Kargan Intimidator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Kargan Intimidator offers a tactical advantage by manipulating combat, making it crucial for Warrior decks.
  2. Fitting snugly on the mana curve, it paves the way for an aggressive tempo, especially in red combinations.
  3. Though powerful, it must align with specific deck strategies to unlock its full potential on the battlefield.

Text of card

Cowards can't block Warriors. : Choose one that hasn't been chosen this turn — • Kargan Intimidator gets +1/+1 until end of turn. • Target creature becomes a Coward until end of turn. • Target Warrior gains trample until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kargan Intimidator may not directly allow you to draw more cards, but it effectively makes the cards in your hand more impactful. With its ability to turn a creature into a Coward, it can help ensure your warriors are unblockable, reducing the need for additional removal spells or combat tricks to get through enemy defenses.

Resource Acceleration: While Kargan Intimidator does not provide traditional mana acceleration, it’s a low cost, high impact play. The Intimidator fits perfectly in a curve and accelerates your game plan by enabling faster, more aggressive plays, ensuring your tempo isn’t wasted on high-cost cards too early in the game.

Instant Speed: Kargan Intimidator operates at sorcery speed, with its abilities meant to set the stage before combat. The real magic of this card lies in its power to influence blockers before the attack begins, positioning you advantageously and prompting immediate responses from your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Kargan Intimidator doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, its abilities necessitate that you have other Warriors on the battlefield or in hand, indirectly pressuring you to deploy resources which might otherwise be kept for later strategic use.

Specific Mana Cost: Kargan Intimidator demands a specific mana combination to optimize its capabilities. Requiring both red and colorless mana means it may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks without a solid mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for its stat line, the Kargan Intimidator competes with other three-mana creatures that could potentially offer immediate impact or stronger board presence upon casting.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kargan Intimidator offers flexibility in multiple deck builds, providing an aggressive creature for Warrior-based strategies or augmenting red-centered aggressive decks with its ability to make creatures unable to block.

Combo Potential: This card partners well with equipment and auras enhancing power or granting abilities, as well as with cards that benefit from having a Warrior on the field or triggering attack steps.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its low casting cost and immediate impact on board state, Kargan Intimidator is a solid choice in an environment where low-to-the-ground creature decks strive to dominate the early game and assert control. This Warrior can be pivotal in matches against control decks by limiting opponent’s blocking options.


How to beat Kargan Intimidator

Kargan Intimidator stands out as an assertive play in Warrior-centric decks within Magic: The Gathering. This card not only pumps up your Warriors but also turns any creature into one, only to then make it virtually unblockable by creatures of a selected type. Overcoming this card can be a true test of wit on the battlefield.

One effective strategy is to manage the board with removal spells. Instant speed removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can disrupt your opponent’s combat phase and remove the Intimidator before it becomes a bigger threat. Alternatively, utilizing cards that can deal damage to creatures irrespective of combat can prove to be effective, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt.

Furthermore, strategies that don’t rely on creatures or can create favorable blocks, such as token-generating decks or those with creatures that have protection from multicolored, may reduce the impact of Kargan Intimidator’s intimidating presence. In scenarios that require a more nuanced approach, enchantments like Pacifism restrict the Intimidator from attacking or blocking, effectively neutralizing the threat without outright removing it from the field.

In summary, while Kargan Intimidator can be a challenging foe, several strategies exist that can help contain its influence on the game, ensuring that your deck stands ready to face the myriad of threats in a complex MTG match.


Cards like Kargan Intimidator

Kargan Intimidator is a warrior’s asset on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card from the Zendikar Rising set offers versatility much like Ahn-Crop Crasher, both designed to disrupt your opponent’s blocking strategy. While Ahn-Crop Crasher can exert to stop a creature from blocking, Kargan Intimidator allows players to choose which creature can’t block this turn.

Another comparable card is Goblin Heelcutter. When Goblin Heelcutter dashes onto the field, it also denies a creature the chance to block. Yet, Kargan Intimidator stands out with its ongoing effect and ability to boost Warriors. It can even become a Coward to dodge certain destructive spells while indirectly controlling the opponent’s defense.

Assessing similar options and the dynamics they offer, Kargan Intimidator has a unique role to play in red aggressive decks. Its continuous board impact and alignment with warrior synergies position it as a threat that demands an answer often shifting the tide of a match in the player’s favor.

Ahn-Crop Crasher - MTG Card versions
Goblin Heelcutter - MTG Card versions
Ahn-Crop Crasher - Amonkhet (AKH)
Goblin Heelcutter - Fate Reforged (FRF)

Cards similar to Kargan Intimidator by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironclaw Orcs - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Goblin Raider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Utvara Scalper - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kargan Intimidator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising, 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 Kargan Intimidator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kargan Intimidator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 837942015normalblackKieran Yanner
22020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 1452015normalblackKieran Yanner
32020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 145p2015normalblackKieran Yanner
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 145s2015normalblackKieran Yanner
52020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3472015normalblackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kargan Intimidator has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-09-25 If you control two or more Kargan Intimidators, track which modes have been chosen each turn for each one’s ability separately.
2020-09-25 Once a creature has blocked a Warrior, turning that creature into a Coward won’t remove it from combat or cause the Warrior to become unblocked.

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