Kami of the Painted Road MTG Card


Kami of the Painted Road - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number23
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRon Spencer

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants card advantage and the flexibility of instant speed to react and make efficient mana use.
  2. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana needs and potential hand size reduction.
  3. Versatility in deck types and meta relevance make it a robust choice against common threats.

Text of card

Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, Kami of the Painted Road gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.

In ancient times, precepts of kami law were inscribed onto bridges as a gesture of respect. During the war, humans regarded them as warnings of where not to travel.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kami of the Painted Road offers a dynamic ability that can potentially draw you extra cards. When played strategically, this can help turn the tide by refilling your hand and providing the options you need to outpace your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s ability to potentially untap lands can lead to significant resource acceleration. By effectively doubling your mana for a turn, you can deploy more threats or answers, making it easier to stay ahead or catch up in the game.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of this card’s abilities grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This adaptability can offer not just surprise value but also allows you to make the most efficient use of your mana each round.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kami of the Painted Road demands a card to be discarded upon activation. For players already grappling with a dwindling hand, this requirement could hinder strategic depth and leverage during a game.

Specific Mana Cost: With a unique color criterion linked to its activation, this card necessitates very specific mana resources. As a result, decks not tailored to accommodate such precise requirements might find it challenging to make efficient use of this card’s abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While this spirit offers a certain tactical advantage, its mana value might be considered steep. This can affect gameplay tempo, especially when alternatives exist that provide similar benefits at a lower cost, ultimately affecting deck consistency and performance.


Reasons to Include Kami of the Painted Road in Your Collection

Versatility: Kami of the Painted Road is an adaptable card that can slide into a variety of deck types. Its spirit synergy works well with decks focusing on that tribe, but its protection ability also supports strategies that prioritize creature survivability.

Combo Potential: This card pairs beautifully with mechanics that benefit from its protection ability. Triggering enter-the-battlefield effects more than once or dodging removal lets players maximize their board presence and maintain a competitive edge.

Meta-Relevance: In an evolving game environment, cards that offer protection to key creatures can be incredibly powerful. Kami of the Painted Road can serve as a reliable countermeasure against spot removals and board wipes, which are common in many metas.


How to beat

Kami of the Painted Road emerges as an enchanting presence on the battlefield, elevating the strategy behind creature-based decks. It joins the ranks of impactful creatures that can turn the tides by merely gracing the field. This card blends resilience with evasion, making it a tricky subject to tackle. Not only does it have the capacity to dodge targeted removals, but it also bolsters its defenses with every enchantment you control.

To effectively counter Kami of the Painted Road, direct removal spells may falter, demanding a broader strategy. Board wipes become a quintessential tool, seamlessly bypassing Kami’s protective aura. Cards such as Wrath of God, or Extinction Event, can clear the board without the need to target, ensuring a successful removal. Additionally, tactics that limit the casting of enchantments or deny their benefits also serve as prime solutions, disrupting the synergy upon which Kami thrives and diminishing its durability on the board.

Ultimately, overcoming the challenge posed by Kami of the Painted Road requires a blend of foresight and versatile control elements. Adapting your gameplay to include non-targeted removal and enchantment disruption can prove to be the key to claiming victory against this formidable adversary.


Cards like Kami of the Painted Road

Kami of the Painted Road adds an enchanting twist to the portfolio of spirit creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards such as Yosei, the Morning Star in that they both have formidable abilities in addition to being part of the vast spirit clan. Yet, Kami of the Painted Road distinguishes itself with its focus on interplay with lands, offering more versatility in deck building strategies.

In the realm of land-centric creatures, we also encounter Azusa, Lost But Seeking. This legendary creature presents the advantage of playing additional lands, paving the way for quick mana ramping. Although not a spirit, the synergy with land mechanics presents a strategic parallel. Additionally, the well-known Courser of Kruphix enables you to play with the top card of your library revealed, and whenever it’s a land card, you may play it. This provides a constant flow of land cards similar to Kami of the Painted Road’s tableau enhancing powers.

Analyzing the intricacies of these cards and how they interact with lands, Kami of the Painted Road offers a unique blend of thematic presence and potential for crafting a robust mana base, making it a captivating choice for players enamored by the spirit tribe and land interactions.

Yosei, the Morning Star - MTG Card versions
Courser of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Yosei, the Morning Star - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Courser of Kruphix - Born of the Gods (BNG)

Cards similar to Kami of the Painted Road by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Rashida Scalebane - Mirage (MIR)
Avenging Angel - Tempest (TMP)
Lancers en-Kor - Stronghold (STH)
Radiant, Archangel - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Karmic Guide - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Master Healer - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Angel of Mercy - The List (PLST)
Serra Angel - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Border Patrol - Judgment (JUD)
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Sigardian Savior - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Glory - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Celestial Gatekeeper - Legions (LGN)
Collector Protector - Unhinged (UNH)
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - Saviors of Kamigawa Promos (PSOK)
Belfry Spirit - Guildpact (GPT)
Petra Sphinx - Masters Edition (ME1)
Barrenton Medic - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Ivory Gargoyle - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kami of the Painted Road MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Kami of the Painted Road and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kami of the Painted Road has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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