Sword of Kaldra MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 251
2004-06-04 - Number 251★
2002-06-24 - Number 31987
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
Key Takeaways
- Provides formidable creature removal, tipping board presence in your favor through exile ability.
- Flexibility of activation post-turn for strategic play, albeit with high initial resource investment.
- Demands careful mana management, balancing its high cost against potential game-altering effects.
Text of card
Equipped creature gets +5/+5. Whenever equipped creature deals damage to a creature, remove that creature from the game. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card comes into play unattached and stays in play if the creature leaves play.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Equipping a creature with the Sword of Kaldra can potentially remove opponent’s creatures from the game, skewing the creature count and card presence in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While the Sword itself does not directly accelerate resources, eliminating key creatures of the opponent disrupts their game plan and resource management, potentially leading to a faster victory.
Instant Speed: Although the Sword of Kaldra does not function at instant speed, its equip ability can be activated at the end of your opponent’s turn if you have not used your mana, thus allowing for strategic flexibility while maintaining a threat on the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sword of Kaldra demands a significant resource investment without an immediate payoff. Activating its exile ability not only consumes mana but also necessitates an equipped creature to successfully deal combat damage, which requires your board to withstand opponents’ defenses and removal strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Brandishing a casting cost that encompasses generic mana can be both a bane and a boon. In this case, the artifact’s reliance on precisely three generic mana contributes to its inflexibility, particularly in multicolored decks that may prefer less onerous colorless demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The total investment to put Sword of Kaldra into play and fully utilize its potential is substantial. Seven mana—to cast and equip—could be directed towards other game-changing alternatives. In an ecosystem where mana efficiency is key, the Sword’s cost can hinder its wielder’s pace, potentially leaving them vulnerable to more expedient threats.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sword of Kaldra offers diverse utility in MTG deck-building, seamlessly integrating into various archetypes. Whether advancing equipment strategies or enhancing creature-based decks, its power to exile creatures it deals combat damage to proves invaluable in multiple game scenarios.
Combo Potential: The equipment card shines when paired with creatures with first strike or double strike, creating synergies that can disrupt opponent strategies. Additionally, its compatibility with other Kaldra pieces—Helm and Shield—unlocks the potential to summon a formidable Kaldra avatar, offering a significant threat on the board.
Meta-Relevance: As metagames cycle through phases, where creatures reign supreme, Sword of Kaldra remains relevant. Being able to permanently remove key creatures from the battlefield can turn the tide of a match, making it a worthy inclusion against various popular deck types that rely on creature-based strategies.
How to beat
Confronting the Sword of Kaldra in Magic: The Gathering can be daunting due to its potent exile ability. This formidable equipment can turn any creature into a significant threat by granting it +5/+5 and the power to exile creatures it damages. One common approach to overcoming the Sword is through artifact disruption. Cards like Disenchant target artifacts directly, allowing you to remove the Sword from play before it can become a persistent nuisance on the battlefield.
Countering the wide range of threats in your opponent’s arsenal becomes essential, such as utilizing instant-speed removal spells when the creature equipped with the Sword attacks. Artifact removal spells like Naturalize offer a double-edged solution, as they not only hit artifacts but enchantments as well. Another stratagem is dodging combat entirely with cards like Maze of Ith, which prevents the creature from dealing damage, thereby neutralizing the Sword’s exile ability during that combat phase.
By leveraging these methods, players can efficiently deal with the otherwise overwhelming challenges posed by Sword of Kaldra, ensuring that their defenses remain solid and the battle tide in their favor. It boils down to strategic deck-building and timely reactions during gameplay to disarm this powerful MTG card.
Cards like Sword of Kaldra
The Sword of Kaldra is a unique artifact in MTG that captures players’ fascination with its equipment abilities. It shares a similar thematic link with other cards like the Sword of Fire and Ice and Sword of Light and Shadow. All belong to the category of legendary equipment with dual abilities and a distinct impact on the equipped creature. However, the Sword of Kaldra differentiates itself by offering the power to exile creatures it deals damage to, an ability not seen in its counterparts.
Another comparable artifact is the Sword of Vengeance, which confers a plethora of combat abilities to the creature it’s equipped to. While both cards significantly boost a creature’s battle capabilities, the Sword of Kaldra’s uniqueness lies in its potential to permanently remove problematic creatures from the game.
In evaluating their utility and presence in MTG, the Sword of Kaldra stands out for its exiling feature, ensuring its place as a coveted piece of equipment for players aiming to dominate the battlefield and control the tide of creature-based skirmishes.
Cards similar to Sword of Kaldra by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sword of Kaldra MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Mirrodin, 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 Sword of Kaldra 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 Sword of Kaldra Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2004-06-04. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 31987 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | ||
| 2 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 251 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 3 | 2004-06-04 | Mirrodin Promos | PMRD | 251★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sword of Kaldra 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 Sword of Kaldra card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You exile the creature that gets damaged. |
