Chicken à la King MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Bird Noble
Power 2
Toughness 2
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Drawing cards while creating creatures enhances board presence and options for players.
  2. Its specific mana cost may limit deck compatibility, but offers creative play.
  3. Though not meta-dominant, it adds fun and thematic depth to casual decks.

Text of card

Whenever a 6 is rolled on a six-sided die, put a +1/+1 counter on each Chicken in play. (You may roll dice only when a card instructs you to.) Tap a Chicken you control: Roll a six-sided die.

During the Chicken Revolution, the king managed to keep his head while the others—well, just ran around.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Generates a card advantage by drawing a card upon entering the battlefield, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: Adds an extra layer of resource acceleration by creating a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying, which not only furthers your board presence but could potentially ramp into larger plays.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed allows strategic plays during your opponent’s turn, disrupting their strategy and maintaining the upper hand in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chicken à la King’s utility comes with a caveat; you’ll need to forfeit another card from your hand, which could put you at a disadvantage, especially in games where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Chicken à la King requires a precise mana arrangement that may not seamlessly fit into all deck archetypes, constraining its versatility across various play styles.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be deemed steep for its abilities, players might find themselves weighing its cost against other potential inclusions that could provide equal or greater value for a lower investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chicken à la King adds a whimsical twist to any MTG deck, functioning as both a quirky creature and an unexpected disruptor in casual play circles. Its ability to fit into thematic decks or serve as a humorous sideboard option makes it a unique pick for collectors and players alike.

Combo Potential: This card becomes a centerpiece in avian-themed decks or strategies that capitalize on food-related synergies. Its distinct capabilities to combo with other cards can lead to interesting and fun gameplay scenarios that are not just competitive but also enjoyable.

Meta-Relevance: While Chicken à la King may not be a staple in competitive formats, it shines in kitchen-table games and casual MTG settings where flavor and fun outweigh the cutthroat nature of a typical meta. Its presence is a nod to the lighter side of deckbuilding, offering diversity in play styles within the community.


How to beat

Chicken à la King is a unique card in the MTG realm, known for its blend of whimsy and complexity. In order to successfully navigate a game against this card, players should focus on strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to capitalize on its effects. First, consider using creature removals efficiently, targeting the key birds that serve as fuel for its power. Artifact removal can also be leveraged to deal with the card itself, preventing any potential combo pieces from synergizing on the battlefield. Another tactic involves employing counterspells when Chicken à la King is on the stack, nipping the problem in the bud before it takes effect.

Control strategies are particularly effective as they allow players to manage the pace of the game and the threats that manifest on the board. It’s crucial to maintain board presence and pressure, which can dissuade the opponent from fully utilizing Chicken à la King’s capabilities. In the end, the key is to hinder your opponent’s ability to muster the birds and other synergistic elements that make Chicken à la King a centerpiece of their strategy. Hand disruption and direct player damage can also disrupt the game flow, ensuring that Chicken à la King’s full potential is never realized.


Cards like Chicken à la King

Chicken à la King is an intriguing card with a distinct place in Magic: The Gathering’s pantheon of creature spells. Its capability to bring an element of surprise to the table can be mirrored in cards like Norin the Wary. Norin the Wary also has an element of unpredictability, evading threats by flickering out of the battlefield, though it lacks the direct resource advantage imparted by Chicken à la King.

When considering the realm of creatures with quirky and unpredictable effects, we can look to cards such as Goblin Game. Goblin Game presents a unique interaction that disrupts the usual flow of strategy, much like the unexpected outcomes that can arise with Chicken à la King’s effects. However, Goblin Game shifts the focus towards a mini-game with life points, unlike the creature-based emphasis of Chicken à la King.

Chicken à la King, with its unconventional mechanics, offers a comparison to these similar yet distinct cards, highlighting its unique position. The ability to deliver an immediate and often humorous impact on the game is where Chicken à la King truly shines, marking its territory in the world of MTG as a card that’s not just potent, but also delightfully engaging.

Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - Time Spiral (TSP)
Goblin Game - Planeshift (PLS)

Cards similar to Chicken à la King by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mistform Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Blind Phantasm - Future Sight (FUT)
Academy Researchers - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chicken à la King MTG card by a specific set like Unglued and Unsanctioned, 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 Chicken à la King and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chicken à la King Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-08-11 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Mark Zug.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-08-11UngluedUGL 171997normalsilverMark Zug
22020-02-29UnsanctionedUND 212015normalsilverMark Zug

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-02-29 Chicken à la King can be tapped to activate its last ability. That ability doesn’t use , so any untapped Bird you control will do, even one that entered the battlefield that turn.
2020-02-29 Like other Chickens, Chicken à la King has received errata so its creature type is Bird. Additionally, its abilities now refer to Birds.

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