Kaya's Onslaught MTG Card


Kaya's Onslaught - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Foretell
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Number18
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDaarken

Key Takeaways

  1. Kaya’s Onslaught offers card advantage with potential for board state acceleration and a card-draw mechanic.
  2. Its instant speed makes it a versatile combat trick, able to surprise opponents and change the tide of battle.
  3. Despite strengths, the card’s strict mana requirements and competition with other three-mana spells can limit its use.

Text of card

Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains double strike until end of turn. Foretell (During your turn, you may pay and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.)

"Your trail ends here."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kaya’s Onslaught enhances the value of your creatures while also potentially doubling as a card draw mechanism when its foretell cost is paid. This dual function acts to position you ahead in hand resources, keeping pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially boosting multiple creatures, Kaya’s Onslaught optimizes your existing board state. This converts your standing army into a more formidable force without the need for additional mana investment, essentially accelerating your resource impact.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Kaya’s Onslaught at instant speed offers strategic flexibility. This allows players to adapt to the changing game state, surprise opponents during combat, or simply optimize the timing of their spells for maximum effect.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cast at the cost of your own card advantage, which can be particularly taxing if your hand is already depleted or if the game is drawing out longer than expected.

Specific Mana Cost: With its stringent white mana requirement, integrating this card into a multi-colored deck can be challenging, potentially causing mana base issues or hindering smooth play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demanding three mana, this card competes with other powerful plays at this cost range, which might provide broader impact or versatility in a game where tempo is crucial.


Reasons to Include Kaya’s Onslaught in Your Collection

Versatility: Kaya’s Onslaught can be easily slotted into diverse decks, shining in strategies that emphasize creature-based attacks. This instant boosts your creatures, no matter their type, making it a flexible addition to any player’s arsenal.

Combo Potential: With its double strike ability, this card exponentially increases the threat level of your creatures. Pair it with creatures that have on-attack triggers or with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage, and you unlock a new level of strategic depth.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-focused aggro decks are often in vogue, Kaya’s Onslaught matches up well against various popular decks. It enables crucial, game-swinging plays that can turn the tide of battle in your favor, adapting smoothly to the ever-changing competitive landscape.


How to beat

Kaya’s Onslaught stands out as a formidable spell in Magic: The Gathering, enhancing creatures with double strike until end of turn when cast for its standard cost. When foretold, its impact is even more pronounced as it can catch an opponent off-guard by unexpectedly boosting creatures during combat. The key to countering it is preemption and removal.

Effective strategies involve keeping mana open to disrupt your opponent’s tempo with instant removal spells or counterspells. Cards like Eliminate or Heartless Act can help remove the creature targeted by Kaya’s Onslaught before it becomes a double-striking threat. If you are without removal options, focus on building a board presence that disincentivizes attacks or outmatches your opponent’s creatures in combat, minimizing Kaya’s Onslaught’s impact.

Ultimately, anticipating the timing and being prepared with the right answers will ensure that this card does not overwhelm you. Understanding the flow of your opponent’s strategy and maintaining board control are key elements in preventing Kaya’s Onslaught from turning the tides of battle in your opponent’s favor.


Cards like Kaya's Onslaught

Kaya’s Onslaught serves as a potent boost in Magic: The Gathering, offering creatures double strike until the end of the turn. This effect mirrors that of other spells, such as Embercleave, which also grants double strike. Nonetheless, Kaya’s Onslaught stands out with its flexibility, as it can be foretold and played at a reduced cost later on, unlike Embercleave’s immediate equip requirement.

Joining the ranks of similarity is Temur Battle Rage, delivering not only double strike but also trample if you have a creature with power 4 or greater. The catch, however, is Temur Battle Rage’s single-target limitation, contrasting with Kaya’s Onslaught’s ability to affect multiple creatures. Assault Strobe is another comparable spell that offers double strike for a single red mana but again, is restricted to a solitary creature.

Considering these comparisons, Kaya’s Onslaught holds its ground in the realm of MTG combat tricks, accommodating multiple creatures and fitting neatly into strategies aiming for a wide and decisive attacking turn. The blend of double strike across the board and forecast cost optimization makes it a versatile card worth considering for aggressive decks looking to secure wins through overwhelming combat phases.

Embercleave - MTG Card versions
Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions
Assault Strobe - MTG Card versions
Embercleave - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Temur Battle Rage - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Assault Strobe - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Kaya's Onslaught by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Armed Response - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Army of Allah - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Holy Light - Masters Edition (ME1)
Blood of the Martyr - Chronicles (CHR)
Piety - Renaissance (REN)
Martyrdom - Alliances (ALL)
Harsh Justice - Portal (POR)
Kor Chant - The List (PLST)
Just Fate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Waylay - Urza's Saga (USG)
Warrior's Honor - Anthologies (ATH)
Radiant's Judgment - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Abolish - Prophecy (PCY)
Restrain - Invasion (INV)
Prismatic Strands - Commander 2019 (C19)
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Teferi's Protection - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Oblation - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Wing Shards - Commander 2017 (C17)
Armed Response - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaya's Onslaught MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Kaya's Onslaught and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaya's Onslaught has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-02-05 Because exiling a card with foretell from your hand is a special action, you can do so any time you have priority during your turn, including in response to spells and abilities. Once you announce you’re taking the action, no other player can respond by trying to remove the card from your hand.
2021-02-05 Casting a foretold card from exile follows the timing rules for that card. If you foretell an instant card, you can cast it as soon as the next player’s turn. In most cases, if you foretell a card that isn’t an instant (or doesn’t have flash), you’ll have to wait until your next turn to cast it.
2021-02-05 If you’re casting a foretold card from exile for its foretell cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any other alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.

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