Manticore of the Gauntlet MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Manticore |
| Released | 2017-04-28 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Amonkhet |
| Set code | AKH |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 142 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | James Paick |
Key Takeaways
- Enables card advantage and can potentially alter board state without additional hand depletion.
- Mana efficiency and game acceleration can result from its power-centric damage ability.
- Instant-speed synergy can create unexpected and powerful board swings.
Text of card
When Manticore of the Gauntlet enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature you control. Manticore of the Gauntlet deals 3 damage to target opponent.
In the training ground known as the Gauntlet, initiates are pushed to practice more destructive techniques.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Manticore of the Gauntlet can impact your card advantage by dealing with smaller creatures your opponent controls, effectively removing those cards from the game with its ability, without needing to spend additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, playing the Manticore can lead to a more efficient use of your mana. By dealing damage equal to its power to an opponent or a planeswalker, it can assist in closing out games more quickly, essentially ‘accelerating’ your path to victory.
Instant Speed: While this creature itself isn’t an instant speed spell, its enter-the-battlefield ability can be maximized by timing your plays. Coordinating the Manticore’s ability with instant speed removal or damage spells can provide a formidable and unexpected swing during your turn or at the end of your opponent’s.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Manticore of the Gauntlet makes you toss a card from your hand into the graveyard to trigger its ability. This stipulation can deplete your hand, making it a hefty price for the effect it offers, especially if you’re grappling with a limited number of cards available to play.
Specific Mana Cost: Locking you into a specifically red mana demand, Manticore of the Gauntlet isn’t just any creature you can slip into a deck. This requirement could restrain your deck-building choices, forcing you to invest heavily in red mana sources or forgo the card altogether in multicolor strategies not centered on red.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a considerable total of five mana, including triple red, Manticore of the Gauntlet demands a significant mana investment before it graces the battlefield. In a game where efficiency can be key, there are alternative creatures or spells that could provide you with similar or better board impact for less of a mana strain.
Reasons to Include Manticore of the Gauntlet in Your Collection
Versatility: Manticore of the Gauntlet is a multifaceted creature card that fits well into a range of red decks. Its ability to deal direct damage while offering a significant body can turn the tides in both aggressive and midrange strategies.
Combo Potential: This fearsome creature shines when paired with cards that capitalize on its enter-the-battlefield effect, multiplying damage output, or benefiting from noncombat damage triggers to decimate opponents or clear the board.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving metagame, the Manticore can be particularly effective against decks that tend to build up a board presence, allowing you to maintain pressure while developing your own game plan.
How to Beat Manticore of the Gauntlet
Dealing with Manticore of the Gauntlet can be straightforward if you’re prepared with the right strategies. This creature boasts a potent ability that can shift life totals with its entry onto the battlefield, but it isn’t unbeatable. One efficient method is to utilize instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile before its triggered ability can dent your life total. Flexibility and timing are crucial.
Alternatively, having creatures with hexproof or shroud protects them from being targeted by the Manticore’s ability. This allows you to maintain a strong board presence without the potential life loss from the Manticore’s effect. Similarly, counterspells like Negate are effective at preventing the Manticore from ever hitting the field. Reflecting on the broader landscape, it’s important to recognize that while this card can be impactful, it’s mitigated quite well by responsive deck configurations.
Remember, when facing cards like Manticore of the Gauntlet, maintaining control of the board and keeping removal or counters in hand can mean the difference between a sudden life total change and a victory. It’s all about anticipation and smart deck crafting.
Cards like Manticore of the Gauntlet
Manticore of the Gauntlet takes its place among the myriad creatures with built-in damage effects in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its kin in cards like Flameblade Angel, sharing the same mana cost and a penchant for damage dealing. However, Manticore of the Gauntlet carves its niche with the ability to untap a significant amount of damage to a target opponent or creature at the mere cost of a red mana and sacrificing a land.
Embermaw Hellion is another card worth mentioning. While it has a higher mana cost, this hellion passively increases the damage of any red source, which can be a game-changer in a deck built around red damage spells and abilities. The trade-off is in the cost and instant impact. The Manticore’s effect is immediate, but the Hellion’s influence grows as the game progresses.
Evaluating these cards side by side, Manticore of the Gauntlet presents a unique option for players looking for instant damage and board presence. Its versatility and immediate board impact make it a valuable inclusion for any player considering an aggressive red deck in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Manticore of the Gauntlet by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Manticore of the Gauntlet MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet, 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 Manticore of the Gauntlet and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Manticore of the Gauntlet has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Manticore of the Gauntlet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | If either target becomes illegal after Manticore of the Gauntlet’s triggered ability is put onto the stack but before it resolves, the other is still affected as appropriate. |
| 2017-04-18 | If you can’t choose a target opponent when you put Manticore of the Gauntlet’s triggered ability on the stack (most likely because your opponents have hexproof), the ability is removed from the stack and you won’t put a -1/-1 counter on any creature. |
