Kird Ape MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ape
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides quick offensive presence, indirectly promoting card advantage through opponent resource depletion.
  2. Demands specific land type for power boost, making it slightly restrictive within deck compositions.
  3. Retains relevance in aggressive decks, making it a stable and potent addition to modern collections.

Text of card

Kird Ape gains +1/+2 if you have any forests in play.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Kird Ape does not directly offer card drawing capabilities, it represents powerful card efficiency by potentially providing a strong creature early in the game. Its offensive presence for minimal mana investment can pressure your opponent into using more resources to handle it, indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Kird Ape itself isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration. However, its low casting cost enables a rapid board presence that can accelerate the rate at which you inflict damage and shape the tempo of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The Kird Ape doesn’t have a direct connection to instant speed interactions, but in deck archetypes centered around quick responses, such as R/G Aggro or Zoo decks, this efficient creature fits perfectly, as it supports maintaining pressure while holding up mana for instant speed spells.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kird Ape does not have a direct discard requirement; as a classic creature from the early sets, its playability remains straightforward without additional card sacrifices.

Specific Mana Cost: While Kird Ape’s initial cost is manageable with one red mana, optimizing its power hinges on the presence of a Forest which earmarks it for red-green decks and can be restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a one-drop, to unleash Kird Ape’s full potential and attain a 2/3 creature, you must also have a Forest on the battlefield. In the contemporary format, where efficiency is key, this requirement may appear as an indirect high mana cost given the competitive alternatives available.


Reasons to Include Kird Ape in Your Collection

Versatility: Kird Ape is a classic low-cost creature that thrives in a variety of Red and Green decks. Easy to cast with just one red mana, it fits seamlessly into aggro strategies and is equally at home in multi-color brews thanks to its power-boosting land synergy.

Combo Potential: As a creature that can quickly become a 2/3 for one mana, Kird Ape works well with landfall mechanics and other deck styles that manipulate land types. It synergizes with effects that allow you to play additional lands or change land types on the fly.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where early board presence is crucial, Kird Ape provides an aggressive opening play. It’s particularly effective in formats where fast starts are key to victory, making this classic card one to keep in your arsenal for the ever-shifting tides of the competitive scene.


How to Beat Kird Ape

Kird Ape is a classic creature card celebrated for its efficiency in aggressive Red and Green decks. The card’s strength emanates from its potential to be a 2/3 creature for a single red mana, conditional on controlling a forest. This makes it a formidable first-turn play, setting a swift tempo for the game. To effectively counter Kird Ape, players should look at early game removal options that can neutralize it before the card’s power can be leveraged.

Timing is key against Kird Ape. Utilizing spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can provide a cost-effective method to remove the ape from the battlefield. Additionally, it’s important to mitigate the Ape’s forest synergy; thus, land disruption techniques can impede your opponent’s strategy. Applying counter strategies such as these not only deals with Kird Ape itself but can also hamper the opponent’s momentum, which is vital in a game against any aggressive MTG deck.

As with any card, understanding the deck archetype in which Kird Ape thrives grants an advantage. Preparing sideboard options tailored to combat fast, creature-heavy strategies ensures that your deck won’t fall prey to the aggressive start that Kird Ape embodies.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depth of MTG’s strategic gameplay is both thrilling and rewarding. Kird Ape remains a tried-and-true choice for players valuing a sturdy creature for minimal resource investment, especially within red-green deck dynamics. As you continue to enhance your MTG expertise, remember the importance of adaptability and the synergies that can turn a simple card into a formidable force on the battlefield. For those keen to maximize their deck’s potential, understanding classic cards like Kird Ape can offer practical insights. Ready to deepen your strategic arsenal and uncover the full potential of your collection? Embark on this journey with us and refine your strategies to secure your next victory.


Cards like Kird Ape

Kird Ape is a classic creature card within MTG that has made its mark as a red mana cost staple, sporting an efficient one mana cost for a 1/1 that gets a significant power boost. Its nearest rival, Loam Lion, shares a similar stat boost but aligns with white mana and gains the bonus off of a Plains rather than a Forest. The adaptability of Kird Ape allows it to excel in decks that benefit from having both red and green mana sources, giving it an edge over its feline counterpart.

Another kindred spirit in the realm of one-drop creatures is Wild Nacatl, which benefits from both Plains and Mountains, making it more versatile in multicolored decks. However, Wild Nacatl’s need for two different land types to reach its full potential can make it slightly less reliable early game compared to the straightforward Kird Ape. Experiment One is yet another option, coming with the potential to grow bigger over time, but it lacks the immediate board presence and requires additional creature plays to outpace the raw efficiency of Kird Ape.

Assessing the power and utility of these comparable cards, Kird Ape clearly holds a special place in MTG for its immediate impact and ease of integration into red and green decks, bolstering its esteemed reputation in the game’s history.

Loam Lion - MTG Card versions
Wild Nacatl - MTG Card versions
Experiment One - MTG Card versions
Loam Lion - Resale Promos (PRES)
Wild Nacatl - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Experiment One - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Kird Ape by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Goblin Digging Team - The Dark (DRK)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Goblin Artisans - Rinascimento (RIN)
Gorilla Shaman - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Roc Hatchling - Weatherlight (WTH)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Enslaved Dwarf - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kird Ape MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Foreign Black Border, 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 Kird Ape and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kird Ape Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 401993normalblackKen Meyer, Jr.
21994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1611993normalblackKen Meyer, Jr.
31994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1611993normalwhiteKen Meyer, Jr.
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1611993normalwhiteKen Meyer, Jr.
52000-10-01Beatdown Box SetBTD 391997normalwhiteKen Meyer, Jr.
62002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 313832003normalblackKen Meyer, Jr.
72005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1992003normalwhiteTerese Nielsen
82005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 199★2003normalblackTerese Nielsen
92009-08-28From the Vault: ExiledV09 62003normalblackTerese Nielsen
102011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 22003normalblackTerese Nielsen
112016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1372015normalblackTerese Nielsen
122019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9932015normalblackTerese Nielsen
132020-09-26The ListPLST EMA-1372015normalblackTerese Nielsen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kird Ape has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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