pressure with aggressive creatures can compel your opponent to use Kiora defensively, curtailing their ability to exploit her full potential for ramping up or drawing cards.

Direct damage spells or effects that can target planeswalkers are also effective here, as they can reduce Kiora’s loyalty points or eliminate her from the battlefield entirely before she becomes a major threat. Furthermore, keeping creature removal handy ensures any creature untapped by Kiora’s +1 ability won’t pose a significant problem. Lastly, countering her when she’s cast can save you from the trouble altogether, making counterspells an invaluable asset in your strategy.

Ultimately, maintaining a proactive board presence and having the right answers at the right time are key to overcoming the challenges posed by Kiora, ensuring that the depths she masterfully controls don’t overwhelm you.


BurnMana Recommendations

Kiora Master of the Depths is not just another MTG card to add to the collection. It’s a solid investment in advancing game strategy and enhancing deck versatility. Boosting your on-field resources and digging deep into your deck are moves that can shift the tide to your favor. If synergies with tap abilities and ramp potential excite you, Kiora could be the next great addition to your arsenal. Delve into the depths of your deck-building skills and harness the power of this multifaceted planeswalker. Explore with us further to master the depths and command your next match!


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kiora, Master of the Depths MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar Promos and Battle for Zendikar, 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 Kiora, Master of the Depths and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kiora, Master of the Depths Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2015-10-02. Illustrated by Jason Chan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 213s2015NormalBlackJason Chan
22015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 2132015NormalBlackJason Chan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kiora, Master of the Depths has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kiora, Master of the Depths card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-08-25 With Kiora’s second ability, you could put no cards, a creature card, a land card, or a creature card and a land card into your hand.
2015-08-25 You can activate Kiora’s first ability with no targets just to put a loyalty counter on her.
2015-08-25 You will have the emblem by the time the Octopus creature tokens enter the battlefield—they’ll be looking to fight!