K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth #11 – Top 12 MTG Cards of 2019

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

This card was #4 on my top 12 list.

I ranked K’rrik very high because of his potential to change the way decks play in Commander and Legacy. Any time he comes into play, you’ll be bracing for a flurry of tutors and possibly the game ending on the spot. He hasn’t yet made an enormous splash in competitive formats because his ability to make spells free is still slightly restrictive – it’s best in mono-black, though there may be a certain value in removing all the black mana from a two-colored spell, if it’s the right situation. He’s even more dangerous in Commander circles, particularly more competitive ones, because if he’s removed with anything other than a Pacifism effect, his controller will just try again in a turn or two. Not to mention that when he’s a general, his controller also starts on 40 life.

I also ranked him highly for his role in Magic’s history, as a Phyrexian sleeper agent who nearly brought down Urza’s Tolarian Academy and took advantage of the time anomalies to build a nearly unstoppable army out of the contents of wastebaskets and the like. Judging by that and by his game text, it’s possible that Urza was still underestimating Phyrexia, even with all his preparations!

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 5/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
EDH/Commander: 5/5

This card was not on my top 12 list, but I did have it on my long list for potential top 12 inclusions.

K’rrik might have been the most-hyped Commander 2019 inclusion, thanks to his powerful ability giving you the ability to burn through life to cast black spells (and activate black abilities). In a color that normally has no issues with turning its life into a resource to expend (and also has draining effects), K’rrik is a creature that can snowball a board state out of control (and can even recoup some of that life, thanks to a growing body and lifelink). Phyrexian mana is a very dangerous mechanic, and it got to where K’rrik had some hype in Legacy around his prospects.

I don’t know that he’s fully lived up to his hype, but K’rrik is still pretty good in a deck built to take advantage of his unique ability! He’s definitely a threat in Commander (given decks being able to explode into big turns), and he’s a fringe presence in Legacy, though he presents a clear and immediate danger when he comes out (and also has no protection for himself).

Constructed: 3
Casual: 4.5
Multiplayer: 3.75
Commander: 4.5

Phat
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Hello Everyone and welcome back to Pojo’s Card of the Day!

We’re looking at the top cards that came out in 2019 and today we’re looking at one of the forgotten sons of old Magic Lore. Kerrick as he was known by his rescuer and lover, Jhoira, or as he came to be known after his completion in the time bubble after the destruction of the Tolarian Academy, K’rrik. His title as ‘Son of Yawgmoth’ is sort of a misnomer because all of the Phyrexians are the children of Yawgmoth.

But enough of my Vorthos excitement about this card being finally printed (would also love to see Ratepe!) Let’s look at what makes K’rrik worthy of the top 12 of 2019.

Immediately his mana cost is what you’re looking at. 4BBB for a 2/2 is not so spicy in Commander where mana rocks flow like wine and life is abundant. However you can drop this buddy as early as turn 1 with a couple rocks and a small payment of 6 life and his true strength is that he infects your entire deck with Phyresis, turning all your B pips in spells into Phyrexian Mana!

On top of that he gets a +1/+1 counter whenever you cast a black spell, and he has lifelink.

There is only one problem with this card, and much to the flavor of like when he was building his Phyrexian Machinations in the time bubble in a canyon to the east of the rebuilt Tolarian Academy, it’s that he brings a lot of attention to himself. Playing him out, and even having him in your command zone puts a target on your head because of how crazy this guy can get when he storms off and the Mono Black Commander decks are in no shortage of crazy plans when they have access to ‘free’ mana!

Constructed: 1/5 – Maybe a combo deck in legacy but with life totals much softer and removal more abundant you’re not going to be able to really goldfish with this guy.

Multiplayer: 1/5 – Similar issue as constructed, but this guy isn’t designed for multiplayer play given the spike-y nature of his abilities.

Limited: 1/5 – Chances are you aren’t opening him up in a booster pack anyways!

Cube: 1/5 – This guy is a super huge build-around that is going to rely on him being played before the rest of your deck can function, and that’s if you can even get him Pack 1 Pick 1!

Commander: 4/5 – This is what he’s made for! But again, you’re using those Phyrexian Pips to print a target on your face so be careful!

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