Call the Gatewatch MTG Card


Call the Gatewatch ensures tailored advantage by allowing strategic planeswalker selection for diverse game scenarios. Restrictive mana costs and deck compatibility considerations may influence the card’s utility and effectiveness. Despite its limitations, this card opens up combo opportunities and adapts well to changing metagame dynamics.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Search your library for a planeswalker card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.

"I've heard it said that a Planeswalker is someone who can always run from danger. But Gideon's right: we're also the ones who can choose to stay." —Jace Beleren


Cards like Call the Gatewatch

Call the Gatewatch is a powerful tutor card in Magic: The Gathering, designed to search for a Planeswalker card and add it to your hand. In a similar role, we have cards like Diabolic Tutor, which also allows you to search your library for any card, thus providing more flexibility at the cost of a higher mana price. Call the Gatewatch is more specific with its one card type limitation but also more streamlined with a lower mana cost, which plots a compelling case for inclusion in decks that are Planeswalker-focused.

Another card akin to Call the Gatewatch is Sarkhan’s Triumph. This tutor spells targets Dragons specifically, offering a thematic parallel. Although they serve different creature types, both cards stand out for their capacity to help players get to their key strategy pieces more quickly. The bespoke nature of Call the Gatewatch to Planeswalker cards is unmatched, streamlining a deck that depends upon the synergy of these particular types of cards.

A deck’s strategy can significantly gain from having efficient tutor cards like Call the Gatewatch, changing the tide of the game by ensuring critical components are drawn when most needed. Thus, in the realm of specialized library-searching cards, Call the Gatewatch holds a prestigious position, especially in MTG decks that cast Planeswalkers as the paramount stars.

Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sarkhan's Triumph - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sarkhan's Triumph - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Call the Gatewatch offers a singular ability to search your library for a Planeswalker card which can be pivotal in gaining an upper hand. By selectively adding a powerful ally to your hand, you’re setting the stage for a game-changing play.

Resource Acceleration: By fetching the right Planeswalker, you can potentially accelerate your resources. Many Planeswalkers provide abilities that ramp up your mana or provide you with additional assets, paving the way for a dominant board state.

Instant Speed: Although Call the Gatewatch operates at sorcery speed, its strategic impact is immediate. The ability to pull out the perfect Planeswalker in preparation for your next turn can be as pivotal as a well-timed instant, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Call the Gatewatch doesn’t force you to discard, it’s worth noting that its ability to search for a planeswalker comes at the cost of the card itself, which effectively reduces your hand size and can be disadvantageous in scenarios where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Call the Gatewatch includes a specific mana cost of one colorless and two white mana, which can be restrictive. This requirement potentially limits the card to decks that heavily feature white mana or those that can reliably produce any color of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, some players may consider Call the Gatewatch on the high side for its effect. In fast-paced games or competitive environments where efficiency is key, allocating three mana to search for a planeswalker might not be the most tempo-efficient play, considering other cards might allow for more immediate board impact or lower-cost alternatives for deck manipulation.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Call the Gatewatch is a flexible card, effortlessly slotting into any planeswalker-focused deck. It allows players to sift through their library for the perfect planeswalker to address the current board state, adapting to various situations.

Combo Potential: With Call the Gatewatch, the ability to search for any planeswalker sets the stage for powerful combos. Whether it’s fetching a loyalty-boosting Teferi to untap lands or a board-wiping Elspeth for control, the possibilities for synergy are vast.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame shifts and planeswalkers continue to be pivotal, having Call the Gatewatch in your arsenal ensures that you have access to key pieces at crucial moments. Its importance is magnified in metas where having the right planeswalker can make or break a game.


How to beat

Call the Gatewatch is a powerful sorcery that lets players search their library for a planeswalker card, reveal it, and put it into their hand. This card offers a significant strategic advantage by allowing a player to handpick a planeswalker that suits their current game situation. However, there are several strategies you can employ to counter it effectively.

One effective method is to use discard effects after your opponent has cast Call the Gatewatch. Cards such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can be used to force your opponent to discard the planeswalker they just searched for, undermining the card’s advantage. Another strategy is utilizing counter spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to directly counter Call the Gatewatch itself, preventing it from resolving.

Lastly, cards like Surgical Extraction can extract the planeswalker from the opponent’s library or hand completely, provided you have prior knowledge of their hand or graveyard. This can permanently remove the threat. In any edge-of-your-seat match-up, being prepared to challenge key cards like Call the Gatewatch can be decisive in your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the insights gained on Call the Gatewatch’s benefits and drawbacks, crafting your ultimate MTG deck becomes a masterstroke of strategy. Whether enhancing your game with game-altering Planeswalkers or constructing a Planeswalker-centric deck, the importance of this tutor card cannot be overstated. As the metagame evolves, keeping your strategies flexible and your collection diverse ensures you stay ahead of the curve. Dare to harness the true potential of your deck with Call the Gatewatch and other remarkable MTG cards. For a deeper dive into optimizing your gameplay and collection, continue your journey with us and discover how to dominate the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Call the Gatewatch MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Call the Gatewatch and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Call the Gatewatch Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2016-01-22. Illustrated by Yefim Kligerman.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 16s2015NormalBlackYefim Kligerman
22016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 162015NormalBlackYefim Kligerman

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Call the Gatewatch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal