Kjeldoran Royal Guard MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 38
1997-03-24 - Number 44
1999-04-21 - Number 28
2001-04-11 - Number 23
2001-04-11 - Number 23★
2007-07-13 - Number 25
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
oc T: Redirect to Kjeldoran Royal Guard all damage dealt to you from unblocked creatures this turn.
"Honorable in battle, generous in death." —Motto of the Kjeldoran Royal Guard
Cards like Kjeldoran Royal Guard
Kjeldoran Royal Guard stands as a venerable defender in the realm of creature cards for Magic the Gathering players who prioritize fortification. It mirrors the defensive might of Palisade Giant, which intriguingly redirects any damage from other creatures or itself to the giant. However, unlike the broader protective nature of Palisade Giant, Kjeldoran Royal Guard requires a tap to selectively shield your creatures or planeswalkers for the turn, offering a more tactical edge in combat.
Guardian of the Gateless is another card that shares similarities with our watchful Royal Guard. They both excel in defending the board, where the Guardian can block any number of creatures and gains power and toughness for each creature it’s blocking. Comparatively, Kjeldoran Royal Guard’s tapping ability is more controlled, allowing players to dictate the flow of combat and safeguard key assets.
Examining the utility and defensive strategies, Kjeldoran Royal Guard fits snugly into decks focused on control and protection. While the guard may not have the blanket coverage of Palisade Giant or the aggressive blocking capabilities of Guardian of the Gateless, its strategic defensive command makes it a card worth considering for players looking to safeguard their victory.
Cards similar to Kjeldoran Royal Guard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kjeldoran Royal Guard shines in board control strategies. When it’s on the battlefield, it acts as a deterrent for opponents to attack, effectively preserving your card presence. It can also selectively redirect damage from key creatures or planeswalkers to itself, maintaining the balance of card advantage in your favor over time.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to resource acceleration, this card can help you keep more important mana-producing creatures or artifacts safe from harm, indirectly ensuring your resources remain available for future maneuvers or spell casting.
Instant Speed: The guard’s ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to react to threats as they arise during your opponent’s turn. This flexible defense mechanism is an excellent addition to decks that need to maintain a solid defensive stance while setting up their win conditions or waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kjeldoran Royal Guard obligates players to maintain a ready hand to activate its ability. This can strain your card advantage and put you in a tough spot if your hand is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a casting cost that demands both white mana and a total of five mana, the Kjeldoran Royal Guard can be restrictive in multicolor decks or those with a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With five mana for its defensive capability, it competes with other cards that could offer immediate board impact or greater versatility for the same or lower investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Kjeldoran Royal Guard brings a unique dynamic to the table, able to both defend your life total by redirecting combat damage and act as a formidable blocker. This functionality allows it to seamlessly integrate into control and midrange decks that prioritize stability and board presence.
Combo Potential: This card has interesting synergies in formats where damage redirection can be used strategically with various abilities. It could be the keystone in a defensive combo, helping to protect vital combo pieces or important planeswalkers.
Meta-Relevance: Given its sturdy defensive capabilities, Kjeldoran Royal Guard can be a solid sideboard choice in environments where you expect to face aggressive creature-based strategies. Its relevance increases in metas dominated by such decks, providing a wall that can stymie an opponent’s offensive momentum.
How to beat
The Kjeldoran Royal Guard stands out as a notable defensive card in Magic: The Gathering, featuring the ability to redirect damage from you to itself. With formidable toughness, it serves as a formidable shield, absorbing the damage that would otherwise impact your health or other creatures. This ability creates a robust layer of protection, especially in a controlled board state where you can freely choose when to activate its damage redirection.
Overcoming this stalwart defender requires tactical adjustments. Removal spells that bypass its toughness, such as Murder or Doom Blade, directly dispose of the guard without triggering its defensive stance. Alternatively, employing exile effects, like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, not only removes the guard from the battlefield but also prevents recurrence from mechanics like reanimation. Lastly, utilizing countermagic when the card is cast can intercept the Royal Guard before it even has a chance to establish its protective role. Each approach whether pre-emptive strikes or direct removal, ensures the robust Kjeldoran Royal Guard doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.
In summary, while the Kjeldoran Royal Guard can seem daunting with its damage prevention ability, there are strategic spells and tactics that allow players to effectively remove or circumvent this guardian, maintaining the pace and flow of the game in their favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kjeldoran Royal Guard MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Kjeldoran Royal Guard and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Kjeldoran Royal Guard Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 38 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Allen Williams | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 44 | 1997 | Normal | White | Allen Williams | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 28 | 1997 | Normal | White | Allen Williams | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 23 | 1997 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 23★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 6 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 25 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kjeldoran Royal Guard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kjeldoran Royal Guard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If you activate the ability but Kjeldoran Royal Guard leaves the battlefield before combat damage is dealt, the combat damage from unblocked creatures won’t be redirected. It will be dealt to you as normal. |