Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo MTG Card


Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Fox Samurai
Abilities Bushido,Defender
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Power 1
Toughness 4
Number17
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Opal-Eye is a potent defender, capable of redirecting damage and preserving other creatures on your battlefield.
  2. Not traditional in resource acceleration, but saving key creatures can indirectly bolster your resource management.
  3. Flexible in use akin to instant cards, providing strategic advantage by responding to threats at any time.

Text of card

Bushido 1; defender (This creature can't attack.) : The next time a source of your choice would deal damage this turn, that damage is dealt to Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo instead. : Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Opal-Eye this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo provides unique defensive capabilities, effectively redirecting damage from you or creatures you control to itself. Through this, the card helps maintain your board presence, indirectly contributing to your card advantage over the course of the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card isn’t typically known for resource acceleration in the traditional sense of adding mana or ramping. However, its ability to protect key creatures can save resources you’d otherwise spend on replacing valuable creatures, indirectly contributing to your resource management.

Instant Speed: While Opal-Eye itself is not an instant, it acts at instant speed in its protective function. The ability to redirect damage whenever necessary gives players the flexibility to respond to threats during any phase of the game, similar to the way an instant would operate.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo demands a specific color alignment with a mana cost that requires white mana. This requirement can pose deck building restrictions, especially in multicolor decks that might struggle with mana consistency.

Discard Requirement: While Opal-Eye itself does not have a discard requirement, its defensive capabilities often necessitate maintaining a full hand to maximize its potential. Players may find themselves having to discard beneficial cards to keep Opal-Eye as an effective defender.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature whose primary role is defense, Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo’s mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other defenders in MTG. There are less expensive options that may serve a similar purpose without consuming as much of your mana resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo offers a unique defensive strategy for a variety of decks. Its ability to redirect damage to itself from creatures you control can safeguard your valuable assets in the heat of battle.

Combo Potential: This card’s damage redirection ability opens up interesting synergies with cards that benefit from being targeted, such as those with “enrage” or similar triggers. Additionally, it can help you maintain a formidable defense while setting up your winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where direct damage and aggressive creatures are prevalent, having Opal-Eye as part of your collection means you’re equipped with an effective countermeasure, potentially disrupting your opponent’s tempo and giving you an edge.


How to beat

Understanding how to effectively deal with Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo on the battlefield is crucial for players aiming to maintain control of the game. The card stands out with its ability to redirect damage from your creatures to itself, which can be a thorny obstacle to overcome. To navigate this challenge, strategies involving removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes or global effects, can be effective. Cards like Supreme Verdict or Toxic Deluge bypass Opal-Eye’s redirection ability and can clear the path for your attacks.

Additionally, employing abilities that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures can also be useful since these do not count as damage and therefore cannot be redirected by Opal-Eye. Edict effects from cards like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can be particularly effective in dealing with the Yojimbo. Moreover, you can consider taking advantage of the fact that Opal-Eye can only protect creatures from damage. Thus, effects that lower toughness or place negative counters bypass the damage redirection entirely, neutralizing Opal-Eye’s utility without having to remove it directly.

Ultimately, the best tactic against Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo is evolving your gameplay beyond direct damage strategies and employing more nuanced removal tactics to dismantle your opponent’s defenses and claim victory.


Cards like Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo

Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo brings a unique dynamic to the realm of defender creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Geared towards protection, this card resonates with the likes of Mother of Runes, which also offers a safeguard for your creatures. However, Opal-Eye necessitates a mana payment to redirect damage, setting a fundamental difference in resource management. Mother of Runes provides a cost-free alternative but is limited to protecting from color-based damage only.

Examining further, we have the vigilant bodyguard Benevolent Bodyguard. This card similarly grants creature protection, but it does so at the ultimate cost of its own presence on the battlefield. Whereas Opal-Eye sustains its guard stance and can repeatedly shield allies. Wall of Glare, another protector in the mix, allows you to block multiple attackers, a capacity that Opal-Eye doesn’t share, yet falls short without the ability to control damage redirection.

Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo stands strong among guardians in the game. It’s the blend of constancy in defense and versatility in protecting multiple targets that brands Opal-Eye a noteworthy choice for defensive strategy decks, offering robust control and sustainability in the battlefield.

Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Wall of Glare - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Benevolent Bodyguard - Judgment (JUD)
Wall of Glare - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Cards similar to Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers 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 Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks