Akki Drillmaster MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Shaman
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	92
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Key Takeaways

Akki Drillmaster provides both card advantage and strategic flexibility during combat.
It speeds up gameplay by reducing creature spell costs and offering haste.
The card’s instant speed ability can outmaneuver opponents’ defensive strategies.

Text of card

: Target creature gains haste until end of turn.

"What part of 'hayaku ikee!' did you not understand?"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Akki Drillmaster allows you to potentially untap an attacking creature after it has dealt combat damage. This not only gives you a second opportunity to deal damage within a single combat phase but also lets you use any abilities of the untapped creature again. It can be particularly devastating with creatures that have on-damage effects, giving you an additional chance to trigger them within a single turn.

Resource Acceleration: Akki Drillmaster has the unique ability to boost your game tempo by giving a cost reduction to creature spells you cast. This can lead to getting your heavy hitters onto the battlefield faster, or simply allowing you to deploy more creatures in a turn than you normally would, thereby accelerating your board presence and giving you an upper hand.

Instant Speed: With the drillmaster’s ability activating at instant speed, it provides you with the flexibility to react during combat after blockers are declared. This lets you gauge the battlefield and decide the best course of action, making it a strategic tool for outmaneuvering your opponent’s defenses and swinging the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Akki Drillmaster demands a discard from your hand to activate its ability. This can lead to a decrease in hand advantage, making it risky if you’re already behind in card resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation requires red mana. This mana specificity could restrict deck-building options, confining it primarily to red or red-inclusive multicolor decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may seem steep for its ability to give a creature haste, Akki Drillmaster competes with other cards that can provide greater value for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Akki Drillmaster is a dynamic addition to decks that desire a swift-paced playstyle. Its ability to give a creature haste can be crucial in aggressive red decks or those looking to capitalize on surprise tactics.

Combo Potential: With its ability to instantly speed up your creatures, the Akki Drillmaster can synergize with strategies that revolve around tapping and untapping creatures for value or combing off with cards that get better when you have a creature that can attack immediately.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tempo plays can outmaneuver slower control decks, the quickened pace that Akki Drillmaster facilitates is particularly potent. It can help you stay one step ahead of the current competitive scene.

How to Beat

The Akki Drillmaster is an intriguing creature card that can give your opponents an unexpected advantage in the heat of battle by enabling creatures to swiftly tap and become a potent offensive force. Focusing on its ability to give haste to another target creature, it’s vital to be aware of the threat this card presents on the battlefield.

Countering cards like Akki Drillmaster often involves prioritizing removal spells to deal with it promptly. Consider instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to dispose of it before its ability can be activated. Additionally, control decks that utilize counter spells can effectively prevent Akki Drillmaster from impacting the game by stopping it from hitting the battlefield altogether.

Understanding the role that speed plays in your opponent’s strategy is crucial; thus, enhancing your deck with ways to circumvent quick attacks can be incredibly beneficial. Utilizing creatures with flash to block or cards that negate abilities or tap creatures can help stabilize the game against a deck relying on Akki Drillmaster’s speed enhancement.

Cards like Akki Drillmaster

Akki Drillmaster is a unique fixture in the red deck landscape, carving a niche akin to other creature-based card advantages in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with Raging Goblin, as both provide haste, allowing for immediate engagement on the battlefield. However, Akki Drillmaster takes it a step further by enabling another creature with 2 or less power to attack with haste as well, synergizing well with low-power creature strategies.

Looking at other comparable cards, there’s Goblin Motivator, which also has a tap ability, granting haste to another creature. Yet, it doesn’t have the same potential to directly join the combat like the Akki Drillmaster does. Contrastingly, Fervent Champion caters to a strength-boosting mechanic for Knights, while offering haste itself, but it doesn’t affect other creatures directly with its ability.

To summarize, Akki Drillmaster offers a dual utility that sets it apart from other haste-enabling cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its combination of self-haste and supporting other creatures creates an opening for aggressive playstyles, making it a card that punches above its weight in the right deck, fostering dynamic and swift attacks in gameplay.

Cards similar to Akki Drillmaster by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akki Drillmaster MTG card by a specific set like Saviors 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 Akki Drillmaster and other MTG cards: