Geist-Honored Monk MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Monk
Abilities Vigilance
Power *
Toughness *

Key Takeaways

  1. Geist-Honored Monk provides card advantage by creating multiple creature tokens on cast.
  2. Convoke spells benefit from the Monk’s tokens, enabling faster casting of high-cost cards.
  3. Adding flexibility, the Monk’s tokens can surprise opponents with instant speed strategies.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance Geist-Honored Monk's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control. When Geist-Honored Monk enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Geist-Honored Monk thrives in scenarios where maximizing the number of creatures you control is crucial. The Monk itself comes into play with two 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens with flying, providing you with multiple blockers or attackers in a single cast. This card significantly bolsters your board presence and can turn the tide by offering an immediate numerical advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Monk doesn’t directly ramp your mana, it does synergize well with mechanics that benefit from the number of creatures you control. For example, with convoke spells, each creature can help reduce the spell’s cost, effectively accelerating your ability to play high-cost cards sooner than you normally could.

Instant Speed: While Geist-Honored Monk lacks instant speed itself, the tokens it creates can be utilized in various strategies that operate at instant speed. For instance, having additional creatures allows for more flexibility with spells that you may want to cast on an opponent’s turn or to surprise your opponent with unforeseen blockers.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Geist-Honored Monk itself does not have a discard requirement, it synergizes with decks focused on wide board presence. Decks not structured around this style might find the monk less effective, thus potentially being a card that feels like a discard in certain deck builds.

Specific Mana Cost: Geist-Honored Monk’s casting cost includes double white mana, which can be prohibitive in multicolored decks that may have difficulty consistently generating the necessary white mana, especially early in the game when establishing a board presence is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, which includes three general and two white, Geist-Honored Monk competes with other high-impact cards at the same mana cost. This can make it challenging to justify its inclusion over other cards with potentially more versatile or immediate effects.


Reasons to Include Geist-Honored Monk in Your Collection

Versatility: Geist-Honored Monk serves as a powerful addition to any deck that thrives on creature-based strategies. Not only does it provide a formidable body on the battlefield itself, but it also brings along additional creatures increasing your board presence.

Combo Potential: With the innate ability to create two 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens upon entry, this monk pairs excellently with mechanics that react to creature tokens being produced, such as populate or convoke, allowing for numerous synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment that rewards players for having a wide array of creatures, Geist-Honored Monk shines by impacting the board immediately and scaling its power and toughness with the number of creatures you control, which can tip the scales in creature-centric matchups.


How to beat

Geist-Honored Monk stands out in MTG due to its strength in creating creature tokens, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield. This ability not only amplifies its power and toughness but also provides players with a robust defense strategy. Facing this card, your best approach is to control the playing field by limiting the number of creatures your opponent can amass. Utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can serve as a clean slate, effectively neutralizing the Monk’s advantage. Spot removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murder are also effective tactics for directly targeting and dispatching the Monk before the board state becomes overwhelming.

An alternative strategy is to employ cards that restrict token generation or put a cap on the number of creatures the opponent can control, like Cursed Totem or Illness in the Ranks. These preemptive measures can curb the Monk’s influence and keep the playing field manageable. Should the Monk already be in play, look towards enchantments like Pacifism or the classic Counterspell to prevent it from becoming an immediate threat, giving you time to establish your own game plan and ultimately turning the tide to your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the vast universe of MTG is an ever-evolving adventure that rewards knowledge, strategy, and adaptability. Geist-Honored Monk stands out as a valuable asset in creature-heavy decks, offering not just a sizable force but also a way to change the dynamics of the game with ease. If you’re intrigued by strategies that revolve around multiplying your forces and enjoy the flexibility of token-play tactics, this card deserves a spot in your collection. For those keen on building a deck with a focus on creature presence, we recommend diving deeper into strategies that leverage Geist-Honored Monk’s unique abilities. Join the BurnMana community to enhance your deck-building skills and secure those strategic victories on the battlefield.


Cards like Geist-Honored Monk

Geist-Honored Monk is a unique creature card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering with its ability to bolster your forces based on the size of your army. Comparable cards like Captain of the Watch also produce multiple tokens upon entering the battlefield. Captain of the Watch grants an army of soldiers, but Geist-Honored Monk’s strength and toughness scales with the total number of creatures you control, making it a potential powerhouse.

Mobilization is another spell that shares the Monk’s token-creating spirit. Although not a creature itself, it consistently generates soldier tokens. Unlike the one-time effect of the Monk, Mobilization can be a long-term investment, but it doesn’t impact the board as immediately or as dramatically. Lastly, Cloudgoat Ranger is a creature that comes with Kithkin Soldier tokens and can manipulate them for a temporary power boost, similar to the Monk’s ability to scale with your board presence. However, it lacks the flexibility and scaling power that come with Geist-Honored Monk’s continuous ability to grow with each creature you play.

Thus, when examining the utility and synergy of token-generating cards in Magic: The Gathering, Geist-Honored Monk stands out for its scalable strength and its immediate impact on gameplay dynamics.

Captain of the Watch - MTG Card versions
Mobilization - MTG Card versions
Cloudgoat Ranger - MTG Card versions
Captain of the Watch - MTG Card versions
Mobilization - MTG Card versions
Cloudgoat Ranger - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Geist-Honored Monk MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Commander 2014, 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 Geist-Honored Monk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Geist-Honored Monk Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 172003NormalBlackClint Cearley
22014-11-07Commander 2014C14 722015NormalBlackClint Cearley
32021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 252015NormalBlackClint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Geist-Honored Monk has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-09-22 As long as Geist-Honored Monk is on the battlefield, its second ability will count itself.
2011-09-22 The ability that defines Geist-Honored Monk’s power and toughness works in all zones, not just the battlefield.

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