Kiku's Shadow MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Number	77
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Offers control by removing threats, swinging the game in your favor through strategic disruption.
Flexible instant-speed play adapts to opponents, maintaining the upper hand during matches.
The need for card discard and specialized mana can limit its use in diverse MTG decks.

Text of card

Target creature deals damage to itself equal to its power.

"Me? No, I'm not going to kill you. I won't even lay a finger on you. I promise." —Kiku, Night's Flower

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you’re wielding Kiku’s Shadow in your deck, you gain an upper hand by removing key threats from your opponent’s board. This disruption can often lead to a significant lead in the course of a match, tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though Kiku’s Shadow doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, the card effectively reduces the opponent’s resources by dealing with their creatures. This can indirectly speed up your gameplay by clearing the path for your own threats and strategies to shine through without hindrance.

Instant Speed: One of Kiku’s Shadow’s strengths is its ability to be cast at instant speed, allowing agile responses to developing threats. This provides the flexibility to adapt to your opponent’s moves and disrupt their plans at the most opportune moments, thus maintaining tactical control of the game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kiku’s Shadow demands players to discard a card to unleash its abilities. While this can bolster your graveyard strategy, it is undoubtedly a setback when your hand is already dwindling and each card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked behind a restricted mana alignment, the card requires both black mana and generic mana, potentially hampering its integration in multi-colored decks not heavily skewed towards black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Kiku’s Shadow faces stiff competition from other options. Cards with lower mana investments or those offering comparable abilities at a reduced resource expense often become more attractive choices to players looking to optimize gameplay efficiency.

Reasons to Include Kiku’s Shadow in Your Collection

Versatility: Kiku’s Shadow is a flexible removal option that can deal with a variety of creatures, irrespective of their size. This flexibility makes it valuable in decks that need to efficiently manage threats on the board.

Combo Potential: This spell’s ability to target any creature opens up synergies with cards that benefit from creatures dying or being put into the graveyard. This interaction can be the cornerstone of powerful combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Kiku’s Shadow can play a key role in controlling the battlefield. Its cost-effectiveness and potential to sway the game state make it a compelling choice for players looking to gain an edge.

How to beat Kiku’s Shadow

Kiku’s Shadow represents an efficient removal option in the arsenal of MTG decks that utilize black mana. The card’s strength lies in its ability to turn an opponent’s creature’s strength against itself, quite literally using the creature’s power to seal its own fate. This tactic can be a game changer in matches where formidable creatures dominate the board.

To effectively counter Kiku’s Shadow, players should consider strategies that minimize their creatures’ vulnerability. Opting for creatures with lower power but significant effects can mitigate the impact of Kiku’s Shadow, as the damage it can inflict will be considerably less. Including spells that grant hexproof or indestructible abilities can protect key creatures from being targeted. Additionally, employing counterspells or abilities that can discard or exile cards straight from an opponent’s hand can preemptively deal with Kiku’s Shadow before it becomes a tangible threat on the battlefield.

Strategizing with these tactics in mind not only helps secure your creatures from removal but also ensures that your gameplay remains uninterrupted by such targeted destruction. Kiku’s Shadow, while potent, can be outmaneuvered with careful deck construction and timely responses during the game.

Cards like Kiku's Shadow

Kiku’s Shadow is a unique entry among targeted removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Fatal Push, which also allows players to dispose of creatures. However, Kiku’s Shadow demands a creature’s power to exceed its controller’s life total, a condition not present in Fatal Push, which bases its removal on converted mana cost modifiers.

Another spell to consider in the same realm is Dismember. Like Kiku’s Shadow, it can reduce a creature’s staying power on the battlefield. Dismember is more flexible with its Phyrexian mana cost option but it also causes a significant loss of life for the caster. This places Kiku’s Shadow as a slightly safer choice for player’s life totals.

Finally, comparing Kiku’s Shadow to Go for the Throat, we notice Go for the Throat’s unconditional targeting of nonartifact creatures, offering a broader range of removal at the same mana cost. While Kiku’s Shadow has a situational prerequisite, it can affect any creature, artifact or not, giving it a unique role in selective removal strategies.

The distinct conditions for removal that Kiku’s Shadow presents makes it a strategic option for players, particularly in games where life totals can be manipulated to meet its requirement.

Go for the Throat - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Kiku's Shadow by color, type and mana cost

Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)

Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kiku's Shadow MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Kiku's Shadow and other MTG cards: