Kaya's Guile MTG Card


Kaya's Guile - Modern Horizons
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Entwine
Released2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons
Set codeMH1
Number205
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJason Rainville

Key Takeaways

  1. Flexibility shines with four modes to choose, altering gameplay tactics based on the evolving board state.
  2. Instant speed deployment introduces surprise elements, giving players a significant timing advantage.
  3. Mana requirements and costs warrant consideration, ensuring the card aligns with deck strategy and resources.

Text of card

Choose two — • Each opponent sacrifices a creature. • Exile all cards from each opponent's graveyard. • Create a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying. • You gain 4 life. Entwine (Choose all if you pay the entwine cost.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kaya’s Guile offers a range of flexibility, allowing you to choose two of its four presented modes. This spans anything from forcing a player to sacrifice a creature to creating a flying token, thereby providing Card Advantage considering the values derived are more than the effort exerted.

Resource Acceleration: This MTG card has flexible traits which can accelerate resources in a game. Specifically, by choosing the option to gain four life, you as a player can build your resources more quickly, keeping your head above water in the intense pool of play.

Instant Speed: The speed of Kaya’s Guile is impressive. It’s not just about the options it provides but also when they can be deployed. Being an Instant Card, it allows you to manipulate it optimally for your benefit during your opponent’s turn. This adds an extra layer of surprise and unpredictability to your gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The one limitation of Kaya’s Guile is that it demands a card to be discarded in certain scenarios. When you find yourself short on cards or encountering a scenario where your hand is more valuable than the effects offered by Kaya’s Guile, this aspect can become a hurdle, effecting strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: One cannot overlook the specific mana cost required to play Kaya’s Guile. The requisite of three specific mana types (one black and one white) can limit its applicability significantly as it necessitates a deck tailored to accommodate these mana colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, Kaya’s Guile comes at a relatively high price considering other options available in MTG. Though it offers versatility with its effects, there are alternative cards that perhaps deliver more immediate or lower-cost outcomes, enhancing deck efficiency.

So, even though Kaya’s Guile holds its merits, these factors can potentially interfere with the gameplay, depending on the structure of the deck and the circumstances of the game. Hence, strategic consideration is pivotal while incorporating this card into your deck.


Reasons to Include Kaya’s Guile in Your Collection

Versatility: Kaya’s Guile is an exceptional card owing to its modal nature that allows it to fit into various deck archetypes. The card offers a multitude of effects that can be chosen according to the demands of the game situation.

Combo Potential: Its varied abilities offer huge potential for remarkable combinations in gameplay. From instant-speed graveyard removal to summoning spirits or forcing an opponent to sacrifice, Kaya’s Guile can be a potent addition to your deck.

Meta-Relevance: It shines in metas that heavily involve the graveyard or creature-centric builds, as its abilities can effectively disrupt opponent strategies while enhancing your own. Its unique blend of universally useful effects makes it relevant in a variety of metagame scenarios.


How to beat Kaya’s Guile

Stepping into the Magic: The Gathering battleground against Kaya’s Guile is rightly set to ignite a wave of thrill. This multifaceted sorcery spell lets the caster choose two effects from a buffet of four. It also features a high cost of three mana, including one black and one white, adding certain depth to gameplay challenges.

Playing around this card requires effective anticipation. Gauging your opponent’s potential choices, understanding the sequence of play and adjusting your moves in line with these insights can tip the scales in your favor. Given the modal nature of Kaya’s Guile, understanding all four effects thoroughly can expedite tactics to outsmart its usage.

Moreover, countering Kaya’s Guile successfully would necessitate flexibility. Having a trove of countering cards at your disposal can be a game-changer. By deploying cards like Dovin’s Veto or Spell Pierce, one can neutralize the looming threat of Kaya’s Guile. Besides, it’s important to remember that a well-thought-out strategy will often overpower any single card advantage, even a potent one such as Kaya’s Guile.

When armed with in-depth card knowledge, strategic foresight, and versatile countermeasures, tussling with Kaya’s Guile promises to add an engaging flavor to the MTG universe.


BurnMana Recommendations

Strategizing your MTG play involves deep understanding of your deck’s dynamics and the potential of each card within it. Kaya’s Guile stands as a prime example of versatility and adaptability. Its instant speed and flexible options serve as tools that can pivot the direction of a match. While considering its sheer strategic value or weighing its cons, this card invites for tactical deployment and forethought. Enhance your collection, understand its synergies, and grasp the meta where it thrives. Curious about integrating Kaya’s Guile into your battle strategy or exploring similar cards? Delve into our insights for a comprehensive advantage and elevate your Magic: The Gathering experience.


Cards like Kaya's Guile

Kaya’s Guile, a versatile and strategic addition to the MTG world, finds its match in the spectrum of modal spells. Notably comparable is Cryptic Command, a blue instant that also offers four choices with dual selection potential. However, Kaya’s Guile stands distinct with its focus on graveyard manipulation and creature advantage, compared to the counter ability and card draw Cryptic Command provides.

Weighing the same scale, we also have Kolaghan’s Command. With similar casting cost, it also provides two effects from a choice of three. Even though it doesn’t offer the life gain or edict effect Kaya’s Guile brings to the table, it compensates with artifact destruction and return target creature effectiveness.

Another notable comparison is with Primal Command. Both cards present multiple modes, yet Primal Command’s green essence focuses more on life gain and shuffle library mechanics. Thus, the varied characteristics of these alternatives highpoint the unique position Kaya’s Guile holds within the array of MTG’s modal spells.

Summing up, Kaya’s Guile shines distinctly in the modal spell zone of Magic: The Gathering, owing to its balanced amalgamation of life gain, edict effect, graveyard control, and spirit generation.

Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Kolaghan's Command - MTG Card versions
Primal Command - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kolaghan's Command - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
Primal Command - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Kaya's Guile by color, type and mana cost

Mortify - MTG Card versions
Unmake - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Harsh Sustenance - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Greed - MTG Card versions
Mortify - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Unmake - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Anguished Unmaking - Fallout (PIP)
Harsh Sustenance - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Treacherous Greed - Murders at Karlov Manor Promos (PMKM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaya's Guile MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Kaya's Guile and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaya's Guile has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kaya's Guile card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-06-14 A creature sacrificed for the first mode of Kaya’s Guile will be exiled if it ends up in an opponent’s graveyard and the second mode was also chosen.
2019-06-14 As the first mode is performed, first the opponent whose turn it is (or, if it’s not an opponent’s turn, the next opponent in turn order) chooses a creature they control, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time.
2019-06-14 Each chosen mode is performed in the order specified. Abilities that trigger while one mode is being performed won’t be put onto the stack until Kaya’s Guile has finished resolving.
2019-06-14 If Kaya’s Guile isn’t entwined, you must choose two different modes.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks