Kraken's Eye MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 126
2005-07-29 - Number 302
2005-07-29 - Number 302★
2007-07-13 - Number 329
2009-07-17 - Number 213
2010-06-04 - Number 93
2010-07-16 - Number 210
2011-07-15 - Number 211
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
Whenever a player plays a blue spell, you may gain 1 life.
Bright as a mirror, dark as the sea.
Cards like Kraken's Eye
Kraken’s Eye stands out as a unique life-gaining artifact in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels to cards like Dragon’s Claw, which similarly provides a life boost whenever a player casts a spell that corresponds with the artifact’s creature type. Kraken’s Eye specifically gains you one life whenever a blue spell is cast, favoring decks that are heavy in blue magic.
Another relic of note is Angel’s Feather, which operates under the same mechanic, triggering off of white spells. This opens up avenues for life gain in various deck strategies, color-focused and otherwise. While Kraken’s Eye caters to the depth and control of blue spells, Angel’s Feather can become a staple in more aggressive white decks.
Demon’s Horn mirrors the effect for black spells, making it an asset in decks looking to outlast opponents through lifegain while deploying powerful black magic. Each of these artifacts presents an opportunity to harness the casting of spells within their color, turning it into a resource for sustaining a player’s vitality in the game.
Cards similar to Kraken's Eye by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Kraken’s Eye doesn’t directly provide card advantage, it supports longevity in matches, which indirectly leads to more card draws over the game. The longer you’re in play, the more draws you’ll get, ensuring a sustained flow of resources.
Resource Acceleration: Kraken’s Eye offers a form of life gain which can be crucial for stabilizing against faster, aggressive decks. Every spell your opponents cast triggers the Eye, giving you a valuable life point that could be the difference between a loss and an unexpected comeback.
Instant Speed: Even though Kraken’s Eye is an artifact that doesn’t operate at instant speed, its triggered ability activates at any time, offering immediate life gain. This function allows you to benefit during either player’s turn, keeping you responsive to the evolving board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that offer a bonus without any drawbacks, Kraken’s Eye demands a certain commitment. Each time a blue spell is cast, the meager gain of one life may not always justify a slot in your deck.
Specific Mana Cost: Kraken’s Eye’s utility is largely confined to decks heavily skewed toward blue spells. This can be restrictive because it diminishes its value in multicolored decks that don’t favor blue or in formats where blue spells aren’t prevalent.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating artifact options for your deck, it’s essential to weigh their mana costs against their benefits. Kraken’s Eye invests mana into a minimal life gain effect, which might be outshined by other low-cost artifacts that offer a more significant impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Kraken’s Eye in Your Collection
Versatility: Kraken’s Eye is a flexible addition to any deck focusing on blue spells. Its ability to gain you life each time you cast a blue spell allows for more breathing room against aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: This artifact synergizes well with decks built around casting numerous spells per turn, essentially turning each blue spell into a life-gaining machine. This can be crucial for surviving while setting up your winning combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with fast-paced red decks or other strategies that aim to reduce your life total quickly, Kraken’s Eye can provide the necessary life buffer to stabilize and maneuver towards a dominant board state.
How to Beat
Kraken’s Eye is a card that often slides into decks heavy on blue spells to bolster a player’s life total as they cast. Navigating around this artifact requires a blend of strategy and a touch of careful deck construction. One effective method to counter Kraken’s Eye is through artifact removal spells that are commonplace in most sideboards. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are prime examples that can directly handle the Eye.
Alternatively, aggressive decks can focus on maintaining a consistent pressure to outpace the life gain from Kraken’s Eye. Strategies that feature rapid creature deployment or direct damage spells, often referred to as burn spells, can effectively negate the incremental life gained. Even better, employing cards with abilities to hinder or tax the opponent’s blue spell casting can significantly diminish the utility of Kraken’s Eye in the match-up.
Ultimately, prevailing over Kraken’s Eye in a game comes down to acknowledging its role in the opponent’s strategy and countering it with targeted removal or by imposing a speedy and unrelenting threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kraken's Eye MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Ninth 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 Kraken's Eye 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
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Printings
The Kraken's Eye Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2011-07-15. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 2 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 302 | 2003 | Normal | White | Alan Pollack | |
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 302★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 329 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 5 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 213 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 6 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 93 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 7 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 210 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 8 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 211 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kraken's Eye 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 Kraken's Eye card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If a player casts a blue spell, Kraken’s Eye’s ability triggers and is put on the stack on top of that spell. Kraken’s Eye’s ability will resolve (causing you to gain 1 life) before the spell does. |
| 2009-10-01 | The ability triggers whenever any player, not just you, casts a blue spell. |