Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged MTG Card
2015-07-09 - Number 23
2015-07-17 - Number 23
2015-07-17 - Number 23s
2017-11-24 - Number 13
2023-05-08 - Number 1
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Transform |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
At end of combat, if Kytheon, Hero of Akros and at least two other creatures attacked this combat, exile Kytheon, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. : Kytheon gains indestructible until end of turn.
Cards like Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged
Kytheon, Hero of Akros, stands out in the roster of transformative creatures within Magic: The Gathering, offering a pathway from a modest human to an impressive planeswalker. If we turn our focus to other creatures with a similar potential for change, we may consider Legion’s Landing. While it transforms into a land instead of a planeswalker, it shares the transformational theme activated through an attack with three or more creatures.
Another card worth comparing is Huntmaster of the Fells. Much like Kytheon, it also relies on specific game states to unleash its alternative persona, Ravager of the Fells, altering its role on the battlefield. Unlike Kytheon’s focus on attacking, the Huntmaster rewards players as the turn changes, emphasizing timing in your strategic plays.
Each transformative card brings a unique strategic advantage, and Kytheon, Hero of Akros shines with its ability to become a potent planeswalker – Gideon, Battle-Forged. This seamless transition exemplifies Kytheon’s power level among transformative MTG cards and the versatility it can provide in gameplay.
Cards similar to Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kytheon, Hero of Akros offers significant versatility as both an early-game creature and a late-game planeswalker. This dual nature means he can contribute to maintaining card parity while posing a consistent threat to your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: As a low-cost creature at just one white mana, Kytheon enables a fast start, allowing players to deploy other resources more rapidly. Upon transforming into Gideon, Battle-Forged, his +1 ability further enhances your field presence without spending additional resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to transform Kytheon at instant speed during the combat phase adds a layer of unpredictability and tactical depth. This presents the opportunity to upgrade Kytheon into a planeswalker in response to the state of the game, catching opponents off guard and capitalizing on the ideal timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Kytheon, Hero of Akros does not have a discard requirement, transforming him into Gideon, Battle-Forged can pose challenges. Without the proper setup or board state, you may be forced to make unfavorable sacrifices to activate his transformation.
Specific Mana Cost: Kytheon’s casting cost requires one white mana, which may restrict him to decks that can reliably produce white mana early in the game. This can limit deck-building flexibility and make him less viable in multicolor decks that don’t focus on white.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Activating Kytheon’s transformation into Gideon, Battle-Forged is mana-intensive, requiring you to tap three untapped creatures. This could prove costly, as it not only requires a wide board presence but also potentially consumes your creatures’ ability to defend or attack that turn, making it a strategic cost to consider.
Reasons to Include Kytheon, Hero of Akros in Your Collection
Versatility: Kytheon shines in a variety of deck builds due to his low casting cost and ability to transform into a formidable planeswalker, Gideon, Battle-Forged, adapting to changing board conditions with ease.
Combo Potential: This card offers numerous synergies, especially in decks that capitalize on transforming permanents or those that work with soldier and human tribal themes, making it a strategic asset for creative combos.
Meta-Relevance: As aggro strategies frequently recur in the meta, Kytheon holds his ground as a valuable one-drop creature capable of accelerating your game plan right from the start, making him a reliable choice in fluctuating competitive environments.
How to beat Kytheon, Hero of Akros
Kytheon, Hero of Akros is a legendary creature card that presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield. With its low casting cost and potential to transform into a powerful Planeswalker, it’s essential to manage this threat strategically. Dealing with Kytheon calls for timing and board control. Removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are your best bet as soon as Kytheon hits the field.
Since Kytheon can transform when attacking with two other creatures, thwarting this condition is crucial. Utilize cards that can control or reduce the number of creatures your opponent has. Wraths, like Supreme Verdict or Blasphemous Act, or even targeted removal spells, can prevent the transformation trigger by ensuring Kytheon doesn’t have the necessary allies to become Gideon, Battle-Forged.
Lastly, keeping an eye on activated abilities is key. Once transformed, Gideon becomes an indestructible Planeswalker. At this stage, you’ll want to pivot to cards that can counteract Planeswalker abilities or force opponents to sacrifice permanents, providing a path to victory against this resilient adversary.
BurnMana Recommendations
Embrace the versatility and dynamic playstyle Kytheon, Hero of Akros brings to your MTG collection. As an early-game powerhouse and a late-game strategic asset, Kytheon is essential for players who thrive on adaptability and surprise. Ideal for aggro decks, he offers a fast-paced start and transitions smoothly into a potent planeswalker, ensuring your board’s strength. Explore innovative strategies and combos to maximize his transformational capability. Whether it’s for competitive play or casual matches, Kytheon stands out as a valuable addition to any deck. Dive deeper into his potential and elevate your game with us.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged MTG card by a specific set like San Diego Comic-Con 2015 and Magic Origins, 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 Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-07-09 and 2023-05-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-09 | San Diego Comic-Con 2015 | PS15 | 23 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 23 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 3 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins Promos | PORI | 23s | 2015 | Transform | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 4 | 2017-11-24 | From the Vault: Transform | V17 | 13 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 5 | 2023-05-08 | From Cute to Brute | PCTB | 1 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Willian Murai |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | A Magic Origins planeswalker that enters the battlefield because of the ability of its front face will enter with loyalty counters as normal. |
| 2015-06-22 | A double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up. |
| 2015-06-22 | Each face of a double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, power and toughness, loyalty, abilities, and so on. While a double-faced card is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that’s currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored. While a double-faced card isn’t on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. |
| 2015-06-22 | Gideon’s first ability causes a creature to attack him if able. If, during its controller’s declare attackers step, that creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under its controller’s control continuously since that player’s turn began, then that creature doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having that creature attack, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost. If they don’t, the creature doesn’t have to attack. |
| 2015-06-22 | Gideon’s third ability causes him to become a creature with the creature types Human Soldier. He remains a planeswalker with the planeswalker type Gideon. (He also retains any other card types or subtypes he may have had.) Each subtype is correlated to the proper card type: Gideon is just a planeswalker type (not a creature type), and Human and Soldier are just creature types (not planeswalker types). |
| 2015-06-22 | If Gideon becomes a creature due to his third ability, that doesn’t count as having a creature enter the battlefield. Gideon was already on the battlefield; he only changed his types. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature enters the battlefield won’t trigger. |
| 2015-06-22 | If Gideon can’t be attacked, perhaps because he has left the battlefield before the creature’s controller’s next combat, the creature targeted by Gideon’s first ability can attack you or another planeswalker you control, or its controller can choose to have it not attack at all. |
| 2015-06-22 | If a double-faced card is manifested, it will be put onto the battlefield face down (this is also true if it’s put onto the battlefield face down some other way). Note that “face down” is not synonymous with “with its back face up.” A manifested double-faced card is a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. While face down, it can’t transform. If the front face of a manifested double-faced card is a creature card, you can turn it face up by paying its mana cost. If you do, its front face will be up. A double-faced card on the battlefield can’t be turned face down. |
| 2015-06-22 | If the creature targeted by Gideon’s first ability changes controllers before it has the chance to attack Gideon, the ability will apply to it during its new controller’s next turn. |
| 2015-06-22 | If you activate Gideon’s third ability and then damage is dealt to him that can’t be prevented, that damage has all applicable results: specifically, the damage is marked on Gideon (since he’s a creature) and that damage causes that many loyalty counters to be removed from him (since he’s a planeswalker). If Gideon has no loyalty counters on him, he’s put into his owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. (As long as he still has indestructible, the marked damage won’t cause him to be destroyed.) |
| 2015-06-22 | In some rare cases, a spell or ability may cause one of these five cards to transform while it’s a creature (front face up) on the battlefield. If this happens, the resulting planeswalker won’t have any loyalty counters on it and will subsequently be put into its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2015-06-22 | Kytheon’s first ability will count creatures that attacked but are no longer on the battlefield (perhaps because they didn’t survive combat damage being dealt). It will not count any creatures that were put onto the battlefield attacking, as those creatures were never declared as attackers. |
| 2015-06-22 | Say you activate Gideon’s third ability, then an opponent gains control of him before combat. You may have any of your creatures attack Gideon (since he’s still a planeswalker). Then Gideon may block (since he’s a creature). He may block any eligible attacking creature, including one that’s attacking him. During combat, he behaves as an attacked planeswalker and/or a blocking creature, as appropriate. For example, he deals combat damage to any creatures he’s blocking, but he doesn’t deal combat damage to any unblocked creatures that are attacking him. |
| 2015-06-22 | The back face of a double-faced card (in the case of Magic Origins, the planeswalker face) can’t be cast. |
| 2015-06-22 | The converted mana cost of a double-faced card not on the battlefield is the converted mana cost of its front face. |
| 2015-06-22 | You can activate one of the planeswalker’s loyalty abilities the turn it enters the battlefield. However, you may do so only during one of your main phases when the stack is empty. For example, if the planeswalker enters the battlefield during combat, there will be an opportunity for your opponent to remove it before you can activate one of its abilities. |
| 2016-04-08 | The back face of a double-faced card doesn’t have a mana cost. A double-faced permanent with its back face up has a converted mana cost equal to the converted mana cost of its front face. Each back face has a color indicator that defines its color. |
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |
| 2017-09-29 | You can control two of this permanent, one front-face up and the other back-face up, at the same time. |