Akki Underling MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	93
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

Akki Underling’s card advantage can turn the tide of a match when you’re low on cards.
It promotes an aggressive playstyle but comes with a significant discard caveat.
Not just a creature, the Underling is a strategic choice for high-risk, high-reward decks.

Text of card

As long as you have seven or more cards in hand, Akki Underling gets +2/+1 and has first strike.

"I lost my hounds in the war and thus found myself employing akki as servants. I found their training to be remarkably similar." —Kensuke, houndmaster

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Akki Underling, MTG players gain an edge by potentially drawing additional cards when certain game conditions are met, thus maintaining the all-important card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This fiery goblin offers more than just an aggressive early game; its unique mechanics can provide resource acceleration, ensuring that you’re always a step ahead in the race for board dominance.

Instant Speed: Akki Underling shines in decks that value the flexibility of instant speed interactions. This allows players to respond quickly to opponents’ actions, keeping them on their toes and making Akki Underling a dynamic force within any match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Being forced to discard a card can be a significant drawback, especially when your hand is already sparse. The necessity to let go of potentially valuable resources can set you back, particularly if you’re in a position where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Akki Underling’s casting cost requires red mana, which means it is typically only suitable for mono-red or red-inclusive multicolored decks. This limitation can hinder deck diversity and reduce the card’s flexibility in various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that demands a specific board state or hand condition to optimize its performance, the mana cost can be somewhat steep. In a fast-paced game, there are alternative creatures or spells that could provide more immediate impact or value for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Akki Underling can be a dynamic addition to decks focused on aggression. As a red creature, it becomes more powerful when you have no cards in hand, making it a solid choice for strategies that rapidly deploy their hands onto the battlefield.

Combo Potential: The card’s power boost when empty-handed pairs well with discard mechanics or spells that lead to a low card count. It can seamlessly integrate into hellbent decks or synergize with cards like “Hazoret the Fervent” to maximize damage output.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by fast-paced games, the Akki Underling could shine in red aggro decks, delivering unexpected bursts of damage that can pressure opponents and tilt the scales in your favor.

How to beat

Akki Underling is a creature card that presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. As a card that benefits from having more cards in hand than your opponent, it intensifies the battle of resources. To effectively overpower an opponent’s Akki Underling, it’s strategic to maintain a balanced hand size while developing your board presence.

One tactic is to utilize removal spells efficiently, timing them to minimize the Underling’s potential power boost. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push are ideal answers, as they can be used when the Underling is not boosted by its hand-size condition. Moreover, focus on card advantages such as card draw spells and passive abilities that keep your hand filled, ensuring that the Underling’s power increase is rarely a factor.

Additionally, watch for cards that force your opponent to draw, inadvertently deactivating Akki Underling’s conditional ability. Through thoughtful play and keeping your hand stocked, your chances of mitigating the Underling’s threat and maintaining control of the game increase significantly.

Cards like Akki Underling

Akki Underling has a curious position in the realm of red creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It resembles cards like Ember Hauler due to its ability to deal damage, although its power dynamic shifts based on your hand size. Unlike Ember Hauler, Akki Underling can have double strike as long as you have no cards in hand. It’s a risk-reward style of play, encouraging an aggressive empty-hand strategy.

In the same family, Jackal Pup stands as another aggressive red creature. It has a swift impact for a low cost yet poses a risk to its controller’s life total whenever it takes damage. Here, Akki Underling may be less hazardous to its controller, with the bonus of potentially doubling its damage output. Rakdos Shred-Freak also echoes this aggressive nature, offering haste instead of conditional double strike. While Shred-Freak can be quicker on the attack, Underling’s potential power spike can outpace it in the right conditions.

Assessing the characteristics and tactical advantages, Akki Underling adds a unique angle to aggressive red strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Players willing to gamble on an empty hand might find Akki Underling the ace that tips the scales in their favor.

Rakdos Shred-Freak - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

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

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)

Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)

Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)

Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akki Underling 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 Underling and other MTG cards: