Kosei, Penitent Warlord MTG Card


Advances card efficiency through potential drawing, optimizing creature mana cost value. Enhances mana access, speeding up deployment of high-impact legendary creatures. Supports instant speed tactics, offering mana flexibility during opponent’s turn.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Ogre Samurai
Power 0
Toughness 5

Text of card

As long as Kosei, Penitent Warlord is enchanted, equipped, and has a counter on it, Kosei has "Whenever Kosei, Penitent Warlord deals combat damage to an opponent, you draw that many cards and Kosei deals that much damage to each other opponent."


Cards like Kosei, Penitent Warlord

Kosei, Penitent Warlord is a notable figure in the vast universe of legendary creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Akin to other prominent commanders, such as Anafenza, the Foremost, Kosei brings a unique blend of power and utility to the battlefield. Anafenza boosts your creatures while exiling opponents’ creatures that would die, influencing the game state on multiple levels. Kosei’s distinctive advantage, on the other hand, lies in his vigilance and the ability to be a strong combat deterrent, punishing opponents with card draw limitations and loss of life for attacking you.

Another worthy comparison can be made with Thalia, Heretic Cathar. Both legends excel at disrupting opponent strategies, yet in different manners. Thalia hampers your opponent’s tempo by forcing their nonbasic lands and creatures to enter the battlefield tapped, contrasting with Kosei’s approach to discourage direct attacks. Moreover, while Thalia is less demanding mana-wise, Kosei presents a more formidable presence that can rapidly alter the tide of combat.

When evaluating options amongst legendary creatures, Kosei, Penitent Warlord stands out. It restricts foes from drawing multiple cards and deals damage when attacked, imposing a unique type of resource and tactical deprivation on the opponent, distinguishing itself within the dynamic landscape of MTG.

Anafenza, the Foremost - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Heretic Cathar - MTG Card versions
Anafenza, the Foremost - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Heretic Cathar - MTG Card versions

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Uktabi Orangutan - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Verduran Enchantress - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elder - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kosei, Penitent Warlord ensures you remain ahead by allowing you to potentially draw extra cards. By playing creatures with power greater than their mana cost, you optimize card efficiency.

Resource Acceleration: Kosei’s ability to give your legendary creatures the option to tap for mana promotes resource acceleration, making it easier to deploy heavy hitters or employ key abilities sooner than expected.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed interaction is not inherent to Kosei, Penitent Warlord himself, but he augments your deck’s ability to operate at instant speed by providing additional mana during opponents’ turns when your legendary creatures are untapped.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kosei, Penitent Warlord demands that you discard a card as part of its casting cost. This might strain your hand, especially if you find yourself in a tight spot without spare cards to discard.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to cast this card includes both white and red. This specific color requirement can be restrictive, limiting deck inclusion only to those that can reliably generate both colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s quite steep, Kosei, Penitent Warlord competes with other cards at the same mana range which might offer immediate impact or more powerful effects, making it less desirable in some deck-building scenarios.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kosei, Penitent Warlord is a flexible addition to any MTG deck as it provides a dynamic presence on the battlefield that can adapt to various situations. This warlord’s ability to interact with different playstyles makes it a suitable choice for players who enjoy experimenting with multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: The synergy of Kosei with other cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures or activating abilities is where it shines. Its unique attributes allow for the creation of powerful interactions, potentially giving you an edge over your opponents through intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the meta constantly evolves, Kosei, Penitent Warlord holds its ground by proving itself to be a formidable card in a variety of meta landscapes. Its potential impact on the game can influence the tide of battle, making it a worthy contender in the current competitive scene.


How to beat

Kosei, Penitent Warlord presents a unique challenge on the battlefield within the MTG universe. As a formidable creature, it necessitates strategic handling due to its ability to become indestructible. To outmaneuver Kosei, players should focus on using spells or abilities that don’t destroy but rather exile or bounce it back to the owner’s hand. Cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon are effective in this regard, bypassing Kosei’s defensive capabilities.

Another effective strategy is to preempt Kosei’s ascendancy by limiting your opponent’s ability to cast it. Control decks that can counter creature spells are extremely effective. Disallow or Negate are key cards that can keep Kosei in the command zone or the player’s hand rather than on the field of combat. Additionally, dealing with the card requires careful resource management, so engaging in trades that disadvantage your opponent and disrupt their tempo can be key in making sure Kosei doesn’t tilt the scales too far in their favor.

In essence, although Kosei can be a tough nut to crack, there are multiple paths to restraining its influence during the game. It all comes down to deck construction and timely execution of control strategies to ensure victory even in the presence of such a powerful adversary.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kosei, Penitent Warlord MTG card by a specific set like Neon Dynasty Commander and Neon Dynasty Art Series, 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 Kosei, Penitent Warlord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kosei, Penitent Warlord Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 672015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
22022-02-18Neon Dynasty Art SeriesANEO 82015Art seriesBorderless
32022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 262015NormalBlackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kosei, Penitent Warlord has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal