Kukemssa Serpent MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Serpent
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	4
Toughness	3
Number	72
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ian Miller

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage through a unique looting mechanism, complementing blue deck strategies and land synergies.
Demands careful play due to its discard requirement and specific mana cost, which can influence deck building.
Adaptive utility and combo potential make it a sleeper hit against island-reliant decks, adding strategic depth.

Text of card

Islandhome (If defending player controls no islands, this creature cannot attack. If you control no islands, bury this creature.) o U, Sacrifice an island: Target land an opponent controls is an island until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Kukemssa Serpent grants the ability to essentially “loot” by allowing players to return an island they control to its owner’s hand rather than pay the upkeep, then drawing a card. This can help cycle through the deck for key cards while maintaining pressure on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing resources, the serpent’s island bouncing trick can synergize with landfall mechanics or other effects that trigger when lands are played, indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: This creature offers a tactical edge with its pseudo instant-speed interaction, allowing you to avoid the upkeep cost and possibly drawing a card during your upkeep. This can keep opponents guessing on your available mana and strategic plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Kukemssa Serpent demands a card to be discarded as part of its attacking condition, putting players at a disadvantage should their hand be running low on playable options or key cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and generic mana to be cast, the Kukemssa Serpent can sometimes be less flexible, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a game where mana efficiency is crucial, the six mana (including four generic and two blue mana) to cast this creature can be on the higher end, leaving players to weigh its cost against potentially more impactful plays available at this stage of the game.

Reasons to Include Kukemssa Serpent in Your Collection

Versatility: Kukemssa Serpent offers adaptability in gameplay, seamlessly fitting into blue-centric or artifact decks. Its ability to unblockable in the presence of an island enhances its utility in various matchups, making it a subtly powerful choice for many game plans.

Combo Potential: The serpent’s synergy with islandwalk abilities can be leveraged in decks that aim to control the board while dealing unblockable damage. It can also be part of strategies that manipulate land types on the battlefield, accentuating the serpent’s evasive capabilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ebb and flow of MTG’s meta, the Kukemssa Serpent could become a key player against decks that heavily rely on islands or those susceptible to unblockable creatures. It’s a sleeper card that might just slither past opponents’ defenses when they least expect it.

How to Beat Kukemssa Serpent

The Kukemssa Serpent presents a distinctive challenge on the battlefield with its ability to remain unblockable as long as an opponent controls an Island. To effectively counter this serpentine foe, it’s crucial to recognize that limiting an opponent’s Island presence can significantly diminish the Serpent’s combat efficacy. Utilizing land alteration spells or abilities that transform the landscape of play—such as turning an Island into another basic land type—can leave the Serpent susceptible to being blocked.

Another strategy lies in deploying creatures with reach or flying to maintain a defensive stance even when the Serpent’s unblockability is active. They serve as a consistent deterrent, reducing the card’s effectiveness. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can target and eliminate the Kukemssa Serpent before damage can be dealt can prove invaluable in maintaining control of the match’s pacing. Implementing these tactics judiciously can ensure that the Serpent’s impact is minimal and your path to victory remains clear.

In essence, overcoming the Kukemssa Serpent hinges on adaptability and preparedness. By altering the battlefield conditions and keeping removal options at the ready, this tricky creature can be managed, allowing players to retain the upper hand in their MTG duels.

Cards like Kukemssa Serpent

Kukemssa Serpent presents a unique playstyle to blue creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards that possess the “islandwalk” ability, allowing unfettered attacks if the opponent controls an island. This trait mirrors that of the classic Water Elemental, which also benefits from being unblockable when facing decks with islands. However, Kukemssa Serpent requires an extra cost to attack: one must sacrifice an island, which could be a strategic setback.

Looking at Sea Serpent, we find another kin in the realm of oceanic behemoths. While Sea Serpent is similarly handicapped by its dependency on enemy islands to attack, it does not offer the same flexibility as Kukemssa Serpent, which can be sacrificed for cards. Serpent of the Endless Sea also enters this maritime conversation, with its toughness tied to the number of islands one controls, yet it lacks the aggressive posture and utility offered by Kukemssa Serpent.

Comparatively, Kukemssa Serpent stands out due to its additional layer of utility, providing an offensive threat that can transform into a card advantage if the battlefield conditions turn unfavorable. This adaptability makes Kukemssa Serpent a multifaceted option for blue deck enthusiasts in Magic: The Gathering.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kukemssa Serpent MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Kukemssa Serpent and other MTG cards: