Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Ogre Warrior
Power 5
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates a 3/3 Ogre to fortify your board whenever opponents attack, without spending extra cards.
  2. Slows enemy tempo by forcing mana allocation, indirectly enhancing your resource acceleration.
  3. Grants creature tokens during attack declaration, mimicking instant speed for tactical advantage.

Text of card

Whenever a creature an opponent controls attacks, if you're the defending player, put a 3/3 red Ogre creature token onto the battlefield unless that creature's controller pays .

Warning to those who scale the cliffs without paying tribute: It's a long way down.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs offers an indirect way to accumulate card advantage by deterring opponents from attacking. Each time an opponent declares attackers, they’re presented with a tough choice — either pay a significant mana cost or give you a 3/3 Ogre creature token. Over time, this can lead to a substantial advantage as your board presence grows without expending cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Kazuul itself doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, the threat it introduces can indirectly influence the pace of the game. By forcing opponents to allocate mana towards the toll for attacking, Kazuul can slow down opponents’ resource development and tempo, giving you the relative acceleration you need to outpace their strategy.

Instant Speed: Although Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs isn’t an instant, its ability functions at a similar speed. Since the tokens are created during the declare attackers step, it’s as if you’re getting the tokens at instant speed. This means you can leave mana open for other responsive actions and still get value, surprising your opponent with new blockers in a pinch, all without committing to a board state until necessary.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs doesn’t directly require discarding, but having a card that rewards players when opponents attack you may tempt them to hold back creatures for defense instead of playing them, leading to a self-imposed discard-like scenario where cards stay stuck in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This formidable ogre demands a precise blend of mana to summon – two generic and one red. This specificity means that it’s most at home within red-centered or red-supportive mana bases, potentially excluding it from more varied deck builds that can’t reliably provide the needed red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs enters the battlefield later in the game. This cost, consisting of three generic and two red, can delay your game plan, as there are alternatives offering more immediate board presence or disrupting opponent’s strategies at a lower mana threshold.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs offers a unique defensive angle to any deck. Its ability to generate a creature token whenever one or more creatures you don’t control attack you, suits a variety of strategies from red control decks to token-synergistic builds.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments where you can turn defense into offense. Combining it with effects that either pump up your Ogre tokens or utilize them for alternative benefits like sacrificing for mana or card draw, can create powerful interactions on the board.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive strategies predominate, having a card like Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs can deter opponents from attacking, and if they do, you’re rewarded with additional creatures to turn the tide of the game to your advantage.


How to beat

Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs offers a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to deter opponents from attacking. This formidable card forces your opponent to pay a tax of three mana for each creature that’s swinging your way, or gift you a 3/3 Ogre creature token. The key to dismantling Kazuul’s defense lies in removing the card from play outright or circumventing its ability to influence combat.

One efficient method to overcome Kazuul’s might is to target it with removal spells that can bypass its commanding presence. Spells such as Path to Exile or Murder promptly exile or destroy the tyrant without triggering its taxing ability. Alternatively, focus on building a board with creatures that have flying or protection from red, making them less susceptible to Kazuul’s influence and able to chip away at your opponent’s life total without the need to confront the Tyrant directly.

In essence, the strategy to triumph over Kazuul hinges on prompt removal, cleverly curated creature abilities, or simply choosing not to engage with it in combat. Though the tyrant may appear overwhelming, understanding and applying these tactics can flip the cliffside skirmish in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a journey in strategy and adaptation. Cards like Kazuul Tyrant of the Cliffs showcase the depth and tactics within the game. They encourage us to think beyond the battlefield, crafting not just a deck but a narrative of encounters. With every play, you have the potential to sculpt the outcome of the match and tilt it in your favor. If Kazuul has piqued your interest, there is much more to explore and integrate into your collection. Dive in with us as we navigate MTG’s myriad of possibilities and guide you to your next formidable deck evolution.


Cards like Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs

Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs stands as a formidable defender in games, evoking the strategic significance of deterrent creatures in MTG. While it’s unique in its realm, cards like Ghostly Prison mirror the discouraging aspect for opponents who wish to attack. Unlike Kazuul, Ghostly Prison requires mana payment from the attacker for each creature without offering a creature token as a reward.

Propaganda is another card with a similar defensive advantage, requiring mana from attacking opponents in the same manner. Yet it pertains to the blue color wheel, differentiating it from Kazuul’s monored identity. There’s also Elephant Grass which, much like Propaganda, taxes opponents but also limits the tax to black and artifact creatures and fades after some time due to cumulative upkeep.

A comprehensive evaluation reveals that Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs provides a more aggressive countermeasure, creating creature tokens to bolster defense or fortify an offensive lineup. It’s a distinct advantage in MTG that combines deterrence with potential board presence, marking it as a versatile choice for decks that aim to control and dominate the battlefield.

Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Elephant Grass - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Propaganda - Tempest (TMP)
Elephant Grass - Visions (VIS)

Cards similar to Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs by color, type and mana cost

Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Torchling - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Shard Phoenix - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Soul of Magma - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hunted Dragon - The List (PLST)
Torchling - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake and Commander 2016, 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 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Paul Bonner.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-02-05WorldwakeWWK 842003normalblackPaul Bonner
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1302015normalblackPaul Bonner
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2702015normalblackPaul Bonner
42022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8002015normalblackPaul Bonner
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2372015normalblackPaul Bonner
62024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 1572015normalblackPaul Bonner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-03-01 As the ability resolves, you can't put the Ogre token onto the battlefield without explicitly giving the attacking player the option to pay , even if the attacking player has forgotten about this ability.
2010-03-01 If an attacking creature has a “Whenever this creature attacks” ability, that ability is put on the stack first, then Kazuul's ability is put on the stack. Although Kazuul's ability will resolve first, and potentially create an Ogre token, any target of the other ability will already have been chosen at this point, and thus could not have been the new Ogre token.
2010-03-01 If you're the defending player, Kazuul's ability triggers once for each creature that attacks, not just once per combat. The attacking player chooses whether to pay or let you have an Ogre token each time one of those abilities resolves.
2010-03-01 In a multiplayer game, the ability checks whether you're the defending player for each individual attacking creature. For example, if one creature attacks you and two creatures attack another player, Kazuul's ability triggers just once.
2010-03-01 The ability triggers and resolves during the declare attackers step. If you put an Ogre token onto the battlefield as a result, you may block with it during that combat phase.
2010-03-01 You're the defending player if a creature is attacking you or a planeswalker you control.

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