Killer Instinct MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2006-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Guildpact
Set code	GPT
Number	120
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Killer Instinct grants card advantage by putting creatures into play each turn without spending cards from hand.
Resource acceleration is key, as it circumvents mana costs, allowing for faster threat deployment on the board.
Though not an instant, its upkeep trigger offers the element of surprise, simulating instant-speed creature plays.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card, put it into play. That creature gains haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at end of turn.

"Take the bridge, men! Victory! Victory is ou— Retreat! RETREAT!"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Killer Instinct enables you to potentially put a creature card onto the battlefield at the beginning of your upkeep, ensuring that you continually have threats to present without depleting your hand, meaning you are effectively drawing into power each turn.

Resource Acceleration: By bypassing the mana cost of the creatures you’re putting into play, you’re getting ahead on resource usage, which can tip the scales in your favor as you deploy threats faster than your mana curve would usually allow.

Instant Speed: While the card itself isn’t an instant, the effect it triggers during your upkeep feels almost like an instant speed boon, giving you the surprise factor of springing creatures onto the battlefield at a moment when your opponents might be least prepared.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Killer Instinct card demands that players discard a card upon activation. This mechanic forces players to deplete their hand, which can be detrimental, especially when options are limited and every resource is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting this spell requires a precise combination of mana, including both red and green. This specificity can make it challenging to fit into multicolored decks that don’t heavily feature these colors, potentially restricting its versatility across different strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of six mana to cast, Killer Instinct has quite the investment upfront when compared to other creatures or spells with similar effects. This high cost might deter players, as it can slow down gameplay and potentially delay more impactful plays.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Killer Instinct provides a unique advantage in diverse deck builds, adding a layer of unpredictability and continual threat deployment that can adapt to numerous playstyles and opponent strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with top-of-library manipulation to consistently play powerful creatures, thus generating value and potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to regularly put creatures into play, Killer Instinct can keep pace in a meta where maintaining a board presence is crucial, thereby making it a compelling inclusion against an array of popular decks.

How to beat

Killer Instinct can be a formidable card on the MTG battleground, offering a way to cheat creatures onto the battlefield at the beginning of your upkeep. To neutralize this advantage, players should focus on strategies that either remove this enchantment from the game or minimize its impact. Instant-speed enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize can efficiently deal with Killer Instinct before it starts to generate value. Cards like Counterspell or Thoughtseize can prevent Killer Instinct from resolving or hitting the play area in the first place.

Alternatively, graveyard interaction presents another method to mitigate this card’s power. Since Killer Instinct requires the top card of your library to be a creature, manipulating either player’s library with cards like Brainstorm or surveil effects can be useful. Graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze help by removing creatures from the game entirely, negating the potential for recursion which is intrinsic to Killer Instinct’s utility.

Knowing when to disrupt the card’s synergy is crucial. Whether by forcing card disadvantage, employing instant-speed interaction before your opponent’s upkeep, or recurring library management, methodically dismantling the card’s influence is key to overcoming the challenge it poses.

Cards like Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct joins the array of unique red enchantments in Magic: The Gathering that focus on manipulating creatures. Similar to Lurking Predators, which gives you the creature on top of your library for free if an opponent casts a spell, Killer Instinct offers the chance to put a creature from the top into play at the beginning of your upkeep, though it requires you to sacrifice the creature if it doesn’t hit. Where Lurking Predators is reactive to opponents’ moves, Killer Instinct remains proactive, albeit with a caveat.

Comparably, Call of the Wild allows you to pay mana to look at the top card of your library and put it into play if it’s a creature. This bears similarity in the surprise factor of what creature might come into play, yet it lacks the mandatory aspect of Killer Instinct’s once-per-turn trigger. Descendants’ Path is another enchantment that can cheat creatures onto the battlefield if the top card of your library shares a type with one you control, delivering consistent utility without the sacrifice requirement.

To sum up, Killer Instinct finds its niche by blending the thrill of potentially summoning a powerful creature each turn with the high stakes of needing to utilize it promptly. It’s a powerful gamble that can turn the tides, especially when compared to its counterparts that offer more controlled but less spontaneous outcomes.

Cards similar to Killer Instinct by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Killer Instinct MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact, 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 Killer Instinct and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Killer Instinct has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-02-01	If the top card of your library isn’t a creature card, it remains on top of your library. You won’t have to sacrifice it at end of turn.