Cemetery Gatekeeper MTG Card


Cemetery Gatekeeper exploits graveyard activity, heightening your advantage as the match progresses. Selective card exile slows opponents, hampering their resources and pacing. With its ability resembling instant speed, the vampire can disrupt enemy tactics unexpectedly.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities First strike
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

First strike When Cemetery Gatekeeper enters the battlefield, exile a card from a graveyard. Whenever a player plays a land or casts a spell, if it shares a card type with the exiled card, Cemetery Gatekeeper deals 2 damage to that player.


Cards like Cemetery Gatekeeper

The Cemetery Gatekeeper is an attractive part of the creature cards in MTG. Transforming meta and bringing more creature-based strategies to the forefront, it shares similarities with cards like Scab-Clan Berserker and Harsh Mentor. Their primary function is to control the opponents by setting specific conditions or challenges that have to be met before they can make a move.

Scab-Clan Berserker, for instance, has renowned and the potential to deal damage when a noncreature spell is cast. Harsh Mentor on its flip side has a similar mechanic, dishing out damage each time an opponent activates an ability that isn’t a mana ability. Their effects look to damage the opponent for noncreature spells, much like Cemetery Gatekeeper does for cards in graveyards.

Although Cemetery Gatekeeper requires a card from a graveyard as its penalty cost, it stands out for its first strike attribute and efficient mana cost. Thus, when paired against these similar cards, it does heavily influence the gameplay and the strategies employed by players. It proves to be a worthy addition considering its potential in terms of control and damage output in any MTG game.

Scab-Clan Berserker - MTG Card versions
Harsh Mentor - MTG Card versions
Scab-Clan Berserker - MTG Card versions
Harsh Mentor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cemetery Gatekeeper by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cemetery Gatekeeper. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro StandardGruul AggroStandard Challenge 64 2024-05-19
Mono-Red AggroMono-Red Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Generic RagavanGeneric Ragavan ModernGeneric RagavanModern League 2024-04-21
Mono-Red Some Brand of CerealMono-Red Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
GrixisGrixis Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Jund Insidious RootsJund Insidious Roots StandardJund Insidious RootsTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024
Boros Death & TaxesBoros Death & Taxes GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Mono-Red BurnMono-Red Burn GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Mono-Red MidrangeMono-Red Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cemetery Gatekeeper offers players a bonus each time a card gets sent to the graveyard from anywhere else. This feature gives you an increasing edge as the game proceeds, benefitting from the demise of your opponents’ resources.

Resource Acceleration: If you pick the right card to exile with Cemetery Gatekeeper, you can negatively impact the speed at which your opponent can mobilize their strategies, potentially slowing down their resource acceleration. This vampiric entity forces enemies to tread lightly or pay the price.

Instant Speed: Although Cemetery Gatekeeper isn’t an instant card, it has a triggered ability that works effectively at the speed of an instant. Every time a card lands in a graveyard from anywhere, this vampire is ready to pounce. Its ability can catch opponents off guard, making it a potential game-changer.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cemetery Gatekeeper obligates you to serve up a card from your graveyard whenever an opponent plays a card. The card selecting and throwing chore can play out as an unwanted predicament, particularly if your graveyard is scant of options.

Specific Mana Cost: Cemetery Gatekeeper specifically translates to a double red mana commitment during casting. This might cinch your liberty to splash cards as it may limit its integration to more versatile deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Wielding Cemetery Gatekeeper at a cost of two mana might appear marginal at first glance. But in the contrastive view of cards offering more potent board presence and proactive effects, two mana might seem extravagant, especially in the fast-paced, efficiency-driven matches.


Reasons to Include Cemetery Gatekeeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Cemetery Gatekeeper fits into a variety of decks and play strategies. Its first ability to exile a card from a graveyard upon entering the battlefield, combined with its other capacity of punishing an opponent every time they cast a spell identical to the exiled card make it a possible choice for a wide range of decks.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focused on punishing and controlling opponents’ play, offering exciting combo potentials that enhance gameplay. It works exceptionally well within a deck designed around graveyard manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: With its two abilities, Cemetery Gatekeeper can create a tense environment for decks that rely on casting multiple copies of the same spell, which is very prevalent in recent MTG meta-game. Its effectiveness against these strategies makes it a valuable card to have in your collection.


How to beat

Cemetery Gatekeeper is a compelling card in Magic: The Gathering, particularly recognized for its punitive abilities. Similar to cards like Tunnel Ignus, Cemetery Gatekeeper gives you an upper hand by inflicting damage on opponents when they play a nonbasic land. However, its uniqueness lies in its capability to punish opponents for casting spells that have similar names to cards in their graveyards.

A comparable card, Eidolon of the Great Revel, is also known for its punishing prowess. Eidolon deals damage when opponents cast low cost spells. Although Cemetery Gatekeeper and Eidolon operate on different conditions, both can be handled in the same way. First, use spells that can bypass the damage like Abrupt Decay or spells that wipe the board clean like Supreme Verdict. However, remember that these must be applied before the opponent’s graveyard fills up. Alternatively, try to skew your deck so that less spells share the same name, thereby decreasing potential damage.

In conclusion, thwarting Cemetery Gatekeeper requires strategic deck building and efficient use of spells. By manipulating your tactics, you may significantly mitigate the damage dealt by this ruthless gatekeeper.


BurnMana Recommendations

Assessing Cemetery Gatekeeper’s strengths and drawbacks paints a vivid picture of its potential in dynamic MTG gameplay. This card can decisively impact your matches, exploiting graveyards for your gain while hindering your opponents’ actions. Consider how its unique properties might harmonize with your current deck strategies, and explore intriguing synergies that could emerge. As you refine your collection and strategize for battle, keeping in mind the ebb and flow of the metagame is crucial. Curious about how Cemetery Gatekeeper might alter your game plan and help you claim victory? Visit us to dive deeper into strategic insights and integrate this captivating card into your arsenal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cemetery Gatekeeper MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Cemetery Gatekeeper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cemetery Gatekeeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 1482015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
22021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3042015NormalBlackLivia Prima
32021-11-19Crimson Vow Art SeriesAVOW 392015Art seriesBorderless
42022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 4152015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cemetery Gatekeeper has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cemetery Gatekeeper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-11-19 Card types that can be exiled from a graveyard include artifact, creature, enchantment, land, planeswalker, instant, and sorcery. Legendary, basic, and snow are supertypes, not card types. Human, Equipment, and Aura are subtypes, not card types.