Waxmane Baku MTG Card

Waxmane Baku - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
2005-02-04 - Number 29

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number C32

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number C31

Waxmane Baku - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 38

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spirit
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Waxmane Baku provides continuous control by converting spirit or arcane spells into ki counters for tactical plays.
The card’s instant speed ability to tap creatures offers significant defensive and offensive disruption potential.
Having a specific mana cost and activation requirement can limit deck diversity and hand advantage.

Text of card

Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may put a ki counter on Waxmane Baku. , Remove X ki counters from Waxmane Baku: Tap X target creatures.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Waxmane Baku presents an opportunity to gain card advantage through its ability to create and use ki counters. By strategically managing these counters, you can consistently control the board, thinking one step ahead of your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card excels in resource acceleration in Spirit or Arcane-focused decks. Each time you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, you’re effectively investing in future plays without additional mana cost, leading to a more efficient use of your resources.

Instant Speed: Waxmane Baku’s ability to tap an opposing creature at instant speed offers a significant tactical advantage. It allows for unexpected plays, disrupting your opponent’s strategy during their turn and potentially protecting your own life total from threatening attacks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Waxmane Baku demands discarding cards to activate its ability, putting you at a potential disadvantage when you are trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This spirit creature’s cost requires white mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored deck strategies that don’t heavily feature white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, including one white, to cast, it can be considered steep for its 2/2 stats and ability value, especially when there are other creatures in the same mana range offering more immediate board presence or impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Waxmane Baku offers flexibility to any deck harnessing spirit or arcane spells. Its ability to generate ki counters each time you play a spirit or arcane spell means it can easily adapt to varying gameplay situations, from controlling the board to enabling key abilities when most needed.

Combo Potential: As a creature that thrives on synergies, Waxmane Baku can become a linchpin in combo decks. The ability to remove ki counters to tap potential blockers or key threats gives the Baku a pivotal role in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly shifting competitive scene, Waxmane Baku’s ability to disrupt opponent strategies keeps it relevant. It’s particularly effective against decks that rely heavily on creature-based tactics, making it a wise choice for those looking to keep a pace with the ever-evolving meta.

How to beat

Waxmane Baku is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can be quite challenging to play against. It thrives in decks that maximize the use of Spirits and arcane spells, allowing it to accumulate ki counters. These counters empower the card, giving players the ability to tap potential threats on the board. To effectively combat Waxmane Baku, it’s essential to limit its ability to gather these ki counters.

One strategy to beat Waxmane Baku is to remove it from the battlefield before it becomes a significant issue. Cards that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature or direct removal spells that bypass its controllers’ defenses are potent measures. Additionally, you can also hinder its ki counter accumulation by controlling the number of Spirits and arcane spells your opponent can cast. Keeping pressure on their resources and maintaining a steady board presence will reduce the card’s impact.

While Waxmane Baku can be a centralized threat in the right deck, understanding its mechanics and maintaining consistent control can turn the tide of the game in your favor. Ensuring you have the appropriate answers in your deck to negate or circumvent Waxmane Baku’s abilities will go a long way in securing your victory.

Cards like Waxmane Baku

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Waxmane Baku stands out as a unique creature card that leverages the prowess of spirit creatures. It’s often weighed against cards like Nikko-Onna, as both interact with the arcane and spirit facets of the game. Nikko-Onna allows for the direct destruction of enchantments upon entering the battlefield, but Waxmane Baku provides a more subtle approach with the capacity to tap down opponent’s threats using ki counters.

Kami of False Hope bears similarities with Waxmane Baku by impacting combat. However, this card goes for a one-time effect, sacrificing itself to prevent all combat damage for a turn. Waxmane Baku, with its incremental buildup of ki counters, extends its influence over multiple turns and can repeatedly control the battlefield. Meanwhile, Harbinger of Spring shares the spirit synergy, though it focuses on mana acceleration and creature retrieval, contrasting with Waxmane Baku’s tendency to control and disrupt through its tap ability.

While each of these cards has its situational advantages, Waxmane Baku’s capability to control the pace of the game through consistent creature tapping often makes it the card of choice in spirit-themed decks looking to maintain a strategic upper hand.

Cards similar to Waxmane Baku by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Waxmane Baku MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Waxmane Baku and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Waxmane Baku Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2015-05-22. Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2005-02-04	Betrayers of Kamigawa	BOK	29	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Hildebrandt
2	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	C32	2003	Normal	White	Greg Hildebrandt
3	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	C31	2003	Normal	White	Greg Hildebrandt
4	2015-05-22	Modern Masters 2015	MM2	38	2015	Normal	Black	Greg Hildebrandt