Kiyomaro, First to Stand MTG Card
2005-06-03 - Number 18
2005-06-03 - Number 18★
2002-06-24 - Number 32015
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Spirit |
| Power | * |
| Toughness | * |
Text of card
Kiyomaro, First to Stand's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand. As long as you have four or more cards in hand, Kiyomaro has vigilance. Whenever Kiyomaro deals damage, if you have seven or more cards in hand, you gain 7 life.
Cards like Kiyomaro, First to Stand
Kiyomaro, First to Stand holds a distinctive place in the pantheon of powerful creatures. Comparable to other life-linked creatures such as Ajani’s Pridemate, Kiyomaro offers a unique dynamic by scaling in power and toughness with the number of cards in hand. Ajani’s Pridemate, while it grows with each life gain event, doesn’t respond to hand size, making Kiyomaro particularly formidable in decks centered around card retention.
Another peer in this realm is Serra Avatar, whose might and resilience are a direct reflection of your life total but doesn’t necessarily encourage a large hand size. Kiyomaro, unlike Serra Avatar, also provides the added benefit of forcing your opponent to discard cards if you have a substantial hand, disrupting their strategy. This is a strategic advantage that Serra Avatar lacks.
Overall, Kiyomaro, First to Stand demands a specific deck build to thrive but in the right context, it becomes not just a creature of considerable strength but also a tool for disrupting the opponent’s plays, setting it apart from other life-linked or size-scaling creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Kiyomaro, First to Stand by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kiyomaro, First to Stand has a dynamic ability that hinges on hand size, often rewarding you with substantial life gain that translates into drawing extra cards when your hand is full. This can be crucial in sustaining card advantage against your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While Kiyomaro itself does not directly accelerate resources, its potential for high power and toughness based on your hand size can be leveraged to dominate the battlefield quickly. A fuller hand means a stronger, more intimidating presence without additional mana investment.
Instant Speed: Kiyomaro’s ability triggers during the upkeep, which, when combined with instant-speed draw spells, can unexpectedly bolster your defenses and deter attacks. This prevents opponents from accurately gauging your potential for life gain and card draw in their turn, making Kiyomaro a strategic asset in maintaining board control.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kiyomaro, First to Stand requires you to have at least seven cards in hand at the beginning of the upkeep to avoid its own damage effect. This can be a punishing drawback during longer games or against strategies that deplete your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Kiyomaro, First to Stand is specific to white mana, making it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that may not have the resources to cast it consistently, especially in the early to mid-game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three white and two generic mana, Kiyomaro, First to Stand is on the higher side for creature cards. This cost demands a significant amount of mana resources, which might hinder your ability to play other spells in the same turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Kiyomaro, First to Stand has the unique ability to grow stronger as your hand size increases, making it a flexible addition to life-gain and control decks, where maintaining a large hand is common.
Combo Potential: This legendary creature becomes a powerhouse when paired with effects that allow you to draw more cards, as it gains not only significant toughness but also the potential to deal considerable amounts of damage.
Meta-Relevance: While it may not be at the forefront of the current competitive scene, Kiyomaro can serve as a counterstrategy in metas overwhelmed by aggressive decks, particularly because its life gain ability helps stabilize the board against such onslaughts.
How to Beat
Kiyomaro, First to Stand demands a strategy that efficiently handles its potential for becoming a dominating prescence on the battlefield. This unique card gains power and toughness equivalent to the number of cards in your hand and provides a lifegain ability, which can turn the tide of a match in your opponent’s favor. To counteract this, focus on reducing your opponent’s hand size, thus weakening Kiyomaro’s offense and defense capabilities.
Discard spells and abilities that force your opponent to draw cards, such as Thoughtseize or Liliana’s Caress, can be very effective in this scenario. Maintain pressure with consistent threats that require answers and encourage your opponent to deplete their hand. Moreover, direct removal spells that sidestep Kiyomaro’s conditional power, like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, are excellent choices to eliminate it regardless of its size.
Remember, understanding the ebb and flow of hand size in your match against Kiyomaro, First to Stand is critical. Utilizing a well-timed removal or disrupting your opponent’s hand can ensure that Kiyomaro remains manageable, allowing you to secure victory in the face of this potentially formidable foe.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kiyomaro, First to Stand MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Saviors 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 Kiyomaro, First to Stand and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Kiyomaro, First to Stand Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-06-03 and 2005-06-03. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32015 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ittoku | ||
| 2 | 2005-06-03 | Saviors of Kamigawa | SOK | 18 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2005-06-03 | Saviors of Kamigawa Promos | PSOK | 18★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ittoku |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kiyomaro, First to Stand has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kiyomaro, First to Stand card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-06-01 | If you have seven or more cards in hand when Kiyomaro’s triggered ability goes on the stack but less than seven when the ability resolves, the ability does nothing. |
| 2005-06-01 | Kiyomaro’s power and toughness don’t affect whether it has vigilance or the life-gain ability. |
| 2005-06-01 | Losing vigilance after attackers are declared doesn’t cause Kiyomaro to tap. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.