Kumano's Pupils MTG Card


Kumano's Pupils - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number177
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

  1. Card recycling from graveyard provides continuous battlefield presence and hand advantage for Spirit or Arcane decks.
  2. Resource acceleration is possible through synergizing with Spirits and Arcane spells that manipulate mana.
  3. Strategic potential lies in instant speed interactions giving Kumano’s Pupils defensive and presence utility.

Text of card

If a creature dealt damage by Kumano's Pupils this turn would be put into a graveyard, remove it from the game instead.

"Long before he reluctantly joined the war, stories spread of Kumano's followers winning victories against the kami." —*Observations of the Kami War*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kumano’s Pupils is a card that ensures players have a consistent presence on the battlefield. Every time a player casts a Spirit or Arcane spell, they may return Kumano’s Pupils from their graveyard to their hand. This recyclable nature provides a meaningful advantage, effectively augmenting hand resources and keeping the pressure on opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Though Kumano’s Pupils itself doesn’t directly produce resources, its synergy with Spirit and Arcane spells often found in decks that utilize such themes can fuel resource acceleration. For example, Spirits that tap for mana or Arcane spells that untap lands can pair well with this card, leading to faster and more powerful plays.

Instant Speed: While Kumano’s Pupils is not an instant, it interacts favorably with instant speed mechanics. It can be returned to a player’s hand at the end of an opponent’s turn if they’ve cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, ready to be played out on their own turn. This can strategically set up defenses or maintain a board presence that opponents must cautiously navigate.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kumano’s Pupils mandates a card discard when played. This prerequisite can set back your hand, especially when your card count is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The card asks for a rigid, specific mix of mana to cast – this can hamper its integration into multi-color decks or those with a varied mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher end, Kumano’s Pupils might not be as appealing as lower-cost alternatives that perform similar functions in a deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kumano’s Pupils can adapt to different play styles with ease. Whether you’re piloting a deck focusing on creature-based strategies or one that harnesses the abilities of spirits and arcane spells, these disciples of the legendary creature Kumano will find their place, enhancing the flexibility of your deck.

Combo Potential: As a card that benefits whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, Kumano’s Pupils can synergize with a variety of cards, setting the stage for power plays that build off each other for greater impact, allowing savvy deck builders to explore intriguing and powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a setting where interactions matter and the board state is constantly evolving, Kumano’s Pupils can hold relevance. Against decks that might dominate with a flurry of spells each turn, these pupils can offer a recurring benefit, making them a valuable asset in an ever-changing competitive landscape.


How to beat

Kumano’s Pupils is a unique creature card that brings a fresh challenge to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to not only deal damage to creatures but also to the player controlling any creature destroyed this way, it requires a careful approach to overcome. Unlike cards that simply remove creatures, Kumano’s Pupils demand attention due to its potential to turn creature deaths into direct life loss.

To effectively counter this card, consider using spells that don’t destroy creatures but rather exile them, such as Path to Exile, to prevent the trigger of Kumano’s Pupils’ intimidating ability. Additionally, avoiding attacking or blocking with weaker creatures that would easily fall to Kumano’s Pupils can minimize the damage taken. Employing counterspells to prevent Kumano’s Pupils from ever entering the battlefield is another sound strategy. Spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can be key in maintaining control. Tactics that manipulate the opponent’s creature abilities through cards like Hushbringer or effects that grant indestructibility to your creatures for a turn can also be crucial in combatting the raw power of Kumano’s Pupils.

In summary, while Kumano’s Pupils present a multifaceted threat, strategic deck building and understanding the MTG metagame allow for several approaches to tackle this formidable foe, ensuring your life total remains safe from its direct assault.


Cards like Kumano's Pupils

Kumano’s Pupils is a noticeable contender in combat-focused red creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its resemblance to cards like Caldera Hellion is evident, as both creatures exert their influence on the battlefield by dealing damage. Kumano’s Pupils has an intriguing twist with its ability to deal damage upon death to a number of creatures based on the amount of mana spent to cast it. Caldera Hellion, by contrast, deals damage across the board as it enters the fray with its devour ability.

Another card worth comparing is Flame-Kin Zealot. Both are red creatures that can alter the game’s dynamics through their presence. While Flame-Kin Zealot provides a boost to your creatures when it hits the field, Kumano’s Pupils offer a more defensive edge, reducing the opponent’s creature count as a reaction to being targeted or removed.

Ultimately, Kumano’s Pupils adds a strategic layer to deck building, offering a potent ability that can shift the game’s course. Its unique afterlife damage dealing creates options for players looking to craft a deck with a blend of aggressive play and reactive tactics.

Caldera Hellion - MTG Card versions
Flame-Kin Zealot - MTG Card versions
Caldera Hellion - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Flame-Kin Zealot - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Cards similar to Kumano's Pupils 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's Pupils 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's Pupils and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kumano's Pupils has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kumano's Pupils 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’s Pupils this turn would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead, even if it’s going to the graveyard at the same time as Kumano’s Pupils.
2004-12-01 Kumano’s Pupils must be on the battlefield when the creature would be put into a graveyard in order to exile it.

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