Infernal Kirin MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Kirin Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2005-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Saviors of Kamigawa |
| Set code | SOK |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 72 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Carl Critchlow |
Key Takeaways
- Infernal Kirin excels in controlling opponents by forcing discards with spirit or arcane spells.
- It’s a strategic challenge due to its restrictive mana cost and discard effect upon casting.
- Despite high cost, its disruptive nature makes it a valuable asset in targeted metas.
Text of card
Flying Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, target player reveals his or her hand and discards all cards with that spell's converted mana cost.
The kirin bellowed—an echoing, twisted parody of its once-inspirational call.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Infernal Kirin’s unique ability to force opponents to discard whenever you play a spirit or arcane spell not only disrupts their game plan but also subtly nudges the scales of card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerator, Infernal Kirin’s ability to thin out the opponent’s hand can clear the way for your own plays, effectively giving you a leg up in the race to deploy your threats and answers unimpeded.
Instant Speed: Although this card itself does not have instant speed, it complements decks that utilize instant speed spells and flash creatures. By applying continuous discard pressure, Infernal Kirin encourages opponents to play out their hands, potentially making them more susceptible to your instant speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Infernal Kirin requires a strategic hand management, as casting it forces you to discard a card. This mechanic can put you at a disadvantage, particularly if your hand contains key pieces you’re not willing to forfeit.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a dedicated color commitment with its specific mana cost that includes black. Players not running a deck with sufficient black mana sources might find it challenging to cast the Infernal Kirin on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires three specific mana, Infernal Kirin comes at a comparative high mana investment. In an environment where efficiency is paramount, there may be alternatives that provide a more impactful board presence or game effect for the same or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Infernal Kirin is a unique and adaptable card that can be incorporated into various deck archetypes. Its ability to disrupt opponents by forcing them to discard upon casting a spirit or arcane spell makes it an asset in control and disruption-oriented decks.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, this creature can shine in combo strategies. By pairing it with cards that allow you to cast multiple spirits or arcane spells in a single turn, you can rapidly deplete your opponent’s hand, setting them back significantly on resources.
Meta-Relevance: Should the current competitive scene be populated with decks that rely heavily on hand size for control or combo execution, having Infernal Kirin in your arsenal can be a significant advantage. Its hand-attack capability is relevant against many prevailing strategies, potentially suppressing opponents’ plans before they can unfold.
How to beat
Infernal Kirin is a unique card within the MTG universe that can pose quite a challenge with its ability to force a player to discard their hand when it enters the battlefield. To counter this formidable creature, consider adding cards in your deck that provide graveyard retrieval or have spells that cast from the graveyard. This way, you transform a potential weakness into a tactical advantage.
Moreover, running instant-speed removal or counterspells in your deck can disrupt Infernal Kirin’s devastating entry effect. Having a flexible strategy to either counter it before it hits the field or swiftly remove it soon after can mitigate the card’s impact. Equally important is to time your card draws or play with a lighter hand, keeping only the essential spells that will help you stabilize your board state against such threats.
Lastly, consider including hexproof or shroud effects for your permanents to shield them from the Kirin’s looming discard trigger. By understanding and preparing for the disruption Infernal Kirin brings to the game, you can turn the tables and maintain control over the match, ensuring the spirit creature becomes more of a nuisance than a definitive threat to your victory.
Cards like Infernal Kirin
Infernal Kirin stands out in the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, offering unique gameplay that parallels other cards, yet retains its individuality. It shares some resemblance with cards like Spirit of the Labyrinth, which also limits card draw. Infernal Kirin imposes a tough condition on opponents as it converts their noncreature card draws into discarded cards instead, mirroring Spirit of the Labyrinth’s card draw restriction but with added disruption.
A closer look reveals parallels to Harsh Mentor, which likewise imposes penalties for activated abilities, albeit in a different manner. Harsh Mentor focuses on inflicting pain for actions taken, while Infernal Kirin’s ability to impact the opponent’s hand creates strategic complexities. Another card, Eidolon of Rhetoric, echoes a hassle for both players by allowing only one spell a turn; however, Infernal Kirin directly targets the opponent’s hand, molding the game subtlety.
In essence, Infernal Kirin carves a niche within the MTG ecosystem, standing tall as a multifaceted card that not only hampers opponents through card discard but also offers strategic depth in deck construction and gameplay, distinguishing itself from similar cards with its personalized approach to disruption.
Cards similar to Infernal Kirin by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Infernal Kirin 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 Infernal Kirin and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Infernal Kirin 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 Infernal Kirin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-06-01 | If the Spirit or Arcane spell has in the mana cost, then you use the value of on the stack. For example, Shining Shoal costs . If you choose X = 2, then Shining Shoal’s converted mana cost is 4. Shining Shoal also has an ability that says “You may exile a white card with converted mana cost X from your hand rather than pay Shining Shoal’s mana cost”; if you choose to pay the alternative cost and exile a card with converted mana cost 2, then X is 2 while Shining Shoal is on the stack and its converted mana cost is 4. |
