Table of Contents
- Khans of Tarkir (KTK) Limited Guides
- Abzan Falconer and Armament Corps
- Rush of Battle and Take Up Arms
- Timely Hordemate and Mardu Skullhunter
- Hooting Mandrills and Scout the Borders
- Secret Plans and Dragon’s Eye Savants
- Feat of Resistance and Ainok Bond-Kin
- Disowned Ancestor and Kin-Tree Invocation
- Ponyback Brigade and Trumpet Blast
- Mer-Ek Nightblade and Ainok Bond-Kin
- Duneblast and your opponent flipping the table
- Wrap Up
Hey everyone! I hope you’ve all been enjoying our return to Khans of Tarkir draft. It has certainly been an adventure with all of the old school shenanigans bouncing all over the place. We’re still a couple of days away from the Arena Open so I’m here to help you prepare by going over some of the combos and synergies to look out for.
Per usual, I’m sticking to mostly commons and uncommons for these because they are much more likely to come up.
Abzan Falconer and Armament Corps
I had a whole “I believe I can fly” reference here, but I saved my editor the trouble of having to take it out. Sometimes I’m too hot for Tarkir.
This works with any of the “each creature you control with a +1+1 counter” cards, but I prefer to be rocking an air force to fly on over for the victory. Sure, this combo requires two busted uncommons that you would be playing anyway, but they do so much more together.
Rush of Battle and Take Up Arms
Your opponent might have done the math for if they die to Rush of Battle the next turn, but it’s doubtful they considered what would happen if an additional nine power of lifelink was coming their way. Take Up Arms in their end step and rush right in to hear that sweet song of the victory trumpets.
Timely Hordemate and Mardu Skullhunter
After you have conveniently attacked to have raid online, you play your Timely Hordemate to return your Mardu Skullhunter to trigger the next raid to make them discard a card. Not a bad outcome for only four mana.
Hooting Mandrills and Scout the Borders
I’m assuming that you are playing multiple delve spells if you are running Scout the Borders. It conveniently gives you exactly enough fuel to play Hooting Mandrills for one mana after you grabbed it off of it. That might only add up to a 4/4 trample for four mana, but that’s still pretty good here considering all the other applications.
Secret Plans and Dragon’s Eye Savants
Arena doesn’t exactly keep it a secret when you have a morph that you can flip for free. At least in this case you get an extra card without having to invest any additional mana. This obviously works with any of the other reveal a card to unmorph creatures as well so plan ahead in the draft.
Feat of Resistance and Ainok Bond-Kin
One of the few problems with Feat of Resistance is that you can’t name colorless for morphs. Ainok Bond-Kin helps with that minor issue by giving your creature first strike to take something out while leaving your creature out on the battlefield to wreak more havoc.
Disowned Ancestor and Kin-Tree Invocation
A two mana 4/4 is even solid by todays standards and well above the curve in the format where most people are dropping 2/2s for three mana. Any of the large bottomed creatures play great with Kin-Tree Invocation, but being able to drop it on turn two with this one is why it really shines here.
Ponyback Brigade and Trumpet Blast
At least when you’re on Arena, no one knows that you’re singing Pony by Ginuwine every time you flip this. That could get a little weird in real life.
This might feel a bit too similar to the Rush of Battle and Take up Arms from earlier. What can I say, this set doesn’t have the most complex combos to it. Play a card that makes a bunch of dudes followed up by one that makes those critters go cray cray all over your opponent’s face.
Mer-Ek Nightblade and Ainok Bond-Kin
I’m sure you all know how much fun it is facing creatures with deathtouch and first strike. Well how about if all of your creatures with +1+1 counters had both of them as well. Sounds like a joyous occasion, at least for one side of the table.
Duneblast and your opponent flipping the table
Seriously this card was bad enough as it was, but it feels like you just committed a crime in best of one. It might not have the highest IWD or winrate, but it’s up there while providing the most feels bad moments in the format. Now they just need to add the table flip emote to the store.
Wrap Up
Thanks for reading! I’ll be back tomorrow with my Khans of Tarkir sealed guide to help you prep for the Arena Open. Until then, stay classy people!
I’m always open to feedback, let me know what you loved, what you hated, or just send dog pics. You can contact me at:
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