Kaya, Bane of the Dead MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Kaya
Loyalty 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Kaya excels in removing key threats, disrupting opponent strategies and board presence significantly.
  2. The card’s versatility and combo potential make it an essential part of exile-focused MTG decks.
  3. Countering Kaya involves fast, aggressive play and strategies not reliant on creatures.

Text of card

Your opponents and permanents your opponents control with hexproof can be the targets of spells and abilities you control as though they didn't have hexproof.
-3: Exile target creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kaya, Bane of the Dead empowers players by giving them the power to exile any number of target creatures. This ability not only removes threats from the board but also prevents opponents from accessing those cards for the remainder of the game. It’s a formidable method to shift the tide in your favor, as eliminating key pieces from your opponent opens the door to pressuring their life total unimpeded.

Resource Acceleration: While Kaya herself doesn’t directly ramp your mana resources, her presence can accelerate your game plan. By removing potential blockers or creatures with detrimental effects, you streamline your path to victory. This indirect resource acceleration allows you to commit to the board with more certainty and less fear of retaliation.

Instant Speed: Kaya’s loyalty abilities, although not instant speed themselves, can be a game-changer during your turn. They provide a way to manage the battlefield on your terms. Her static ability lets you target and exile opponents’ creatures with finesse, bypassing any protective measures like hexproof or indestructible they may have. This precision can be as valuable as acting at instant speed because it forces your opponent to play differently, knowing you can deal with their threats decisively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In decks where card advantage is crucial, Kaya Bane of the Dead’s absence of card draw or creation means she does not directly refill your hand, potentially leading to a disadvantage in prolonged games.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Kaya Bane of the Dead is not only specific but also substantial, requiring three black mana symbols. This can make her a challenging fit in multicolored decks, where the mana base might not reliably produce the necessary black mana at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Kaya Bane of the Dead can be slower to hit the battlefield compared to other planeswalkers or impactful spells. This may leave players at a disadvantage when tempo is of the essence, especially considering the faster pace of many current competitive formats.


Reasons to Include Kaya, Bane of the Dead in Your Collection

Versatility: The versatility of Kaya, Bane of the Dead lies in its ability to impact various types of games. As a planeswalker, Kaya can fit into control and midrange decks, providing consistent removal against your opponent’s key creatures, regardless of hexproof.

Combo Potential: This card opens up combo possibilities in decks that manipulate exile zones. Kaya works well with cards that capitalize on exiled cards, supporting strategies that previously struggled to find consistent exile-based removal.

Meta-Relevance: With its unique ability to bypass hexproof, Kaya, Bane of the Dead holds relevance in metas dominated by creatures that are typically out of reach. It ensures that no creature is untouchable, potentially shifting the balance in your favor in creature-heavy matchups.


How to beat

Kaya, Bane of the Dead is a unique force in Magic: The Gathering, holding the power to neutralize the abilities of your opponent’s creatures and remove threats with her loyalty abilities. To effectively counter this card, one should consider strategies that don’t rely heavily on creature abilities, thus reducing her impact on the game. Moreover, direct damage spells or abilities that can target planeswalkers can remove Kaya from the battlefield before she becomes too much of a nuisance. Employing fast-paced gameplay to put pressure on your opponent early on can also help in reducing the odds of Kaya turning the tides. Lastly, hexproof is not a reliable defense against her as Kaya’s abilities circumvent this protection, making it essential to diversify your strategies beyond creature-based tactics.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been navigating the intricate dynamics of MTG, Kaya, Bane of the Dead might just be the next card you’ll want to keep on your radar. Her ability to alter the battlefield by exiling creatures can be a game-changer, especially against decks that lean heavily on indestructible or hexproof strategies. The control and midrange applications of this card are significant, and when you factor in her synergy with exile-focused strategies, it’s clear why she could be an asset in your collection. For more insights on how to harness her power and integrate Kaya into your winning deck builds, join the BurnMana community where we delve deeper into strategies, deck techs, and ways to optimize your MTG experience.


Cards like Kaya, Bane of the Dead

Kaya, Bane of the Dead serves as a unique piece within the planeswalker repertoire in MTG. Her ability to neutralize the hexproof ability of your opponent’s creatures invites comparisons to cards such as Shadowspear, which also renders hexproof obsolete. Unlike Shadowspear, Kaya doesn’t attach to creatures and instead presents a walker that can impact the board state by herself.

Archetype of Finality offers similar functionality, providing creatures you control with deathtouch and opposing creatures cannot. While Archetype affects the board by enhancing your creatures’ abilities, Kaya excels at weakening your opponent’s defenses directly. Finally, there’s Glaring Spotlight, which at a low cost also negates hexproof, though it lacks the repeated utility and the ability to remove creatures that Kaya provides.

Analyzing these cards reveals that Kaya, Bane of the Dead carves out a niche as a versatile and persistent threat to opponent strategies, with her mix of removal power and hexproof negation setting her apart from the rest.

Shadowspear - MTG Card versions
Archetype of Finality - MTG Card versions
Glaring Spotlight - MTG Card versions
Shadowspear - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Archetype of Finality - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Glaring Spotlight - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Kaya, Bane of the Dead by color, type and mana cost

Sorin, Grim Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Grim Nemesis - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaya, Bane of the Dead MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Kaya, Bane of the Dead and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kaya, Bane of the Dead Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 779632015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 722292015normalblackMid
32019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 231★2015normalblackMid
42019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 2312015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
52019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 231s★2015normalblackMid
62019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 231s2015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 5312015normalblackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaya, Bane of the Dead has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 If a spell or ability you control targets an opponent with hexproof or an opponent’s permanent with hexproof, and Kaya leaves the battlefield while that spell or ability is on the stack, that player or permanent becomes an illegal target for that spell or ability. This includes Kaya’s own loyalty ability.

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