Survivor of Korlis MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | First strike,Scry |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 28 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Julia Metzger |
Text of card
First strike , Exile Survivor of Korlis from your graveyard: Scry 2.
At first, the merchant state of Korlis saw no need to involve itself in the conflict between Yotia and the Fallaji. Mishra's dragon engines changed that.
Cards like Survivor of Korlis
Survivor of Korlis joins the ranks of defensive creatures designed for Magic: The Gathering. It can be directly compared to cards like Martyr of Sands which also has the potential to gain significant life for a player based on the number of white cards revealed. Unlike the one-time life boon of Martyr of Sands, Survivor of Korlis presents an ongoing opportunity to leverage life gain, activated each turn as long as you’re wielding a weapon.
Another akin card is Squire’s Devotion. While it offers a lifelink ability granting consistent life gain, it’s an aura spell and is therefore susceptible to two-for-one losses if the enchanted creature is removed. Survivor of Korlis provides its own utility and is less vulnerable to single-card removal. Lastly, we consider Alms of the Vein for its life swing properties. Although Alms of the Vein doesn’t provide life gain on a recurring basis, it does allow for a difference in life totals to occur swiftly and surprises the opponent, unlike the predictable strategy associated with Survivor of Korlis.
As we delve into each card’s specific strengths and situational superiority, Survivor of Korlis stands out for its potential synergy with equipment and recurring benefits, making it a unique and valuable piece in any MTG player’s arsenal focusing on life gain and board presence.
Cards similar to Survivor of Korlis by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Survivor of Korlis. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Soldiers | Standard | Azorius Soldiers | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Survivor of Korlis offers an advantageous synergy in decks focusing on life gain strategies. By allowing recurring card draw when life is gained, it can consistently replenish your hand, ensuring that resources are available when you need them.
Resource Acceleration: This card integrates seamlessly with lifelink creatures or other life gain mechanisms, effectively serving as a catalyst for resource acceleration by facilitating more significant and frequent card draw, thus providing the cards needed to further your game state.
Instant Speed: Survivor of Korlis doesn’t inherently have instant speed, but its capacity to trigger during each turn creates opportunities similar to instant-speed responses. This functionality capitalizes on life gained not just during your turn, but potentially during your opponent’s turn, keeping your hand filled and ready to react or commit to the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Survivor of Korlis may pose a challenge if you’re facing a situation where card retention is critical. The necessity to discard as part of its activation cost could put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already depleted or each card you hold is pivotal to your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s reliance on white mana means it is predisposed to decks that can produce this colour efficiently. If you’re running a multicolour deck without a stable mana base or playing in a format where mana fixing is harder to achieve, you might find it cumbersome to meet Survivor of Korlis’ casting requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four-mana investment for Survivor of Korlis might be steep when considering the card’s overall impact on the battlefield. In the realm of MTG where mana efficiency is key, there could be alternate creatures or spells that provide equal or greater value for the same or lower mana cost, making it a less attractive option in a highly competitive environment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Survivor of Korlis is not just another creature card. It operates beautifully in decks that aim to exploit life totals, whether it’s for aggressive strategies or within a control setup that stabilizes through incremental life gains. Its ability to redirect damage from you to itself can save you in tight spots, making it a flexible addition to any collection.
Combo Potential: This card has a unique synergy with effects that prevent or alter damage. Pair it with cards that negate damage to creatures, or use it to safeguard more valuable creatures in play. Its combo potential makes it a crafty player in both defensive and offensive strategies, providing that extra layer of strategic depth to your game plan.
Meta-Relevance: Given its resilience against damage-based removal spells, Survivor of Korlis can become a mainstay in metagames dominated by burn decks or where damage redirection can turn the tides of battle. It’s this adaptability to the evolving meta that makes Survivor of Korlis a standout choice for savvy collectors and players alike.
How to beat
Survivor of Korlis is one of those resilient creatures in Magic: The Gathering that may catch opponents off guard if they aren’t prepared. This creature becomes a unique challenge due to its ability to redirect damage from you to itself. A strategic player, however, can navigate around this tenacious warrior’s developments on the battlefield. Utilizing removal spells that don’t deal damage, like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can eliminate Survivor of Korlis without triggering its redirection effect.
Additionally, exile effects or forced sacrifice are excellent methods to bypass its abilities. It’s also worth noting that its power lies in protecting the player, so countering spells that aim to harm your life total won’t be on its radar. Therefore, changing the angle of your attack and using spells that target the player directly or affect the board state without dealing damage will effectively circumvent Survivor of Korlis’s defense.
Understanding Survivor of Korlis’s strengths and weaknesses is key. Adjusting your strategy to include non-damage-based removals, or ways to incapacitate without engaging in combat, will help ensure that this stalwart survivor doesn’t become the cornerstone of your opponent’s defense. When faced on the battlefield, a calm reassessment of your approach will keep you one step ahead.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Survivor of Korlis MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Survivor of Korlis and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Survivor of Korlis has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |