Kelsinko Ranger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Ranger
Released	1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Ice Age
Set code	ICE
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	33
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Poole

Key Takeaways

Kelsinko Ranger ensures card presence and provides strategic momentum during MTG matches.
Its ability to untap lands at instant speed gives players unexpected mana sources and flexibility.
However, the discard requirement and specific mana costs can limit its utility in some decks.

Text of card

o1oo W Target green creature gains first strike until end of turn.

"Rangers not trained by the Elves just aren't the same." —Lucilde Fiksdotter, Leader of the Order of the White Shield

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a versatile component in your deck, Kelsinko Ranger offers the ability to replace itself in your hand upon entering the battlefield. By ensuring that you do not lose card presence, it bolsters your strategies and enables sustained momentum throughout matches.

Resource Acceleration: This agile ranger isn’t just about the upfront battlefield presence; it can accelerate your resource pool. With its ability to potentially untap lands, Kelsinko Ranger can serve as an unexpected source of mana, springing your other spells into action sooner than anticipated.

Instant Speed: Kelsinko Ranger’s flash ability allows you to summon it at instant speed, keeping your opponents guessing and providing you with tactical flexibility. Whether you’re flashing it in to block an unsuspecting attacker or to simply use your mana efficiently at the end of your opponent’s turn, its timing can be as valuable as the spell it casts.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kelsinko Ranger demands that you discard another card as part of its casting cost. This requirement can occasionally backfire, especially when your hand is already depleted, effectively forcing you to lose two cards for one play.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost includes both white and green mana, making it less versatile for decks that don’t consistently have access to both types of mana. This drawback can impede deck building and reduce its playability in mono-colored or certain multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With multiple lower-cost options available in the card pool, Kelsinko Ranger’s combined mana and card discard cost might be seen as steep for its in-game effect, reducing its efficiency and desirability as an inclusion in competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kelsinko Ranger’s ability to provide both an early-game creature and a late-game mana sink makes it a suitable addition to a variety of decks. Its adaptability ensures it can perform in both aggressive and defensive roles.

Combo Potential: With Kelsinko Ranger’s ability to untap lands, it can be seamlessly integrated into combos that require mana regeneration. It can serve as a crucial piece in strategies aiming to cast large spells or activate abilities multiple times in one turn.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where ramp strategies are prominent, Kelsinko Ranger holds its ground by enabling quicker plays and keeping pace with more powerful decks. Its contribution to mana acceleration can be a game-changer in the current landscape.

How to beat

Kelsinko Ranger presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This crafty card can be a real head-scratcher. With its ability to give other creatures haste, it enables your opponent to mount a rapid offensive. Taking this into account, it’s key to devise a strategy that can neutralize Kelsinko Ranger swiftly. Removal spells are your best allies here. Instants such as Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can whisk it off the board before its ability has a chance to turn the tide. Furthermore, countering it on entry using spells like Mana Leak or Essence Scatter ensures it never gets a chance to flex its muscle.

Board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, also offer a clean slate by removing all creatures, including the tenacious Ranger. Static abilities that prevent activating abilities, like those found on Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can also stymie the Ranger’s effectiveness. When it comes to strategizing against this nimble adversary, swift action and a strong control component in your deck are crucial to averting the surge of speed it can bestow upon your opponent’s forces.

Cards like Kelsinko Ranger

Kelsinko Ranger is a versatile inclusion in Magic: The Gathering decks that favor creature-based strategies. This card shares some similarities with other creatures that can bolster your attack, like Goblin Motivator. While the Motivator offers the advantage of instant speed to grant haste to another creature, Kelsinko Ranger’s ability is more restrictive, as it only targets Warrior creatures. However, unlike the Motivator, Kelsinko Ranger can also make your Warriors bigger, giving them a valuable power boost as well.

Comparing to the likes of Acclaimed Contender, another card that has a Warrior-focus, Kelsinko Ranger does not have the added benefit of digging into the library for a Warrior, Equipment, or legendary artifact. Instead, Kelsinko Ranger is suited for more aggressive play where augmenting a creature’s power and toughness can have immediate impact on the battlefield. It also competes with Rushblade Commander, which grants all Warriors haste but lacks the ability to empower individual creatures.

Thus, when considering the strategic implications of Kelsinko Ranger and how it stacks up against its counterparts, it shines in scenarios where empowering and taking quick, decisive action with your Warriors is key to controlling the game’s pace and overpowering adversaries.

Cards similar to Kelsinko Ranger by color, type and mana cost

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kelsinko Ranger MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Kelsinko Ranger and other MTG cards: