Kei Takahashi MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 238
1995-07-01 - Number 78
2009-09-07 - Number 155
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Cleric |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Kei Takahashi creates card advantage by making any engaged creature a source for drawing cards.
- Its instant speed damage redirection boosts control, disrupting opponents’ strategies in real-time.
- The requirement of discarding for activation and specific mana needs may limit its deck compatibility.
Text of card
oc T: Prevent up to 2 damage to one creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kei Takahashi shines by turning any creature, not just your own, into a potential source of card draw. Engaging it in combat could lead to replenishing your hand and keeping the tempo in your favor. This ability can help you build up your resources while depleting your opponent’s.
Resource Acceleration: One of the hidden gems of using Kei Takahashi is its synergy with decks that capitalize on resource acceleration. By preserving your creatures’ health, you have the potential to accelerate your plays by enabling sustained attacks or defense without the cost of losing your valuable assets on the board.
Instant Speed: Kei Takahashi’s ability to redirect damage at instant speed gives you the upper hand in maintaining control. This allows you to adapt to unfolding situations, making it a tactical tool that can disrupt opponents’ strategies by providing unexpected twists during combat phases or in response to direct damage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kei Takahashi comes with an inherent setback. Activating his ability necessitates discarding a card, which could hinder your hand size and deplete your resources, especially if your deck doesn’t support a discard strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s ability to heal hinges on a precise blend of mana—both blue and white. This specific requirement confines his synergy to decks that can reliably generate both types of mana, potentially excluding him from a range of decks where his healing abilities would be valuable.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of four mana, three of which must be white, for a 2/2 creature is a sizeable investment. In MTG, there are alternatives offering better board presence or versatility at or below this cost threshold, making Kei Takahashi’s mana efficiency a point of contention among players seeking optimal deck construction.
Reasons to Include Kei Takahashi in Your Collection
Versatility: Kei Takahashi can be an adaptable addition to any deck that emphasizes life gain strategies or creature-based tactics. His ability to prevent damage provides a utilitarian role in various deck themes.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with abilities that trigger from gaining life or from damage being prevented, allowing for powerful and unexpected combos in your gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where burn or aggressive decks are prevalent, Kei Takahashi’s damage prevention can turn the tide of the game, making him a tactically sound choice for your collection.
How to beat
Kei Takahashi is a card that has a unique blend of abilities, offering both creature combat utility and life gain potential. It’s a creature that represents a subtle challenge, thanks to its ability to prevent the damage that red or black creatures might deal and heal you instead. This ability can frustrate opponents who rely on aggressive red or black creature strategies.
To effectively counter Kei Takahashi, incorporating removal spells that can bypass its lifegain ability is crucial. Cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider are effective as they do not cause damage, but rather exile or destroy the creature outright. Additionally, maximizing the use of non-red and non-black creatures in your strategy can circumvent Kei’s protection. Having these strategies in place can severely undercut the value Kei Takahashi provides to an opponent, as its healing mechanic becomes nullified and its table presence, short-lived.
While Kei Takahashi can provide a modest defensive advantage, a well-prepared player with the right tools and strategies can overcome and negate the benefits it affords, ensuring that this card does not become a roadblock to victory.
Cards like Kei Takahashi
Kei Takahashi, while not commonly spotlighted, presents an interesting dynamic in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of creature cards. It draws parallels with other creatures that also function to heal as part of their utility. An immediate comparison can be made with the likes of Veteran Bodyguard, a creature that similarly provides defensive value through its ability to redirect damage from the player to itself. Kei Takahashi’s distinction lies in its targeted healing ability, allowing a more controlled preservation of critical creatures on the board.
Further comparison can be drawn with creatures like Diamond Valley’s Apprentice, where the theme of sacrificing for lifegain is prevalent, but Kei Takahashi offers this without requiring the sacrifice of creatures, instead tapping to provide its healing service. Other creatures, such as Wall of Reverence, also embody the lifegain strategy, rewarding you with life equal to the power of creatures you control, but Kei Takahashi sticks out for its lower-cost versatility.
Dissecting the abilities and utilities among life centered cards in Magic: The Gathering, Kei Takahashi stands as a unique card, offering a specialized tool for strategies focusing on sustaining and supporting key creatures, and bolstering defenses without compromising board presence.
Cards similar to Kei Takahashi by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kei Takahashi MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Kei Takahashi and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Kei Takahashi Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Scott Kirschner.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 238 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Scott Kirschner | |
| 2 | 1995-07-01 | Chronicles | CHR | 78 | 1993 | Normal | White | Scott Kirschner | |
| 3 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 155 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Scott Kirschner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kei Takahashi has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
