Kinzu of the Bleak Coven MTG Card


Kinzu provides constant card advantage, crucial for maintaining hand resources and battlefield presence. Its synergy with sacrifice strategies accelerates resources, boosting your game pace significantly. Kinzu encourages decks with instant-speed interactions, maximizing value across all game phases.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Vampire
Abilities Flying
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, you may pay 2 life and exile it. If you do, create a token that's a copy of that creature, except it's 1/1 and has toxic 1.


Cards like Kinzu of the Bleak Coven

Exploring the depths of synergy and tactical advantages in Magic: The Gathering can lead us to Kinzu of the Bleak Coven. This card encompasses a unique blend of creature abilities that can be quite impactful on the game board. Kinzu shares design space with creatures like Ayara, First of Locthwain, who also possesses an ability tied to sacrificing creatures, though Ayara leans more on draining life from opponents while rewarding you every time a black creature enters the battlefield under your control.

Another card that resonates with Kinzu’s effect is Priest of Forgotten Gods. It also offers a way to sacrifice creatures for a beneficial exchange, but in this case, the reward is adding mana and drawing a card, while opponents are forced to sacrifice creatures and lose life. The dynamic of sacrificing doesn’t reach the additional reanimation aspect that Kinzu provides. Lastly, Whisper, Blood Liturgist may come to mind. This card also allows for sacrificing creatures, but it strictly focuses on the reanimation of creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield.

While comparisons can be drawn, Kinzu of the Bleak Coven stands out through its ability to weave together creature control, life point strategies, and graveyard manipulation. It certainly holds its own as a powerful option for players building around sacrifice and recursion themes.

Ayara, First of Locthwain - MTG Card versions
Priest of Forgotten Gods - MTG Card versions
Whisper, Blood Liturgist - MTG Card versions
Ayara, First of Locthwain - MTG Card versions
Priest of Forgotten Gods - MTG Card versions
Whisper, Blood Liturgist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kinzu of the Bleak Coven by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
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Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Coffin Puppets - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unlike many commanders, Kinzu of the Bleak Coven offers consistent card advantage. Kinzu’s ability to draw a card when an opponent sacrifices a creature ensures that your hand remains full, keeping you in a position to respond to the evolving battlefield or continue applying pressure.

Resource Acceleration: Kinzu’s inherent synergy with sacrifice strategies could lead to significant resource acceleration. Since it fits seamlessly into decks that generate and take advantage of sacrificing creatures, this can result in an influx of resources, whether they are tokens, mana, or other exploitable game mechanics which propels you ahead of your opponents.

Instant Speed: Although Kinzu itself is not played at instant speed, it encourages the inclusion of instant-speed interaction in your deck. Building around the theme of sacrificing creatures often involves running instants that force opponents to sacrifice creatures on their turn, maximizing the value you get from Kinzu’s ability, making it an impactful card during all phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Kinzu of the Bleak Coven means adhering to an additional cost which mandates discarding another card from your hand. In the ebbs and flows of the game, removing precious cards can leave players at a disadvantage, especially if the hand size is dwindling or if the discarded cards are vital for future strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Kinzu demands a very particular set of mana colors to cast—two black and two colorless. For players who run a multicolored deck, fitting Kinzu into the mana curve can be challenging. The necessity for black mana can constrain deck-building options, potentially impacting the fluidity of gameplay for those who do not consistently have access to these mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost equal to four mana, Kinzu competes with a variety of other cards in the same mana bracket. For what it brings to the table, the question remains if the impact justifies the investment. Some players might find other cards that offer similar or more powerful effects for the same, or even less, mana investment, which could relegate Kinzu to a backup option rather than a centerpiece in a deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kinzu of the Bleak Coven offers a flexible role in various deck builds, acting as a key player in strategies emphasizing both graveyard utilization and creature control. Its ability to manipulate the board state and enable graveyard synergies makes it a valuable asset across multiple formats.

Combo Potential: Kinzu’s unique skill set can be the linchpin in combo decks, with the potential to create devastating chains of plays when paired with cards that capitalize on death triggers or resurrection mechanics, deepening the strategic complexity of your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given its powerful interaction with the graveyard, Kinzu of the Bleak Coven could have a substantial impact in a meta-game that is heavily reliant on graveyard strategies or demands consistent board presence to combat opposing threats.


How to beat

Kinzu of the Bleak Coven has been making rounds as a card that can cause quite the disruption in Magic: The Gathering matches. Utilizing a clever mix of creature removal, counter spells, or even enchantments that restrict activated abilities, can turn the tide against this formidable opponent. As with any powerful creature card, timing is everything. Having instant-speed removal can be crucial, allowing you to respond effectively to the threat before it’s able to use its abilities or engage in combat. In addition, don’t underestimate the power of board wipes to reset the playing field. Strategic use of these methods can nullify the advantages brought by Kinzu of the Bleak Coven, forcing your opponent to reassess their strategy.

An often overlooked strategy is attacking the player’s mana base. Depriving them of the necessary resources to cast Kinzu of the Bleak Coven means the card might never even hit the battlefield. Cards that cause players to sacrifice creatures can also work wonders by bypassing the usual protections Kinzu might have. By carefully considering your options and maintaining control over the game, Kinzu’s influence can be mitigated, allowing you to claim victory over your opponent and their coven.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kinzu of the Bleak Coven MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Kinzu of the Bleak Coven and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kinzu of the Bleak Coven Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Andreas Zafiratos.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 4112015NormalBlackAndreas Zafiratos
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 4062015NormalBlackAndreas Zafiratos

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kinzu of the Bleak Coven has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kinzu of the Bleak Coven card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-02-04 A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life.
2023-02-04 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any "as
-his creature] enters the battlefield" or "
-his creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the creature will also work.
2023-02-04 Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply.
2023-02-04 Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way.
2023-02-04 Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged.
2023-02-04 Except for the listed exceptions, the token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature was tapped or untapped, whether it had any counters on it or Auras or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that had changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.
2023-02-04 If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters.
2023-02-04 If something becomes a copy of the token, the copy also has base power and toughness 1/1 and has toxic 1.
2023-02-04 If the copied creature had in its mana cost, X is 0.
2023-02-04 If the copied creature was copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that creature copied, with the exceptions noted above.
2023-02-04 If the token is a copy of a creature whose power and toughness are defined by an ability (usually printed as */* or similar), the token doesn't copy the ability that defines its power and toughness. It remains a 1/1 creature.
2023-02-04 Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters.
2023-02-04 The token copies the creature as it last existed on the battlefield before it died, not as it existed in the graveyard before it was exiled.
2023-02-04 Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter.