Koya, Death from Above

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Koya is a 3-mana WB legendary 2/1 flier that ETB-exiles a creature temporarily, with the option to make it permanent by paying {3}{B} at the next end step. The ETB exile is immediately useful as a tempo play or removal, but the conditional cost to keep the creature gone is mana-intensive and telegraphed. It fits control and blink/flicker shells where repeated ETB triggers can circumvent the "return it" clause. Ninja and bird typal shells can use it as a tribal piece, but its primary value is the interaction stapled to a flier.

• Koya's exile is temporary by default — if you can't afford {3}{B} at the next end step, the exiled creature returns. Blinking Koya before the end step resets the trigger clock and can keep the creature exiled indefinitely without ever paying the cost.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• The {3}{B} payment is optional at the next end step, meaning if you blink Koya repeatedly (e.g. with Conjurer's Closet), you can permanently deny the return trigger, effectively acting as unconditional exile without ever paying the extra cost.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• Koya is a Mutant Ninja Bird — relevant for TMNT-themed typal synergies in sets where Ninja lord effects or Bird lords (e.g. Kangee) are present, as it hits both creature types.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• EDHREC rank: #20,881