Kjeldoran Royal Guard MTG Card


Kjeldoran Royal Guard provides board control, deterring attacks and redirecting damage to preserve cards. The ability to act at instant speed offers flexible defense, crucial for maintaining control decks. Demands careful hand management due to its activation conditions and specific mana requirements.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 2
Toughness 5

Text of card

oc T: Redirect to Kjeldoran Royal Guard all damage dealt to you from unblocked creatures this turn.

"Honorable in battle, generous in death." —Motto of the Kjeldoran Royal Guard


Cards like Kjeldoran Royal Guard

Kjeldoran Royal Guard stands as a venerable defender in the realm of creature cards for Magic the Gathering players who prioritize fortification. It mirrors the defensive might of Palisade Giant, which intriguingly redirects any damage from other creatures or itself to the giant. However, unlike the broader protective nature of Palisade Giant, Kjeldoran Royal Guard requires a tap to selectively shield your creatures or planeswalkers for the turn, offering a more tactical edge in combat.

Guardian of the Gateless is another card that shares similarities with our watchful Royal Guard. They both excel in defending the board, where the Guardian can block any number of creatures and gains power and toughness for each creature it’s blocking. Comparatively, Kjeldoran Royal Guard’s tapping ability is more controlled, allowing players to dictate the flow of combat and safeguard key assets.

Examining the utility and defensive strategies, Kjeldoran Royal Guard fits snugly into decks focused on control and protection. While the guard may not have the blanket coverage of Palisade Giant or the aggressive blocking capabilities of Guardian of the Gateless, its strategic defensive command makes it a card worth considering for players looking to safeguard their victory.

Palisade Giant - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
Palisade Giant - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kjeldoran Royal Guard by color, type and mana cost

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Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kjeldoran Royal Guard shines in board control strategies. When it’s on the battlefield, it acts as a deterrent for opponents to attack, effectively preserving your card presence. It can also selectively redirect damage from key creatures or planeswalkers to itself, maintaining the balance of card advantage in your favor over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to resource acceleration, this card can help you keep more important mana-producing creatures or artifacts safe from harm, indirectly ensuring your resources remain available for future maneuvers or spell casting.

Instant Speed: The guard’s ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to react to threats as they arise during your opponent’s turn. This flexible defense mechanism is an excellent addition to decks that need to maintain a solid defensive stance while setting up their win conditions or waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kjeldoran Royal Guard obligates players to maintain a ready hand to activate its ability. This can strain your card advantage and put you in a tough spot if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a casting cost that demands both white mana and a total of five mana, the Kjeldoran Royal Guard can be restrictive in multicolor decks or those with a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With five mana for its defensive capability, it competes with other cards that could offer immediate board impact or greater versatility for the same or lower investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kjeldoran Royal Guard brings a unique dynamic to the table, able to both defend your life total by redirecting combat damage and act as a formidable blocker. This functionality allows it to seamlessly integrate into control and midrange decks that prioritize stability and board presence.

Combo Potential: This card has interesting synergies in formats where damage redirection can be used strategically with various abilities. It could be the keystone in a defensive combo, helping to protect vital combo pieces or important planeswalkers.

Meta-Relevance: Given its sturdy defensive capabilities, Kjeldoran Royal Guard can be a solid sideboard choice in environments where you expect to face aggressive creature-based strategies. Its relevance increases in metas dominated by such decks, providing a wall that can stymie an opponent’s offensive momentum.


How to beat

The Kjeldoran Royal Guard stands out as a notable defensive card in Magic: The Gathering, featuring the ability to redirect damage from you to itself. With formidable toughness, it serves as a formidable shield, absorbing the damage that would otherwise impact your health or other creatures. This ability creates a robust layer of protection, especially in a controlled board state where you can freely choose when to activate its damage redirection.

Overcoming this stalwart defender requires tactical adjustments. Removal spells that bypass its toughness, such as Murder or Doom Blade, directly dispose of the guard without triggering its defensive stance. Alternatively, employing exile effects, like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, not only removes the guard from the battlefield but also prevents recurrence from mechanics like reanimation. Lastly, utilizing countermagic when the card is cast can intercept the Royal Guard before it even has a chance to establish its protective role. Each approach whether pre-emptive strikes or direct removal, ensures the robust Kjeldoran Royal Guard doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.

In summary, while the Kjeldoran Royal Guard can seem daunting with its damage prevention ability, there are strategic spells and tactics that allow players to effectively remove or circumvent this guardian, maintaining the pace and flow of the game in their favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kjeldoran Royal Guard MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Kjeldoran Royal Guard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kjeldoran Royal Guard Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 381993NormalBlackAllen Williams
21997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 441997NormalWhiteAllen Williams
31999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 281997NormalWhiteAllen Williams
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 231997NormalWhiteCarl Critchlow
52001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 23★1997NormalBlackCarl Critchlow
62007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 252003NormalBlackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kjeldoran Royal Guard has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 If you activate the ability but Kjeldoran Royal Guard leaves the battlefield before combat damage is dealt, the combat damage from unblocked creatures won’t be redirected. It will be dealt to you as normal.