Kor Duelist MTG Card
2006-01-02 - Number 32
2009-10-02 - Number 19
2015-05-22 - Number 22
2022-10-14 - Number 13
2002-06-24 - Number 36212
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Kor Soldier |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
As long as Kor Duelist is equipped, it has double strike. (It deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.)
"Swords cannot reach far enough. Chains cannot strike hard enough. An eternal dilemma, but a simple one."
Cards like Kor Duelist
Kor Duelist stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a formidable creature that harnesses the power of equipment to double its impact on the battlefield. It’s akin to creatures like Auriok Glaivemaster, which also gains an advantage when armed with equipment. Nevertheless, Kor Duelist steals the spotlight with its ability to double its striking power, a feat Auriok Glaivemaster can’t claim. The Glaivemaster, in contrast, gains first strike, skewing the scales in terms of defense rather than pure offensive prowess.
Analogous to Kor Duelist in terms of equipment synergy is Armament Master, although the Master opts for a different approach, beefing up not just itself but other equipped creatures you control. This wide-reaching bonus provides a more team-oriented advantage but lacks the immediate heavy-hitting power Kor Duelist provides when properly equipped. Then there’s the Mirran Crusader, which shares the double strike ability naturally. However, the Crusader’s higher casting cost and specific protection abilities position it in a different strategic niche compared to the more straightforward, aggressive nature of Kor Duelist.
When weighing the merits of these comparable creatures, Kor Duelist undeniably holds its own as a powerful contender for any equipment-based strategy in Magic: The Gathering due to its potential for quick and devastating blows.
Cards similar to Kor Duelist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: This Kor Duelist capability amplifies the impact of equipment cards, making every equipped attack potentially more devastating and cost-effective. Combined with card-drawing equipment, you can significantly outpace your opponent in terms of card quality and options available.
Resource Acceleration: By attaching affordable equipment to Kor Duelist, you can rapidly advance your board state, effectively using your mana resources to establish a threatening presence. This acceleration bolsters your ability to deploy other spells or creatures sooner than expected, pressuring opponents from multiple angles.
Instant Speed: While Kor Duelist itself is not an instant, its synergy with instant-speed equipment can catch opponents off guard. Equip during the end step or in response to attackers or blockers for unexpected combat math, maximizing both your flexibility and Kor Duelist’s lethal potential on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Kor Duelist doesn’t require discarding as a cost, building a successful deck around it often necessitates cards that facilitate equipment, which can lead to potentially crucial discards elsewhere in your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Kor Duelist demands white mana, making it less fluid for inclusion in multicolor decks that may not prioritize white or decks that are strained for color consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Kor Duelist itself is low-cost, effectively utilizing it typically involves additional mana investment in equipment. Other creatures may offer more immediate value or impact the battlefield sooner without this extra resource allocation.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Kor Duelist showcases flexibility in its capacity to amplify your equipment-themed decks. Its ability to gain double strike when equipped makes it a threat with any power-boosting gear.
Combo Potential: As a low-cost creature, Kor Duelist allows for early game combos and synergizes particularly well with cards that provide free or reduced-cost equipment attachments accelerating your board presence significantly.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive strategies shine, the Kor Duelist can become an essential aggressive early play, pressuring opponents and demanding answers before the game escalates beyond the early turns.
How to beat
Kor Duelist has established its presence amongst creature cards in MTG with a deceptively simple but potentially powerful ability. It’s a nimble combatant that excels when equipped, doubling its damage output and becoming a significant threat. To counter Kor Duelist effectively, one must disrupt this synergy. Removing the creature’s equipment through spells like Disenchant or employing artifact removal such as Naturalize can degrade its combat prowess dramatically. Alternatively, one can use removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to eliminate the Duelist before it becomes armored.
Another tactic is to control the board. Deploying creatures with high toughness to absorb or negate the Duelist’s attacks is a sound strategy. Employing efficient blockers like Wall of Omens not only thwarts the Duelist but also aids in drawing cards. Chump blocking is another method wherein expendable creatures can be sacrificed to prevent the Duelist from dealing a heavy blow.
Lastly, keeping in mind the Duelist’s need for equipment, hindering one’s opponent from casting such augmenting spells can seal the Duelist’s fate. Undermining their mana base with disruption spells like Stone Rain or countering equipment spells with Mana Leak can stall or even stop the Duelist in its tracks. Addressing the Duelist requires a balanced mix of removal, disruption, and control strategies to mitigate the risk this one-drop creature poses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kor Duelist MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Kor Duelist and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Kor Duelist Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36212 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kekai Kotaki | ||
| 2 | 2006-01-02 | DCI Promos | PDCI | 32 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kekai Kotaki | |
| 3 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 19 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Izzy | |
| 4 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy | |
| 5 | 2022-10-14 | Game Night: Free-for-All | GN3 | 13 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kor Duelist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |