Unscythe, Killer of Kings MTG Card


Unscythe, Killer of Kings - Alara Reborn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Artifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set nameAlara Reborn
Set codeARB
Number114
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKarl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

  1. Unscythe generates 2/2 zombies, enhancing your battlefield position as you deal combat damage.
  2. Equip at instant speed adds flexibility and surprise to your strategic plays.
  3. Demands a zombie discard and specific mana, potentially limiting deck compatibility.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +3/+3 and has first strike. Whenever a creature dealt damage by equipped creature this turn is put into a graveyard, you may remove that card from the game. If you do, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wielding the Unscythe, Killer of Kings empowers you to create a 2/2 blue Zombie creature token whenever you deal combat damage to a player, bolstering your board presence and tipping the scales in the attrition war for card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerator, this formidable artifact equips your creatures for lethal strikes, offering potential indirect acceleration by clearing the path of blockers, allowing for swifter damage, and potentially quickening the pace towards victory.

Instant Speed: The equip ability of Unscythe can be activated at instant speed, providing strategic flexibility during your turn or in response to an opponent’s actions, ensuring you’re always ready to unleash havoc or adapt to the changing tide of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unscythe, Killer of Kings demands a zombie sacrifice to unlock its potential. This can be a costly price, particularly if your zombie pool is dwindling and you’re trying to maintain a presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires a precise mix of blue, black, and red mana to summon. This tricolor demand can be challenging, especially in the early game when mana consistency is critical, potentially restricting its integration to only certain types of decks that can efficiently manage the tri-color requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of four mana, including three specific colors, it sits on a higher end compared to other equipments or creature cards within the same mana range. This can delay your game tempo, as you may have to wait an extra turn or two before you can effectively wield its power, while opponents could be advancing their board state with lower-costing spells or creatures.


Reasons to Include Unscythe, Killer of Kings in Your Collection

Versatility: Unscythe, Killer of Kings offers a dynamic fit for decks that synergize with the Zombie tribe or those that revolve around +1/+1 counters. Its ability to generate a Zombie token with each successful combat damage hit makes it a multifaceted tool for both aggressive and controlling strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to enable various combos, particularly with cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures. Pairing it with cards that have death triggers or that capitalize on the number of Zombies you control can rapidly escalate your board presence and power level.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-based strategies prevail, Unscythe can be a game-changer. Turning each creature takedown into an undead ally puts uninterrupted pressure on opponents and shifts the board state in your favor, potentially disrupting the flow of the game to your advantage.


How to beat

Unscythe, Killer of Kings is a unique artifact that blends offensive prowess with a zombie-creating ability in MTG. This makes it a card that can quickly become problematic if left unchecked. To effectively counter it, consider targeted removal spells that can handle both creatures and artifacts. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize allow you to remove Unscythe before its effect becomes overwhelming. Artifact hate cards such as Stony Silence can also neutralize its abilities altogether.

Furthermore, instant speed removal will enable you to respond to creature threats before they can become zombie tokens via Unscythe’s triggered ability. Counterspells are equally valuable, providing a way to prevent Unscythe from hitting the field in the first place. Lastly, keeping creature threats to a minimum on your side of the board will limit Unscythe’s impact, reducing the opportunities for your opponent to create zombies.

Considering all angles of combat and strategic removal can tip the scales in your favor against a powerful card like Unscythe, Killer of Kings, ensuring you maintain control of the game’s pace and direction.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the evolving strategies of MTG with Unscythe, Killer of Kings, and its potential to influence the tides of battle. Experienced players will appreciate its synergy with zombie-centric decks and the tactical edge it provides when carving through enemy lines. While it may require careful mana balancing and a strategic understanding of when to make your move, the payoff in creature generation and board control can be immense. Enhance your gameplay and deck-building skills by exploring this intricate card and others like it. Let BurnMana guide your journey to victory—learn more about optimizing your playstyle and seizing the upper hand.


Cards like Unscythe, Killer of Kings

Unscythe, Killer of Kings carves its niche in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering weapons with a unique blend of traits. At first glance, it might be compared to other artifact equipment like the notable Sword of Feast and Famine. Both cards offer significant power boosts and additional effects upon dealing combat damage. However, Unscythe stands out by generating 2/2 blue Zombie creature tokens, enriching the battlefield presence every time a creature is dealt damage, whereas Sword of Feast and Famine focuses more on resource disruption and advantage.

Grafted Exoskeleton shares a similarity with Unscythe in providing infect to the equipped creature, which could lead to quick defeats. Nonetheless, Unscythe’s capacity to consistently produce creature tokens gives it a sustainable long-term advantage. Furthermore, while Scytheclaw gives a lesser bonus to power, it has a lifeloss effect akin to Unscythe’s zombie-making mechanic, making it a quieter but equally lethal counterpart depending on the strategy employed.

Assessing these equipments, Unscythe, Killer of Kings interacts uniquely with the board, offering offensive advancements along with an army of undead followers, distinguishing itself as a formidable card for MTG players who relish a fusion of offensive tactics and creature-based strategies.

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Scytheclaw - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Scytheclaw - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unscythe, Killer of Kings MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Unscythe, Killer of Kings and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unscythe, Killer of Kings has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-05-01 If Unscythe’s second ability triggers, but the creature that was put into a graveyard is somehow removed from the graveyard in response (or it was a token), it won’t be able to be exiled with Unscythe’s ability. You won’t get a Zombie token.
2009-05-01 Unscythe’s second ability cares about any damage, not just combat damage.
2009-05-01 Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, check whether that creature had been dealt damage this turn by the creature that Unscythe is currently attached to. If so, Unscythe’s second ability will trigger. This is true even if Unscythe wasn’t attached to the creature at the time it dealt that damage. Only the currently equipped creature is checked, not any creatures that Unscythe may have been attached to earlier in the turn.

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