Akoum Flameseeker MTG Card

Akoum Flameseeker - Oath of the Gatewatch

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Shaman Ally
Abilities	Cohort
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	101
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Willian Murai

Key Takeaways

Akoum Flameseeker encourages deck cycling and resource acceleration in red aggro strategies.
The card’s utility in combat phases adds depth to gameplay, synchronizing with instant speed cards.
Its cohort ability offers substantial combo potential, fostering an ally-centric deck’s consistency.

Text of card

Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: Discard a card. If you do, draw a card.

In the face of extinction, the most perilous endeavors can be cause for hope.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Akoum Flameseeker provides consistent card filtering each combat, enabling you to cycle through your deck and find key pieces more efficiently. This helps to keep your hand refreshed with new options, crucial for staying ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to exile the top card of your library, you can play that card this turn, which can potentially speed up your overall mana utilization. This advantage is particularly useful in aggressive red decks that aim to outpace the opponent.

Instant Speed: While Akoum Flameseeker itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with cards played at instant speed. Given its ability activates during combat, it grants you the flexibility to adapt to battlefield changes and make decisions with full information during the heat of battle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Akoum Flameseeker necessitates discarding a card for its ability, which can backfire when your hand is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a red mana cost, Akoum Flameseeker might not find a home in multicolor decks not focused on red, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a three mana card, its cohort ability may be less impactful compared to other available options with powerful draw or direct damage effects.

Reasons to Include Akoum Flameseeker in Your Collection

Versatility: Akoum Flameseeker is adaptable across multiple deck archetypes due to its capacity to turn excess lands into potential draws. This can be particularly useful in red-based decks that want to avoid running out of fuel in the late game.

Combo Potential: With the cohort ability, Akoum Flameseeker can be paired with a variety of creatures to repeatedly unlock card advantage. This combo potential is valuable in decks that seek to maximize uses of each card.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where resource management is key, Akoum Flameseeker provides consistent value. Its ability to generate card velocity validates its inclusion into decks that aim to outpace opponents through efficient use of resources.

How to beat

The challenge that Akoum Flameseeker brings to the table is its unique ability to turn excess lands into card advantage. However, with a bit of strategy, you can minimize its impact on the game. For starters, removal spells are your best friend. Using instant-speed removals, you can eliminate Akoum Flameseeker before the opponent gets to untap and take advantage of its Cohort ability. Counterspells also work effectively if you can catch it as the opponent casts it, preventing them from achieving any value at all.

Moreover, watch out for strategies that take advantage of its ability by denying the opponent the opportunity to accumulate extra lands. Effects that restrict the number of lands they can play, or abilities that bounce Akoum Flameseeker back to their hand after activation, can disrupt their game plan. By carefully managing the board state and keeping their creatures in check, you can keep Akoum Flameseeker from becoming the engine of advantage it has the potential to be and maintain control of the game.

In essence, successful navigation around Akoum Flameseeker calls for a proactive approach—nullify its abilities before it converts those surplus lands into a formidable card advantage and you’ll fortify your position, turning the tide in your favor.

Understanding Akoum Flameseeker’s Role in Deck Building

Akoum Flameseeker, while not a household name in MTG, offers a unique function within Red’s aggressive strategies. Its comparison to other cards hinges on its cohort ability, which allows players to discard a card and then draw a card when paired with another ally – a mechanic somewhat akin to looting. This contrasts with cards like Faithless Looting, a staple in many formats for its immediate card draw and filtering at a low cost. Faithless Looting offers more card selection upfront, although it lacks the repeatable nature of the cohort ability.

Cards like Akoum Flameseeker

In examining Akoum Flameseeker, similarities can be found with cards such as Rumaging Goblin which also focuses on the discard to draw methodology. The distinction lies in the tapping requirement for Rumaging Goblin as opposed to Akoum Flameseeker’s reliance on having another ally at the ready. Mad Prophet presents another parallel, yet it taps at haste speed, enabling quicker interaction within the game.

These comparisons illustrate the niche that Akoum Flameseeker fills – a potential engine in an ally-centered deck that can churn through the library while developing board presence. Although not as widely applicable in decks as the aforementioned cards, in the right ally-based strategy, the Flameseeker can play an important role in maintaining card flow.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akoum Flameseeker MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Akoum Flameseeker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Akoum Flameseeker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-01-22	Discarding a card is part of the ability’s effect and isn’t optional. As the cohort ability resolves, if you have a card in your hand, you must discard one, even if the card you may have wanted to discard as you activated the ability is no longer in your hand.
2016-01-22	To activate a cohort ability, the Ally with that ability must have been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. Informally, it can’t have “summoning sickness.” However, the other Ally you tap can be one that just came under your control. (Note that tapping the second Ally doesn’t use -he tap symbol].)