Kumano, Master Yamabushi MTG Card


Kumano, Master Yamabushi - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Shaman
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number176
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAdam Rex

Key Takeaways

  1. Kumano provides direct damage, deterring weak creature plays and creating card advantage for the player.
  2. Its mana-specific cost could restrict multi-color deck integration and leads to resource-intensive plays.
  3. Versatile and meta-relevant, Kumano fits in many deck types, offering substantial combo and control utility.

Text of card

: Kumano, Master Yamabushi deals 1 damage to target creature or player. If a creature dealt damage by Kumano this turn would be put into a graveyard, remove it from the game instead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kumano, Master Yamabushi’s ability to deal damage offers a strategical edge, efficiently eliminating small creatures and chipping away at an opponent’s life total. Its presence on the board can lead to indirect card advantage as well by deterring opponents from playing weaker creatures, keeping your hand stocked while depleting theirs.

Resource Acceleration: While Kumano itself doesn’t generate additional mana, its sheer power can act as a resource accelerator by pressuring opponents to use their mana inefficiently. Forcing the use of board clears, saving mana for instant removal, or deterring the casting of creatures can put you ahead on resources and tempo.

Instant Speed: Kumano’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving flexibility in your gameplay. You can pass the turn with mana untapped, representing various tricks, and choose the best moment to strike, potentially during the end step of your opponent’s turn, maximizing the use of your mana each round.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Working with Kumano, Master Yamabushi’s abilities can be quite resource-intensive. Activating its damage-dealing ability requires the player to discard a card, which can be problematic during moments in the game when maintaining a healthy hand size is crucial. Such a requirement might cause hindrance, especially if a player is already facing hand depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Kumano, Master Yamabushi leans heavily on red mana. This specific mana requirement could restrict the card’s integration in multi-colored decks, where mana resources are spread across various colors. Players running multi-color decks might find it challenging to reliably cast Kumano without sacrificing the deck’s overall mana balance.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding four mana, players might find that Kumano, Master Yamabushi’s expense can be a setback in gameplay, particularly in the early turns when rapidly establishing board presence is critical. Given the competitive nature of the format, there are alternative cards that could potentially provide more immediate or cost-efficient impact in comparison to Kumano’s mana-intensive investment.


Reasons to Include Kumano, Master Yamabushi in Your Collection

Versatility: Kumano, Master Yamabushi fits seamlessly into a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those requiring direct damage sources or a resilient creature presence. The ability to deal pinpoint damage to creatures or players makes it a highly adaptable card in numerous scenarios.

Combo Potential: Kumano’s activated ability allows for synergies with cards that untap creatures, increasing your potential for damage output. Additionally, Kumano’s removal capability is a great complement to strategies that profit from clearing the board of opposing threats.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based decks commonly populating the meta, Kumano’s capacity to act as both a creature and a repeatable damage source grants it a substantial edge. It offers a direct response to toughness-based strategies and persists as a threat thanks to its inherent indestructibility from being a legendary creature.


How to beat

Kumano, Master Yamabushi enters the Magic: The Gathering battlefield with abilities that can be quite challenging to deal with. Its potential for direct damage and creature removal make it a threat to consider seriously. To effectively counter this formidable card, it’s best to adopt a strategy that limits its impact. Removal spells that exile or shuffle Kumano into the library bypass its damage redirection ability and are highly effective. Unsummon effects or those that bounce Kumano back to the owner’s hand can also disrupt your opponent’s tempo significantly. Ensnaring the mighty yamabushi in enchantments that prevent it from attacking or using its ability can buy you valuable time.

Taming this master of fire involves carefully choosing your targets and spells. Prioritize dealing with Kumano before your opponent can make the most of its abilities. Cards that provide hexproof or shroud to your creatures can nullify Kumano’s direct damage ability. Additionally, playing around Kumano’s activation cost and not walking into an open mana trap can help maintain board presence. In the end, staying one step ahead and considering a variety of answers will tilt the scales in your favor against Kumano.


Cards like Kumano, Master Yamabushi

Kumano, Master Yamabushi presents a unique presence on the battleground of Magic: The Gathering with abilities that differ from those of other red legends. Comparable to cards like Prodigal Pyromancer and Cunning Sparkmage, Kumano offers direct damage capabilities but with a distinguishing feature – the ability to deal damage to any target. This flexibility allows players to target creatures, planeswalkers, or even opponents directly, which is more limited in scope for the Prodigal Pyromancer.

Examining further, we can look to Jaya, Venerated Firemage as another analog. Both Kumano and Jaya enhance the damage dealt by other red sources. Yet, Kumano’s individual impact on the board can be immediate, thanks to its activated ability, unlike Jaya’s passive ability that requires other sources for the damage increment. Furthermore, Kumano’s power to exile a card it damages, for mana investment, sets it apart as it potentially removes threats indefinitely, a trait Jaya does not possess.

Overall, Kumano, Master Yamabushi carves a niche within Magic: The Gathering as a formidable force capable of turning the tide of matches with its direct and powerful abilities, making it a notable card for players who value adaptability and consistent board control.

Prodigal Pyromancer - MTG Card versions
Cunning Sparkmage - MTG Card versions
Jaya, Venerated Firemage - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Pyromancer - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Cunning Sparkmage - Worldwake (WWK)
Jaya, Venerated Firemage - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Kumano, Master Yamabushi by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
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
Fire Elemental - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
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 - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
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)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kumano, Master Yamabushi 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 Kumano, Master Yamabushi and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kumano, Master Yamabushi has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-12-01 If a creature dealt damage by Kumano this turn would be put into a graveyard, exile it, even if it’s going to the graveyard at the same time as Kumano.
2004-12-01 Kumano, Master Yamabushi must be on the battlefield when the creature would be put into a graveyard in order to exile it.

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