Koskun Falls MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | World Enchantment |
| Released | 1995-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Homelands |
| Set code | HML |
| Number | 55 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Rob Alexander |
Text of card
During your upkeep, tap target untapped creature you control or bury Koskun Falls. No creature can attack you unless its controller pays an additional whenever that creature attacks.
Cards like Koskun Falls
Koskun Falls stands out in the realm of defensive enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative in functionality is the iconic Propaganda. Both enforce a tax on opponents who wish to attack, with Propaganda requiring two extra mana for each attacking creature. Koskun Falls mirrors this effect, albeit with the added twist of necessitating a creature to tap during your upkeep to maintain the enchantment, giving it a more interactive playstyle.
Ghostly Prison is another enchantment that shares the same deterrent against attacking as Koskun Falls and Propaganda. The difference lies in Ghostly Prison not requiring the upkeep condition, offering a less restrictive defensive strategy. In contrast, Koskun Falls demands a more calculated approach since you lose a creature’s ability to attack or block each turn to keep it active. Lastly, there’s Norn’s Annex, which can either cost more using traditional mana or utilize Phyrexian mana for a life payment strategy, yet it influences the board in a similar fashion by making attacks cost-prohibitive.
Koskun Falls thus presents an intriguing balance between cost and ongoing requirement that can shape the dynamics of a match, positioning it as a strategic option among defensive enchantments in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Koskun Falls by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Koskun Falls is a unique enchantment that can provide a distinct form of card advantage by disrupting the opponent’s tempo. Each turn, it can potentially save one of your creatures from being attacked, which in turn protects your board presence, ensuring you have the necessary resources for your strategy and a steady flow of advantages.
Resource Acceleration: While Koskun Falls itself does not directly accelerate your mana resources, it allows you to maintain your board state without having to commit additional resources to defense. This conservation of resources enables you to allocate mana towards progression of your board state instead of reacting defensively, potentially accelerating your path to victory.
Instant Speed: The card’s unique payment method can be likened to an ability that can be leveraged at instant speed. Although Koskun Falls is an enchantment, it requires a creature to tap during your upkeep. This strategic tap can be timed with creatures that have been given summoning sickness or those that have abilities triggered by tapping, thereby capitalizing on the instant-like decision making provided.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Koskun Falls requires players to commit to having a creature to tap during their upkeep, which can be a sizable hindrance if your board presence is weak or if you’re facing removal-heavy decks. This effectively means losing out on the potential to attack or block with that creature, diminishing your tactical options and potentially putting you at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that specifically calls for two black mana, Koskun Falls may not seamlessly integrate into multicolored decks. Decks that don’t have a strong black mana base might struggle to play Koskun Falls at the most opportune moments, thereby reducing its effectiveness and reliability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four total mana, two of which are color-specific, Koskun Falls can be considered quite an investment, especially when you factor in the upkeep cost of tapping a creature. In a game where tempo is crucial, dedicating four mana to a non-creature spell that doesn’t directly affect the board state may set you back when compared to other defensive options available.
Reasons to Include Koskun Falls in Your Collection
Versatility: Koskun Falls is a card that can find a place across a wide array of deck archetypes, especially in those that focus on long-term control and defensive strategies. Its ability to apply consistent pressure on opponents by mandating a creature tax each turn makes it a strategic addition to black-based control decks.
Combo Potential: Aside from its standalone value, Koskun Falls can become a key piece in lockdown strategies when combined with cards that neutralize creatures or prevent summoning. Its combo potential increases when synergized with board wipes or cards that tap opponents’ creatures, allowing for dominance over the board’s state.
Meta-Relevance: Given that dynamic MTG metas swing between aggro, midrange, and control, Koskun Falls asserts its importance in metas dominated by creature-heavy decks by acting as an additional hurdle for opponents. Its ability to disrupt tempo and give players breathing room to establish their position or prepare counters to enemy threats, makes it a relevant card in various competitive settings.
How to Beat Koskun Falls
Koskun Falls is a unique enchantment card with a controlling playstyle that can be a real thorn in an opponent’s side. Its ability to effectively prevent creatures from attacking unless the controlling player pays for each creature echoes the mechanics of the infamous Propaganda from blue’s color pie. This card becomes particularly potent in multiplayer formats where resources can be spread thin.
Breaking through the defensive stronghold of Koskun Falls starts with removing the card directly from play. Since it’s an enchantment, cards that destroy or exile enchantments, like Disenchant or Naturalize, come in handy. Alternatively, focusing on abilities and spells that don’t require attacking can circumvent its limitations, such as direct damage spells or abilities that tap to deal damage.
Another method is to create overwhelming board presence. Outnumbering the taxable creatures makes it difficult for the controlling player to maintain the mana payment, forcing them to make tough decisions and eventually dropping their defenses. By understanding the key weaknesses and preparing your deck to confront and dismantle Koskun Falls’ strategic advantage, you stand a better chance of overcoming this particular hurdle in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Koskun Falls MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Koskun Falls 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Koskun Falls has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Koskun Falls card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-02-01 | In the Two-Headed Giant format, you still only have to pay once per creature. |
| 2008-10-01 | This has the supertype world. When a world permanent enters the battlefield, any world permanents that were already on the battlefield are put into their owners’ graveyards. This is a state-based action called the “world rule.” The new world permanent stays on the battlefield. If two world permanents enter the battlefield at the same time, they’re both put into their owners’ graveyards. |
| 2014-02-01 | Unless some effect explicitly says otherwise, a creature that can’t attack you can still attack a planeswalker you control. |