Alpha Guard MTG Card
Text of card
When Alpha Guard enters the battlefield, choose a letter. : Untap another target permanent whose name starts with the chosen letter.
"Whimsy overflow in sector G! The gremlins are rampaging and the beebles are on fire!"
Cards like Alpha Guard
The Alpha Guard card stands as a formidable option for players looking to bolster their defense within the realm of MTG. It shares space with other notable defenders such as the Wall of Omens, which offers an immediate card draw upon entering the battlefield. While Wall of Omens may lack the offensive capabilities, its lesser casting cost can appeal to those seeking early game board presence.
Another parallel can be drawn to the Guard Gomazoa, with its prevention of combat damage making it a defensive stalwart. Although Guard Gomazoa doesn’t have the Alpha Guard’s potential for attack, it provides an interesting tactical advantage in controlling the flow of battle. On the higher end of the mana spectrum, Palisade Giant offers a unique shield by absorbing all damage that would be dealt to other creatures you control, echoing the protective nature of Alpha Guard but on a larger scale.
When evaluating the defensive strategies within MTG, Alpha Guard finds its niche by offering a balanced mix of offensive and defensive capabilities, making it a versatile choice for players crafting decks with a solid line of defense that can transition into a threatening offense when the opportunity arises.
Cards similar to Alpha Guard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Embracing the potential to sift through your deck, Alpha Guard grants you the opportunity to access pivotal cards when you need them. Whether through drawing cards or selective graveyard interaction, this card ensures you’re consistently steps ahead of your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Alpha Guard shines in its ability to boost your mana resources. By providing additional mana, it enables you to deploy threats earlier or outpace your adversary in spellcasting – an immense advantage in the rhythm of the game.
Instant Speed: The flexibility conferred by instant speed cannot be overstated. Alpha Guard can respond to evolving game states or disrupt your opponent’s strategies, all without sacrificing the tempo essential for victory. This adaptive pace is a testament to the card’s tactical depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Alpha Guard card demands a card be discarded from your hand in order to unleash its full potential. During gameplay, this requirement can put you in a tight spot, especially if your hand is already running thin on valuable cards, making it a double-edged sword in your deck strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Alpha Guard has a defined mana requirement that needs to be met for it to be played. This specific mana cost can be a limiting factor, restricting its integration to decks that can readily provide the necessary mana types, potentially reducing its versatility across different deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When placed side by side with other options in the game, Alpha Guard comes with a high mana cost. This steep price point for its effects may deter players, as there could be more cost-efficient choices available that provide similar or even superior benefits without being as taxing on your mana resources.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Alpha Guard exhibits a high degree of versatility as it can easily slide into numerous deck archetypes, lending itself both to aggressive builds that need early protection as well as control decks aiming for late-game stability.
Combo Potential: With its unique abilities, Alpha Guard synergizes with strategies that capitalize on creature-based combos or those that enhance soldier or guard sub-themes, making it a smart choice for decks seeking to harness the power of unit cohesion.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its adaptability and strength in creature-focused strategies, Alpha Guard maintains relevance in various metagames, particularly in those where resilient board-presence is key to overcoming opponents.
How to Beat
The Alpha Guard card stands as a formidable obstacle in the landscape of MTG. This steadfast creature poses a challenge with its blend of robust defense and potential for strong offense. To navigate successfully past this guardian, consider deploying removal spells that can bypass its protections. Spells like Path to Exile or Murder can be effective, offering direct and immediate solutions. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field of Alpha Guard along with other creatures, resetting the board to your advantage.
Control strategies work well too. Counter spells that prevent Alpha Guard from entering the battlefield can save you from having to deal with this threat altogether. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak can be invaluable in this regard. Alternatively, using enchantments like Pacifism or policies of attrition where resources are gradually depleted can reduce Alpha Guard’s impact on the match. This allows a player to stifle its potential and keep the game within their grasp. Each of these methods requires careful timing and resource management to execute, yet they offer reliable pathways to overcome the imposing presence of Alpha Guard.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Alpha Guard MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, 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 Alpha Guard and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Alpha Guard Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Caroline Gariba.
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Alpha Guard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-07 | Because Alpha Guard appears only in Un- games, you may run into situations where cards that would normally have the same name—for example, an English-language Forest and a German-language Forest—now have different names. In Un- games, the name printed on the card is that card’s name (unless modified by stickers or other effects). Thus, if you were to choose F for Alpha Guard, you would be able to untap a Forest, but you would not be able to untap a Wald, Forest’s German equivalent. |
| 2022-10-07 | When determining what a name starts with, ignore all spaces and punctuation, including blank lines. |