Ornate Kanzashi MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2005-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Betrayers of Kamigawa |
| Set code | BOK |
| Number | 157 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Heather Hudson |
Key Takeaways
- Ornate Kanzashi provides strategic advantage by disrupting opponents’ plans and enhancing your card options.
- Activating at instant speed, it offers flexibility, responding smartly to the changing state of the game.
- However, its discard requirement and specific mana cost can pose deck-building and play constraints.
Text of card
, : Target opponent removes the top card of his or her library from the game. You may play that card this turn.
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Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ornate Kanzashi provides a tactical edge by enabling access to your opponent’s top deck card, which, when used wisely, can disrupt their strategy while bolstering your own hand.
Resource Acceleration: The mana invested into activating Ornate Kanzashi can be returned in the form of high-impact spells from the opponent’s library, potentially speeding up your game progression by utilizing their resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Ornate Kanzashi at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing you to adapt to the board state and make decisions based on the ever-changing dynamics of the match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ornate Kanzashi necessitates a discard from your hand to activate its ability, posing a potential hurdle when your hand size is dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement for one generic and one blue mana, it may not seamlessly integrate into multicolored decks that are tight on mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of five mana to cast, Ornate Kanzashi sits at a higher curve, which could slow down strategies within fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ornate Kanzashi offers a unique opportunity to use cards from your opponent’s library, allowing for dynamic playstyles and adaptation to various situations on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: As an artifact with the ability to play other player’s cards, Ornate Kanzashi can be included in combos that capitalize on cast triggers or artifact synergies, expanding your strategic options.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the evolving competitive landscape, having access to a diverse pool of options can be crucial. Ornate Kanzashi can be a silver bullet in matches where accessing your opponent’s resources can turn the tide.
How to beat
Ornate Kanzashi offers a unique twist in Magic: The Gathering gameplay, allowing players to exile the top card of an opponent’s library and play that card. This can disrupt opponents’ strategies and provide additional options for the Kanzashi controller. To effectively counter this artifact, strategic plays are paramount. Utilizing direct artifact removal spells such as Nature’s Claim or Abrade can swiftly mitigate the Kanzashi threat. It’s also advisable to leverage instant-speed interaction to remove the Kanzashi before its ability can be activated, thus preserving the integrity of your library and your game plan.
Another tactic is to employ graveyard synergy cards, like Scavenging Ooze, to lessen the impact of any exiled cards being utilized against you. Additionally, incorporating hand disruption abilities can apply pressure on your opponent, potentially forcing them to discard their Kanzashi before it comes into play. By planning ahead and maintaining control over the field and your opponent’s hand, it becomes possible to neutralize Ornate Kanzashi’s potentially game-altering advantage.
Successfully countering Ornate Kanzashi hinges on these proactive measures. Stay vigilant, deploy your responses effectively, and retain control over the game to prevent this artifact from turning the tides against you.
Cards like Ornate Kanzashi
Ornate Kanzashi emerges as a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering, bearing a resemblance to artifacts that manipulate players’ libraries. For example, it is akin to Coercive Portal, as both allow players to interact indirectly with their opponent’s deck. Coercive Portal provides card advantage through drawing, while Ornate Kanzashi offers a different angle of attack by allowing you to play cards from your opponent’s library, injecting unpredictability into the game.
Likewise, we can draw parallels with Grinning Totem. This artifact also permits players to use cards from an opponent’s library, albeit with a temporary theft rather than an immediate play. However, Ornate Kanzashi stands out by providing repeatable access, which can potentially disorient your opponent’s strategy. Compared to Mind’s Dilation, another library-focused card, Kanzashi offers a more controlled approach instead of its counterpart’s random reveal and play methodology, inviting a more strategic mindset.
Overall, Ornate Kanzashi finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a strategic tool for tapping into an opponent’s resources, setting itself apart from other library-tampering artifacts with its unique capabilities, constant threat factor, and tactical depth it adds to each match.
Cards similar to Ornate Kanzashi by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ornate Kanzashi 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 Ornate Kanzashi 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ornate Kanzashi 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 Ornate Kanzashi card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-02-01 | Cards exiled by Ornate Kanzashi’s ability are exiled face up. |
| 2005-02-01 | Cards exiled by Ornate Kanzashi’s ability stay exiled even if the Kanzashi leaves the battlefield. |
| 2005-02-01 | Normal restrictions apply to cards exiled by Ornate Kanzashi (you can’t cast an instant unless you have priority, etc.). |
| 2005-02-01 | You can’t play cards you exiled with Ornate Kanzashi on previous turns. |
| 2005-02-01 | You must pay all costs to play cards exiled by Ornate Kanzashi. |
