Gideon's Intervention MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 15
2017-04-29 - Number 15s
2020-08-13 - Number 20
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Naming a card with Gideon’s Intervention offers both a proactive defense and indirect card advantage.
- It allows strategic game planning by saving resources for future threats and advancing your board.
- Despite its strength, it lacks immediate impact, has specific mana requirements, and can be costly.
Text of card
As Gideon's Intervention enters the battlefield, choose a card name. Your opponents can't cast spells with the chosen name. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you and permanents you control by sources with the chosen name.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gideon’s Intervention shines by letting you restrict your opponents’ access to crucial cards, essentially providing indirect card advantage. Once in play, it can nullify the opponents’ threats or key pieces without needing to handle them individually. This can contribute to gaining the upper hand in the resource battle.
Resource Acceleration: While Gideon’s Intervention doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it acts as a form of strategic acceleration. By preemptively dealing with potential threats or essential enemy cards, it allows you to streamline your game plan without having to spend additional cards or mana later on dealing with those same issues, saving those resources for advancing your board state.
Instant Speed: Although Gideon’s Intervention is an enchantment that must be played at sorcery speed, its lasting effect provides a persistent defensive utility similar to the flexibility of instant speed interactions. Once the Intervention is in place, its deterrent effect is continuous, providing a steadfast shield that works around the clock to protect your gameplay strategy without further investment, much like instant speed abilities that are always at the ready.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For players contemplating adding Gideon’s Intervention to their arsenal, one hiccup to bear in mind is the absence of immediate board impact upon casting this spell. While providing future protection, it does not affect the state of the game when played, potentially leaving you vulnerable in the present round.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Gideon’s Intervention requires a precise blend of one white and three other mana. This can pose a challenge in multicolored decks where mana resources are stretched across various needs and casting this spell may compete with other vital plays in the early game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, players need to weigh the benefits of this protective measure against other options. In a game where tempo and efficient mana usage are key, dedicating four mana to a non-creature spell that doesn’t influence the board immediately may put you at a disadvantage, especially when faster alternatives might offer similar protective benefits or immediate board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gideon’s Intervention offers a flexible answer to a variety of threats on the battlefield. With the ability to name any card and prevent all damage it could deal, this enchantment can adapt to different situations, making it a useful tool in decks that need a customized shield against common adversaries.
Combo Potential: Not only does this card prevent damage from a named card, but its second ability to prevent opponents from casting the named card can disrupt opponent strategies and enable combo decks to execute their game plan without interference from key opposing pieces.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where certain cards or combos are dominant, Gideon’s Intervention can serve as a targeted sideboard option. Its capacity to nullify threats and protect your strategy makes it valuable in shifting the odds in your favor during competitive play.
How to Beat Gideon’s Intervention
Gideon’s Intervention presents an interesting challenge in the realm of MTG. This enchantment allows a player to choose a card name and prevent all damage that would be dealt by sources with the chosen name. In addition, it prevents opponents from casting spells with the same name. A cunning opponent might use this card to shut down your key strategy or neutralize your most potent threats.
To effectively counteract Gideon’s Intervention, it’s wise to introduce cards in your deck that can deal with enchantments, like Disenchant or Naturalize. These allow you to destroy the intervention without having to engage in a head-on clash with your opponent’s creatures. It’s also beneficial to maintain a diverse deck, so relying on a single card or strategy isn’t your downfall if faced with intervention. Lastly, consider cards with hexproof from white or abilities that make your spells uncounterable, bypassing the constraints of Gideon’s Intervention and keeping your game plan fluid and in motion.
When analyzing tactics that ensure your deck’s resilience against such control cards, the inclusion of enchantment removal and strategic diversity stands out. This approach will help your deck maintain its strength, even when confronted with potentially game-altering cards like Gideon’s Intervention.
Cards like Gideon's Intervention
Gideon’s Intervention is an intriguing protective spell in MTG, comparable to a variety of safeguarding cards. Its closest relative might be Nevermore, which also prevents chosen spells from being cast. However, Gideon’s Intervention steps it up by not only prohibiting the casting of a named card but also shielding you from all damage that the named card could deal. This dual utility offers a shield against both active threats and potential damage, a boon Nevermore lacks.
Another card with a protective angle is Runed Halo, which allows a player to choose a card name and gain protection from the designated card. While similar in the protective naming convention, it falls slightly short of Gideon’s Intervention’s comprehensive prevention of both casting and damage, encompassing only the latter. Additionally, there’s Damping Sphere—a card that doesn’t operate on naming but rather imposes restrictions on spells and lands, a more general but passive approach to control.
In reviewing comparable cards, Gideon’s Intervention stands out for its versatility. Not only does it cater to defense against specific threats, but it also ensures a proactive approach to maintaining board stability by removing the threats’ implications completely. This dual protection makes it a valuable asset in many MTG decks.
Cards similar to Gideon's Intervention by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gideon's Intervention MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet 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 Gideon's Intervention 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
Printings
The Gideon's Intervention Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Daarken.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 15 | 2015 | normal | black | Daarken | |
| 2 | 2017-04-29 | Amonkhet Promos | PAKH | 15s | 2015 | normal | black | Daarken | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 20 | 2015 | normal | black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gideon's Intervention has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Banned |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gideon's Intervention 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 you choose the name of a split card, you choose one name, not both. For example, you could name Failure or Comply, but not Failure // Comply. Opponents are still allowed to cast the half you didn’t choose. |
| 2017-04-18 | You may choose the name of a land card. Cards with that name can still be played (since lands are never cast), but damage they would deal to you and your permanents will be prevented. |
| 2017-04-18 | You must choose the name of a card, not the name of a token. For example, you can’t choose “Zombie” or “Ragavan.” However, if a token happens to have the same name as a card (such as an embalmed creature token), you can choose it. |
| 2018-01-19 | There are many important moments in the story, but the most crucial—called “story spotlights”—are shown on cards. These cards have the Planeswalker symbol in their text box; this symbol has no effect on gameplay. You can read more about these events in the official Magic fiction at http://www.mtgstory.com. |
