Kitsune Palliator MTG Card

Kitsune Palliator ensures card longevity by protecting creatures and preserving your board state. It aides in resource conservation, allowing more freedom for strategic board development. The ability’s instant-speed activation offers flexibility and dynamic response in defense.

Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Fox Cleric
Released	2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Betrayers of Kamigawa
Set code	BOK
Power	0
Toughness	2
Number	14
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Dorman

Text of card

: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to each creature and each player this turn.

"Who am I to judge who is deserving and who is not? That is a question for lords, not healers."

Cards like Kitsune Palliator

Kitsune Palliator stands out in MTG for its unique ability to shield its controller from damage. It shares traits with the well-known Fog Bank, which also acts as a reliable defender. However, the Kitsune Palliator differs by redirecting damage from the player or planeswalkers they control to itself, rather than negating combat damage like Fog Bank. This makes the Kitsune Palliator particularly useful in protective strategies that aim to maintain the longevity of valuable non-creature permanents.

Comparing further, we see cards like Benevolent Bodyguard which offer a one-time use to protect a creature or Guard Gomazoa, another creature with a prevention effect similar to Fog Bank. Benevolent Bodyguard grants protection from the color of your choice for a turn, while Guard Gomazoa prevents all combat damage that would be dealt to it. Kitsune Palliator provides ongoing protection, but requires mana investment each time you activate its ability.

In conclusion, for players who value consistent protection for their key game pieces, Kitsune Palliator presents a robust choice. While it may not have the one-and-done simplicity of Benevolent Bodyguard or the passive defense of Fog Bank, its recurring redirection ability can be pivotal in games that go the distance.

Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kitsune Palliator by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kitsune Palliator allows you to effectively manage your cards in hand by offering a defensive mechanism that can protect your valuable creatures from being overwhelmed in battle, maintaining your board presence and card resources.

Resource Acceleration: Through its ability to mitigate damage while maintaining a stance on the battlefield, Kitsune Palliator can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by allowing you to conserve spells and mana that would otherwise be used for creature protection. This leaves your resources available for developing your board and strategy further.

Instant Speed: Even though Kitsune Palliator itself isn’t an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility in your play. You have the option to adapt to the flow of the game and your opponent’s actions during their turn, allowing for dynamic defense arrangements that can save key creatures at crucial moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kitsune Palliator does not have a discard requirement, which can sometimes be a setback, as it means losing a potentially valuable card from your hand. Fortunately, this is not a concern with this specific card.

Specific Mana Cost: Constrained by the requirement of white mana, Kitsune Palliator asks for a specific mana alignment, which could be less than ideal in multicolored decks that could use that mana for a variety of other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is not insignificant, this creature’s abilities can be seen as costly when compared to other cards with similar or more impactful abilities.

Reasons to Include Kitsune Palliator in Your Collection

Versatility: The Kitsune Palliator is a flexible card that can offer a solid defense in a variety of deck builds. Its ability to redirect damage from you or creatures you control makes it a useful tool in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with strategies that involve damage prevention or life gain. It has the potential to form synergistic combos with cards that capitalize on preventing damage, thereby enhancing your board state and survivability.

Meta-Relevance: In a game meta where burn and direct damage strategies are prevalent, Kitsune Palliator can be a crucial inclusion. It helps in mitigating damage from key turns, providing the player with the breathing room needed to stabilize or turn the game around.

How to beat

Kitsune Palliator is a unique creature card in MTG, recognized for its defensive capabilities. It allows a player to redirect damage from themselves or their creatures to the Palliator. At first glance, this might appear to create an impenetrable barrier. However, overcoming the Palliator’s protection isn’t as daunting as it seems. Firstly, utilizing removal spells that bypass the damage step can effectively eliminate the Palliator from the battlefield. Think along the lines of cards like Path to Exile or Murder, which don’t deal damage but simply exile or destroy the target creature.

Another strategy is to employ spells that can lock down the Palliator, preventing it from activating its ability. Cards like Pacifism or Narcolepsy can incapacitate the Palliator rendering its damage redirection useless. Additionally, one can take advantage of the Palliator’s reliance on untapping to use its ability. Here, cards that force a player to tap their creatures or keep them tapped, such as Frost Breath or Claustrophobia, can prove invaluable.

In essence, while the Kitsune Palliator can be a thorn in the side of aggressive MTG strategies, it’s certainly not invincible. A well-tuned deck with the right mix of removal, control, and understanding of the game’s mechanics can effectively neutralize the Palliator, paving the way to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kitsune Palliator MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Kitsune Palliator and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kitsune Palliator has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2005-02-01	Kitsune Palliator’s ability creates prevention shields for every creature and player when it resolves. It doesn’t affect creatures that enter the battlefield (or become creatures) later.