Akoum Hellkite MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying,Landfall
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Akoum Hellkite advantages lie in its landfall-triggered damage, suited for control-oriented red decks.
  2. High mana cost and specific mana requirements can limit its deck-building versatility.
  3. Great for collections focused on landfall mechanics and for players keen on red dragon themes.

Text of card

Flying Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Akoum Hellkite deals 1 damage to target creature or player. If that land is a Mountain, Akoum Hellkite deals 2 damage to that creature or player instead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Akoum Hellkite has the potential to create card advantage by dealing damage to multiple targets upon landfall, effectively handling more than one threat with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its landfall ability can be a form of indirect acceleration by putting pressure on opponents and controlling the board, ensuring your resources are used effectively.

Instant Speed: Not applicable to Akoum Hellkite as it is a creature; however, the landfall trigger occurs at any time a land enters the battlefield under your control, providing versatile opportunities to impact the game outside of the main phases.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Akoum Hellkite demands an exclusive mana arrangement, requiring both red and colorless mana. This specificity restricts deck-building flexibility and could hinder the card’s incorporation in multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Akoum Hellkite competes with other high-impact cards at a similar or lesser cost. Players may find the mana investment challenging, especially in fast-paced games where tempo is crucial.

Discard Requirement: Although Akoum Hellkite itself does not require a discard, it needs the player to have a landfall opportunity to trigger its ability. Without consistent land drops, the dragon’s potential remains dormant, becoming a considerable downside in land-scarce situations.


Reasons to Include Akoum Hellkite in Your Collection

Versatility: Akoum Hellkite brings a level of adaptability to any red-focused deck. With its ability to deal damage upon landfall, it can integrate well into strategies that emphasize land ramp or decks that make use of numerous land drops each turn.

Combo Potential: This dragon has great synergy with cards that allow multiple land plays, and with landfall triggers. Its ability to shoot down creatures or target opponents directly can be a part of combo finishes or control the board state as the game progresses.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures and board presence count, Akoum Hellkite can be a game-changer. It holds its ground in metas with heavy land interaction, providing not just a formidable flying attacker but also a repeatable source of direct damage.


How to beat

Akoum Hellkite presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield with its powerful landfall ability, which is a standout in MTG. Much like other creatures with impactful triggers, it requires a swift and strategic response. Removing Akoum Hellkite before it capitalizes on land drops is key, thus instant-speed removal spells are the tools of choice. These might include Path to Exile or Murderous Rider, depending on your deck’s colors. Additionally, counterspells like Negate ensure Akoum Hellkite never enters the fray to begin with.

Control decks could rely on sweepers such as Damnation or Wrath of God to reset the board, indirectly dealing with the Hellkite. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of lands hitting the table, disrupting the landfall trigger. Keeping land play to a minimum and focusing on instant speed interaction will navigate a path to victory even in the face of this dragon. In the grand scheme of card impact, the key to defeating an Akoum Hellkite lies in readiness and the tactical deployment of removal resources at just the right moment.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Akoum Hellkite is pivotal for any MTG player. Its potential for wreaking havoc with each landfall makes it a noteworthy companion or adversary in the battlefield. However, it’s equally important to recognize the commitment it demands in deck building due to its specific mana needs and reliance on land drops. Enhancing your collection with Akoum Hellkite can tip the scales in your favor in the right meta. For more insights and strategies on when to deploy this fiery dragon or ways to counter its might, delve into our comprehensive guides and step into a realm where knowledge empowers your game.


Cards like Akoum Hellkite

Akoum Hellkite is a powerful dragon from the plane of Zendikar, known for its landfall ability which allows it to deal damage to any target when a land enters the battlefield under your control. It bears resemblance to other dragon cards such as Dragonmaster Outcast, which produces a 5/5 red Dragon creature token with flying at the beginning of your upkeep if you control six or more lands. While Akoum Hellkite requires lands to be played to unleash its potential, Dragonmaster Outcast works passively, gradually overpowering the battlefield with tokens.

Another card that echoes the landfall mechanic is Scute Swarm. Although not a dragon, the swarm multiplies with every landfall, creating a rapidly expanding army of insects. Unlike Akoum Hellkite, which is reliant on landfall to deal direct damage, Scute Swarm requires consecutive land drops to become a formidable force.

When evaluating these cards, Akoum Hellkite stands out for delivering immediate impact with its land-based synergy, making it a formidable presence in MTG matches that focus on land acceleration and control.

Dragonmaster Outcast - MTG Card versions
Scute Swarm - MTG Card versions
Dragonmaster Outcast - Worldwake (WWK)
Scute Swarm - Resale Promos (PRES)

Cards similar to Akoum Hellkite by color, type and mana cost

Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Halam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Iron-Barb Hellion - MTG Card versions
Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Shivan Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Firestorm Phoenix - Legends (LEG)
Crater Hellion - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Callous Giant - Invasion (INV)
Halam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Bloodshot Cyclops - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Worldgorger Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Two-Headed Dragon - From the Vault: Dragons (DRB)
Iron-Barb Hellion - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ryusei, the Falling Star - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Ronin Cavekeeper - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Oni of Wild Places - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Thundermare - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pardic Dragon - Time Spiral (TSP)
Tectonic Fiend - Time Spiral (TSP)
Etali, Primal Storm - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Sunrise Sovereign - Lorwyn (LRW)
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Inferno Titan - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akoum Hellkite MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Battle for Zendikar Promos, 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 Akoum Hellkite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Akoum Hellkite Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2019-11-15. Illustrated by Jaime Jones.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 1392015normalblackJaime Jones
22015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 139s2015normalblackJaime Jones
32019-11-15Game Night 2019GN2 362015normalblackJaime Jones

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Akoum Hellkite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-08-25 A landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability puts a land onto the battlefield under your control.
2015-08-25 If the ability has an additional or replacement effect that depends on the land having a certain basic land type, the ability will check that land’s type as the ability resolves. If, at that time, the land that entered the battlefield is no longer on the battlefield, use its types when it left the battlefield to determine what happens.
2015-08-25 When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one to resolve.

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