Kiora's Dambreaker MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 58
2019-11-07 - Number 413
2024-01-12 - Number 48
2020-09-26 - Number WAR-58
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Leviathan |
| Abilities | Proliferate |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
When Kiora's Dambreaker enters the battlefield, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
"When your enemy flees, send the sea to pursue them." —Kiora
Cards like Kiora's Dambreaker
In the vast seas of Magic: The Gathering, Kiora’s Dambreaker presents a wave of possibilities with its ability to proliferate on entry. This feature makes it an intriguing comparison with cards such as Merfolk Skydiver. Skydiver enters the battlefield at a much lower mana cost and can also proliferate, albeit with an activated ability. Although smaller in size, the flexibility and repeated use of Skydiver’s skill make it a potent option for decks focused on counters.
Dive deeper and we encounter the Roalesk, Apex Hybrid, another creature that proliferates but only upon death. Roalesk comes with a higher power level and impacts the board immediately with two +1/+1 counters spread among other creatures. The dambreaker, while more modest in its initial impact, does offer a sizable 5/6 body that can play both offense and defense in longer matches.
Lastly, there’s the vast Kraken of the Straits. Though it lacks the proliferate ability, this leviathan restricts the number of creatures able to block it, making a clear path to victory. Kiora’s Dambreaker shines in its simplicity and synergizes with counter-heavy strategies, embodying a balance between impactful play and reliable creature strength.
Cards similar to Kiora's Dambreaker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kiora’s Dambreaker offers the opportunity to draw a card if you control another creature or planeswalker that has a +1/+1 counter on it when it enters the battlefield, potentially providing a valuable lead in resources.
Resource Acceleration: While it’s not a direct form of acceleration, the card’s ability to amass resources revolves around utilizing +1/+1 counters effectively. This can lead to board state advantages that could accelerate your progress in the game.
Instant Speed: Although Kiora’s Dambreaker doesn’t function at instant speed, it compensates with a powerful triggered ability on entering the battlefield. This allows for strategic timing, particularly with cards that add +1/+1 counters in the same turn or just before casting the Dambreaker.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Kiora’s Dambreaker does not inherently require a discard upon casting, incorporating this card in a deck often necessitates additional resources that could result in discarding other critical cards to maintain a balanced hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Kiora’s Dambreaker demands a specific mana configuration, including both blue and generic mana, potentially limiting the card’s flexibility and requiring a deck built around accommodating its mana needs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six total mana required to summon Kiora’s Dambreaker, which includes one blue, can be considered steep for its abilities, especially when comparing it to other creatures in the same mana range that might provide either immediate board impact or more valuable abilities.
Reasons to Include Kiora’s Dambreaker in Your Collection
Versatility: Kiora’s Dambreaker is a flexible addition to your blue-themed decks. Its ability to proliferate can enhance a wide array of strategies, especially those involving +1/+1 counters or bolstering loyalty counters on planeswalkers.
Combo Potential: This leviathan’s synergies shine when paired with cards that capitalize on entering the battlefield effects or the aforementioned proliferate mechanic, offering potential to magnify combo effects across the board.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to scale threats quickly, Kiora’s Dambreaker can hold its own in a meta that skews towards longer games where it can dominate the late game through its sheer size and interaction with key mechanics.
How to beat
Kiora’s Dambreaker presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This creature offers significant benefits when it comes to its mana value and the splash it makes upon entering the game. With its ability to untap another permanent, a player wielding this card can gain a vital edge by reusing lands or powerful artifacts and thus maintaining tempo.
However, to counter Kiora’s Dambreaker, one must strategize effectively. Removal spells like Murder and Path to Exile can exile or destroy it before the player can capitalize on its advantages. Additionally, counterspells such as Cancel or Mana Leak can prevent it from hitting the board in the first place. It’s crucial to manage resources and keep up mana for those decisive moments when your opponent casts this Leviathan. Similarly, board wipes like Wrath of God leave no room for Kiora’s Dambreaker to establish its presence.
Ultimately, while Kiora’s Dambreaker can be a formidable force, it is manageable. A well-prepared deck with the right removals and counters can keep this sea giant at bay, maintaining balance and control throughout the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kiora's Dambreaker MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Mystery Booster, 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's Dambreaker and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Kiora's Dambreaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 58 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 413 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | WAR-58 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | ||
| 4 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kiora's Dambreaker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kiora's Dambreaker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | If a permanent has +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it, they’re removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it. |
| 2021-03-19 | Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it’s too late for anyone to respond. |
| 2021-03-19 | To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can’t choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them. |
| 2021-03-19 | You don’t have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since “any number” includes zero, you don’t have to choose any permanents at all, and you don’t have to choose any players at all. |