Guardian Project MTG Card


Guardian Project excels in decks embracing creature diversity, providing a steady draw mechanism. While beneficial, its four mana cost presents a hurdle in fast-paced or tight-curve strategies. It finds synergy with flash creatures and non-token summoning to optimize card gains.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Whenever a nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control, if it doesn't have the same name as another creature you control or a creature card in your graveyard, draw a card.

Simic's strength comes from its diversity.


Cards like Guardian Project

The Guardian Project is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, enhancing creature decks with its reliable card draw mechanic. Comparable cards include Beast Whisperer, which provides a similar effect, doling out cards for every creature cast. Yet, Beast Whisperer’s creature type allows it to be more easily removed from the board, unlike the sturdier enchantment that is Guardian Project.

Pursuing further comparisons, we encounter The Great Henge, which stands out with an array of benefits including life gain, mana acceleration, and creature boosting alongside the card draw. However, its higher mana cost makes it less accessible in the early game in contrast to the consistent four-mana investment of Guardian Project. Elemental Bond offers a similar trigger-based draw strategy at a lesser cost, but it is limited by the condition that creatures must have power 3 or greater to activate the draw.

In evaluating the unique mechanics of such enchantments in your MTG deck, the Guardian Project shines with its unconditional draw with potent synergy across a wide array of creature-based strategies, positioning itself as a staple in decks that favor constant creature play.

Beast Whisperer - MTG Card versions
The Great Henge - MTG Card versions
Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions
Beast Whisperer - MTG Card versions
The Great Henge - MTG Card versions
Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Guardian Project by color, type and mana cost

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Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions
Living Lands - MTG Card versions
Titania's Song - MTG Card versions
Arboria - MTG Card versions
Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Greater Good - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Guardian Project. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya ComboSelesnya Combo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 12 2024
Gruul MidrangeGruul Midrange GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Mono-Green RampMono-Green Ramp GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When playing the Guardian Project, its ability grants you the potential to draw an additional card whenever a nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control if it doesn’t share a name with another creature you control. This consistent source of card draw is pivotal for decks that rely on a diversity of creatures to outpace opponents.

Resource Acceleration: With each unique creature you play, Guardian Project fuels your hand, indirectly accelerating your resources. As your hand fills with options, you can deploy more threats, answers, or support cards seamlessly, keeping the pressure on your adversaries.

Instant Speed: While Guardian Project itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes exceptionally well with creatures you can cast at instant speed. Dramatically enhancing the value of flash creatures, it allows you to potentially draw cards on each player’s turn, making it a formidable engine in decks designed to operate on both your own and your opponent’s turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Guardian Project in your deck building is the absence of a discard mechanic, which can be an issue if you’re facing a strategy that forces discarding. Without any benefits or synergies focused on discarding, you won’t maximize value in discard-heavy metas.

Specific Mana Cost: Guardian Project requires a precise mana combination to cast—green and three other mana of any color. This requirement can be a stumbling block in decks that struggle with mana diversity or in those that operate on a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of four mana, Guardian Project comes with a fairly high cost for setting up future advantages. This can be a turn-off when other cards could offer more immediate board presence or when the game state demands a lower curve to combat an opponent’s aggression.


Reasons to Include Guardian Project in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardian Project offers continuous card draw, making it a valuable addition to any deck that thrives on maintaining a full hand. Its ability to draw a card every time a nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control ensures that it can be useful in a variety of creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can work seamlessly with cards that bounce creatures back to your hand or with effects that clone creatures, potentially turning every creature play into an opportunity to draw more resources.

Meta-Relevance: As games tend to be creature-heavy, Guardian Project can give you the upper hand by providing a consistent draw engine that keeps you ahead in resource accumulation, which is crucial in the ever-evolving MTG meta.


How to beat

Guardian Project is a unique enchantment that can give massive card advantage to players utilizing creatures with different names. When up against this card, consider strategies that can impair your opponent’s capability to exploit its benefits. An effective tactic involoves hindering their ability to play creatures. Cards that counter creature spells, such as Essence Scatter, become very valuable in this scenario. Another approach is using enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize to directly remove Guardian Project from the battlefield.

Adding sweepers or board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also reset the board, thus limiting the advantage Guardian Project could provide over extended plays. Moreover, if the enchantment has already provided value, cards that can shuffle it back into the library, such as Commit // Memory, can mitigate its impact. Always be prepared with a game plan for enchantment-heavy decks to ensure that cards like Guardian Project don’t run unchecked.

Consistent vigilance in controlling the board state can prevent your opponent from capitalizing on the card draw engine that Guardian Project offers, keeping the game in your favor and disrupting their strategy.


BurnMana Recommendations

The enchantment Guardian Project is a beacon for deck innovation and seamless strategy execution. It signals a clear advantage to those who embrace variety within their creature base. As you navigate MTG’s complex universe, this card exemplifies the subtle art of anticipation and resource management. To maximize its potential, think of incorporating a mix of creatures, especially those with flash, to draw consistently. Always consider your mana curve and the possibility of opposing discard strategies when integrating this enchantment. For players eager to deepen their understanding and exploit the full power of Guardian Project, join our community and discover essential tips and tricks that can turn the tide of any duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guardian Project MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance Promos and Ravnica Allegiance Promos, 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 Guardian Project and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Guardian Project Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 130p2015NormalBlackChris Rallis
22019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 130s2015NormalBlackChris Rallis
32019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1302015NormalBlackChris Rallis
42020-09-26The ListPLST RNA-1302015NormalBlackChris Rallis
52023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 292015NormalBlackChris Rallis
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4332015NormalBorderlessInuchiyo Meimaru
72024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1462015NormalBlackChris Rallis
82024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3491997NormalBlackChris Rallis
92024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 349z2015NormalBlackChris Rallis
102024-03-08FalloutPIP 4692015NormalBlackMirko Failoni
112024-03-08FalloutPIP 9972015NormalBlackMirko Failoni
122024-03-08FalloutPIP 7272015NormalBlackMirko Failoni
132024-03-08FalloutPIP 1992015NormalBlackMirko Failoni

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian Project has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-01-25 A face-down creature has no name, so it can’t share a name with anything. This includes other creatures with no name.
2019-01-25 If the entering creature is put into your graveyard while Guardian Project’s ability is on the stack, that same card will be a creature card in your graveyard that shares a name with the creature that was on the battlefield, so you won’t draw a card.
2019-01-25 If the entering creature leaves the battlefield and returns while Guardian Project’s ability is on the stack, that same card will be a new creature you control that shares a name with the creature that was on the battlefield, so you won’t draw a card. However, Guardian Project’s ability may trigger for the new creature and you may draw a card as that ability resolves.
2019-01-25 Whether the entering creature shares a name with a creature you control or a creature card in your graveyard is checked both as that creature enters and as Guardian Project’s ability resolves. If the entering creature isn’t the first of its name as it enters, the ability doesn’t trigger at all; if its name is shared as the ability resolves, you don’t draw a card.