Swift Kick MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 122
2019-11-07 - Number 1077
2022-12-02 - Number 612
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-122
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Fight |
Text of card
Target creature you control gets +1/+0 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control.
Shintan sensed the malice in his opponent, but he did not strike until the orc's muscles tensed in preparation to throw the first punch.
Cards like Swift Kick
Swift Kick joins the ranks of other targeted removal spells in MTG, offering a unique way to tackle threats on the board. Its close relative, Prey Upon, is another card that compels a creature you control to fight another creature. Prey Upon is cheaper, costing only one green mana, but unlike Swift Kick, it doesn’t allow your creature to deal damage as though it hadn’t been blocked. This subtle difference allows Swift Kick to be used during combat, potentially removing an opposing creature while still inflicting damage on the opponent.
Comparatively, Hunt the Weak not only lets your creature fight another creature, but it also provides a +1/+1 counter, enhancing survivability and long-term board presence. Although Hunt the Weak costs more mana, the inclusion of a counter can be a deciding factor in its favor. However, while Swift Kick requires both red and green mana, its instant speed gives you the flexibility to decide the outcome of combat or remove a creature at a critical moment, a tactical advantage over the sorcery-speed constraint of Hunt the Weak.
Evaluating Swift Kick against these similar spells, it emerges as an option that offers precise control over combat engagement, which can be pivotal in MTG. With the strategic application and efficient use of the mana investment, Swift Kick has the potential to swing the game in a player’s favor by eliminating key threats instantly.
Cards similar to Swift Kick by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Swift Kick provides the player with the edge of directly influencing the battlefield by enabling targeted removal of a threat. This means you can force unfavourable trades for your opponent, potentially leading to gaining an advantage on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While Swift Kick itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it is a low-cost spell that efficiently utilises mana, allowing you to spend resources on other spells or abilities in the same turn. This offers an indirect form of accelerating your game plan by handling threats while still advancing your board state.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Swift Kick at instant speed allows players to make strategic decisions on the fly. You can disrupt your opponent’s combat strategies during their turn, or eliminate a freshly-summoned creature before your opponent can benefit from its abilities, maintaining the element of surprise and control over the game’s pace.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Swift Kick necessitates pitching another card from your hand, which might set you back when you’re already running low on cards. This requirement can diminish your strategic options and leave you at a disadvantage in the game’s later stages.
Specific Mana Cost: Swift Kick demands both red and one other mana, which sometimes restricts its integration to decks with a red mana base. This can make the card less versatile, especially in multicolored or format-specific metagames.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Swift Kick provides the ability to turn one of your creatures into an instant-speed removal tool, its combined mana value of three can be slightly steep. In competitive play, the mana investment might not align well with the pace of the game, considering that there are lower-costing options that could serve a similar purpose.
Reasons to Include Swift Kick in Your Collection
Versatility: Swift Kick provides dual utility by enabling targeted creature removal while also giving your own creature a chance to deal its damage; perfect for most red or green-centric decks that focus on creature combat.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to force a fight can play a crucial role in combos that capitalize on damage triggers or creature abilities. Combine it with creatures that have deathtouch or similar effects for a surprising board impact.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are commonly found across various metas, Swift Kick has a consistent relevance. It can be a game-changer against creature-heavy decks, ensuring its utility in a broad range of matchups.
How to beat Swift Kick
In the MTG battleground, Swift Kick may seem like a straightforward way to engage creatures in combat, but there are strategic plays to outmaneuver it effectively. This card lets a player’s creature deal damage to another creature as though it were combat. It’s key to remember, however, that Swift Kick can only be activated at sorcery speed, meaning it can’t disrupt combat on an opponent’s turn.
To counteract Swift Kick, instant-speed removal spells are your best ally. By removing a targeted creature in response to the Swift Kick, you can nullify its effect and leave your opponent’s card wasted. Additionally, flash creatures can be valuable, entering the battlefield unexpectedly and could alter the power dynamics, disrupting your opponent’s calculations. Counter magic also serves as a shield against this type of combat trick, preventing it from ever resolving.
Understanding when to deploy creatures and when to hold back can also mitigate the impact of Swift Kick. By keeping back creatures with potent abilities or ones that can influence the board significantly, you can minimize the value your opponent gets from using their combat tricks, forcing them to expend resources with little to no benefit.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Swift Kick MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Swift Kick 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
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Printings
The Swift Kick Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1077 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | KTK-122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | ||
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 612 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Swift Kick has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Swift Kick card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | If either target is an illegal target when Swift Kick tries to resolve, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage. |
| 2014-09-20 | If just the creature you control is an illegal target when Swift Kick tries to resolve, it won’t get +1/+0 until end of turn. If the creature you control is a legal target but the creature you don’t control isn’t, the creature you control will get +1/+0 until end of turn. |
| 2014-09-20 | You can’t cast Swift Kick unless you target both a creature you control and a creature you don’t control. |