Gorgon's Head MTG Card


Gorgon's Head - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Number158
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMichael C. Hayes

Key Takeaways

  1. Gorgon’s Head enhances board control by turning creatures into deathtouch threats, leading to potential card advantage.
  2. It offers strategic versatility, enabling instant speed equipping for surprise battlefield adaptations during play.
  3. While potent, it requires creatures for utility and careful mana management to maximize its combat efficiency.

Text of card

Equipped creature has deathtouch. Equip

"You slew the gorgon? Show me." —King Igalus, last words


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gorgon’s Head may not directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to turn any creature into a deathtouch threat means it can potentially clear multiple opposing creatures off the board with just one of your own. This can easily turn into card advantage as you trade one card for several of your opponent’s.

Resource Acceleration: While not a resource accelerator in the traditional sense, equipping Gorgon’s Head can accelerate your game plan by making your creatures far more threatening. This often compels your opponent to deal with the equipped creature immediately, effectively stalling their development and preserving your resources in the long run.

Instant Speed: The ability to equip at instant speed provides significant flexibility. Not only can you catch an opponent off guard in combat, but you can also react to spells or abilities that target your creatures. This utility allows the Gorgon’s Head to be a reactive tool you can use to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gorgon’s Head doesn’t require you to discard a card, its utility is heavily dependent on board presence. Without creatures to equip, it sits uselessly in hand or on the battlefield, offering no advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Gorgon’s Head demands a specific mana investment to not only cast but also activate. The initial cost to bring it into play, followed by the necessity to equip it to a creature, strains your mana resources and can slow your game tempo.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the ability it grants, the mana required for Gorgon’s Head might be seen as steep. There are alternative equipment or creature cards that provide similar or better effects without the need for ongoing investment, potentially offering a better return on mana spent.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gorgon’s Head has the unique ability to turn any creature into a deathtouch threat, making it a fit for various defensive and control-oriented decks that aim to stabilize the board.

Combo Potential: This artifact can be particularly devastating when combined with creatures or spells that deal damage to multiple creatures, essentially wiping out an opponent’s board presence with precision.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks are dominant, having Gorgon’s Head can serve as a strong deterrent, effectively shaping the battlefield and keeping your opponents at bay.


How to beat

Gorgon’s Head is a distinct artifact in Magic: The Gathering, equipping creatures with the potent ability to turn any damage they deal into destruction by deathtouch. When facing a creature enhanced by Gorgon’s Head, strategize by prioritizing the removal of either the artifact or the creature it’s attached to. Utilizing removal spells that target artifacts like Naturalize or creatures like Doom Blade can swiftly neutralize the threat. Additionally, cards that return permanents to the owner’s hand, such as Unsummon, can undo the equipment setup and buy crucial time.

Control strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to attack, such as Pacifism or Guard Duty, can effectively neutralize the deathtouch ability. For those playing a more proactive deck, seeking out hexproof or indestructible creatures will render the Gorgon’s Head’s effect moot, allowing for a safer board state. Moreover, enchantments like Glaring Spotlight can strip away the added lethality by removing hexproof from the creatures it might be attached to, making them vulnerable to your spells once again.

Ultimately, being mindful of Gorgon’s Head’s presence and maintaining flexible removal options in your deck will enable you to overcome the tactical snare it sets. Board wipes, direct removal, and preventative measures ensure that the venomous touch of Gorgon’s Head doesn’t dictate the flow of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve deeper into the strategic nuances of MTG with Gorgon’s Head, a card that can reshape the battlefield and alter the course of play. Whether you’re looking to bolster your defenses, unleash deadly combos, or challenge the dominance of creature-heavy opponents, understanding the applications and interactions of this card is key. For those ready to enhance their collection and elevate their deck-building skills, Gorgon’s Head offers a unique tool with unexplored potential. Continue your MTG journey with us and discover new ways to optimize your gameplay as you embrace the tactical edge that Gorgon’s Head provides.


Cards like Gorgon's Head

Gorgon’s Head is an intriguing artifact within MTG that offers the ability to turn any creature into a deathtouch warrior. This feature draws a parallel to Basilisk Collar, another equipment that gives deathtouch, along with the added bonus of lifelink. Although the collar has a higher mana cost for its equipping feature, the lifelink proves to be a significant boon in many game scenarios.

Delving further into deathtouch enablers, Quietus Spike emerges as a relative, heightening the level of fear it instills by slashing an opponent’s life total in half with each successful strike. Although it carries a heavier mana burden for equipping, its impact can be dramatically more devastating than the subtle defensive strategy offered by Gorgon’s Head.

In comparison with these, Gorgon’s Head stands out for its low cost and ease of integration into a wider range of deck archetypes. It provides a strategic element of control, transforming even the most innocuous creature into a formidable defender. This underlines its role as a versatile and accessible tool for players seeking to enhance their defense in MTG.

Gorgon's Head - MTG Card versions
Basilisk Collar - MTG Card versions
Quietus Spike - MTG Card versions
Gorgon's Head - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Basilisk Collar - Worldwake (WWK)
Quietus Spike - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Gorgon's Head by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Library of Leng - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ivory Tower - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Crystal Rod - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gorgon's Head MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Gorgon's Head and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gorgon's Head has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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