Kiln Walker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Construct |
| Released | 2011-05-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | New Phyrexia |
| Set code | NPH |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 142 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Volkan Baǵa |
Key Takeaways
- Valuable for card advantage, Kiln Walker forces opponents to use resources, indirectly benefiting the user.
- It shines in artifact-focused decks, enabling accelerated mana production and potentially explosive turns.
- Requires precise deck building due to mana constraints and competitive alternatives at similar costs.
Text of card
Whenever Kiln Walker attacks, it gets +3/+0 until end of turn.
If it possesses an ability to understand and appreciate life, it has never shown it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Kiln Walker, while not directly offering card draw, often demands immediate answers from opponents, indirectly leading to card advantage as your adversaries deplete their hand trying to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: This artifact creature can be an essential piece in artifact-centric decks that aim to ramp up mana production. When combined with mechanics that untap artifacts or enable additional combat phases, Kiln Walker’s utility can extend even further, potentially leading to explosive turns with ample mana resources.
Instant Speed: Although Kiln Walker itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that do. Having a formidable artifact creature on the board allows you to optimize your instant speed interactions, knowing you have a robust attacker or blocker ready at a moment’s notice, which can be key in maintaining tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kiln Walker demands that players discard a card when certain conditions aren’t met, specifically if this card hasn’t been imprinted with a spell. This can lead to a dilemma for players who are left with a reduced hand size, potentially setting them back in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature requires a defined mana investment of colorless and red mana to activate its ability. This necessity confines it to decks that can produce both types of mana, therefore restricting its versatility across all deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that stands on the higher end for its base power and toughness, Kiln Walker can be a costly investment. Especially when held up against other three-cost creatures, it might fall short in providing value proportionate to its cost, leading players to consider alternative options for their deck’s curve.
Reasons to Include Kiln Walker in Your Collection
Versatility: Kiln Walker is a card that can easily find its place in various aggro and artifact-centric decks. Its dynamic nature allows it to serve as both an early blocker and a considerable threat once it’s activated.
Combo Potential: With its ability to become a 4/4 creature until end of turn when it attacks, Kiln Walker becomes a solid inclusion in decks that synergize with artifact creatures or those that utilize tap and untap mechanics to extract more value from each card.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that highly values aggressive strategies, Kiln Walker stands out as a resilient early-game play. Moreover, as metas that favor artifacts and combos emerge, its potential for inclusion in powerful decks increases, making it a timely addition to your MTG arsenal.
How to beat
Kiln Walker is a card that can hit the battlefield like a wave of heat, especially in artifact-centered decks. It demands immediate attention due to its potential to become a potent attacker when activated. One analysis of this card against others in its mana range shows it requires a strategic approach to overcome effectively.
For starters, removal spells are your first line of defense. Cheap spells such as Fatal Push or Abrade can efficiently deal with Kiln Walker before it becomes a significant threat. In red, instant-speed removal like Lightning Bolt provides a quick solution to this animated artifact. Blue players might rely on countermagic; by stopping Kiln Walker from hitting the board in the first place with a well-timed Negate or Essence Scatter, you can preemptively close down its offense.
Keep in mind, artifact-specific answers like Naturalize or Release to the Wind provide further ways to outmaneuver your opponent’s strategy, preserving your board state. In essence, prioritizing swift interaction with Kiln Walker can be the key to maintaining control of the game and ultimately prevailing over decks that utilize this fiery construct.
Cards like Kiln Walker
Kiln Fiend is a staple for decks aiming to maximize the impact of casting noncreature spells in Magic: The Gathering. While it relates to cards like Nivix Cyclops and Wee Dragonauts with its prowess-like ability, Kiln Fiend offers a more aggressive playstyle. Nivix Cyclops requires one additional mana but provides a sturdier body to withstand removal. Wee Dragonauts, on the other hand, grants flying prowess, guiding your spells over ground-based defenses yet at an increased cost and lower base power compared to Kiln Fiend.
Another comparable card is Spellgorger Weird, which permanently keeps its power boost with each noncreature spell cast, unlike Kiln Fiend’s temporary surge. However, Kiln Fiend’s potential for a one-turn win gives it that renowned status among aficionados of the red deck storm archetype. The raw power of a boosted Kiln Fiend can turn the tide of a game within a single turn, leveraging a lower mana curve to surprise opponents.
Evaluating these creatures underlines Kiln Fiend’s prominence in budget-friendly and competitive scenes alike, offering explosive plays for players embracing the red zone with quick, impactful spells. Kiln Fiend features that precise blend of cost efficiency and game-ending possibility, making it a formidable choice among similar MTG cards.
Cards similar to Kiln Walker by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kiln Walker MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Kiln Walker 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kiln Walker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
