Boros Guildgate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 16 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeLand — Gate

Key Takeaways

  1. Supports mana curve optimization by enabling reliable casting of red and white spells.
  2. Offers strategic advantage in Boros decks but enters the battlefield tapped, slowing tempo.
  3. Crucial for budget dual-land options but can be hindered by quick-paced strategies.

Text of card

Boros Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.

Enter with merciful hearts. Exit with battle cries.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Boros Guildgate may not directly allow you to draw cards, it supports strategies that can lead to card advantage. This is because it enables you to reliably cast your spells on curve, thus optimizing your card utility each turn.

Resource Acceleration: As a dual land, Boros Guildgate aids in resource acceleration by providing access to two colors of mana, helping to ensure a smoother and faster development of your board, particularly in the Boros archetype which often demands a mix of red and white mana early in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Boros Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its presence fortifies your mana base, giving you the capacity to play spells at instant speed with greater confidence in subsequent turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Boros Guildgate doesn’t have a discard requirement per se, it can be a liability in fast-paced games where every draw must count towards your strategy, and a non-actionable card can be considered an indirect discard.

Specific Mana Cost: This land card enters the battlefield tapped, specifically producing either red or white mana. Its restriction to two types of mana can be less flexible when you’re in need of other colors or a quicker mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it doesn’t have a mana cost, the Guildgate can be a drawback compared to other lands that come into play untapped or offer additional benefits. In the swift dynamic of many MTG games, having a land that sets you back a turn can be costly.


Reasons to Include Boros Guildgate in Your Collection

Versatility: Boros Guildgate serves as an accessible mana fixer, which is crucial in multi-colored decks. Its inclusion ensures a smooth mana base without the high cost associated with premium dual lands, making it a staple for budget-conscious builds.

Combo Potential: While not directly part of combos, this land lets you set up your plays by providing the necessary red or white mana. It can indirectly support various strategies that rely on a stable mana base to execute powerful card synergies and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that oscillates between aggressive and control decks, having a flexible land like Boros Guildgate can be key. It aligns well with the pacing of the game and allows for the casting of influential red and white spells that can tip the scales in your favor during a match.


How to beat

Boros Guildgate is a gateway to a powerful mana combination in Magic: The Gathering, tying together the swiftness of red and the resilience of white. Despite this, players can outmaneuver the advantages of Boros Guildgate decks by interrupting their tempo. As a nonbasic land that enters the battlefield tapped, Boros Guildgate can slow down your opponent’s aggressive plays, especially in the early game. To capitalize on this, implementing a strategy that applies pressure quickly with low-cost creatures and spells can exploit the delay before Boros Guildgate can contribute effectively.

Similarly, land destruction cards like Ghost Quarter can target and eliminate Boros Guildgate, snuffing out mana acceleration and color fixing that the gate provides. Another effective strategy includes utilizing cards that limit the use of multicolored mana, such as Damping Sphere, which hinders the ramping capacity Boros Guildgate aims to support. By focusing on these key weaknesses, players can diminish the strength of Boros Guildgate, limiting an opponent’s options and gaining the upper hand in the battle for victory.


Cards like Boros Guildgate

Boros Guildgate is a nonbasic land card that is a pivotal entry point into the vibrant two-color combination decks in Magic: The Gathering. It offers an accessible mana-fixing option for players seeking the aggressive power of red and the structured order of white within their deck builds. This card taps for either red or white mana which mirrors the Azorius Guildgate’s ability to add blue or white mana to your pool. Both Guildgates enter the battlefield tapped, making them modest but reliable options for color consistency.

Taking a closer look, we can compare it with other dual lands such as the Rugged Prairie, which also offers red and white mana. Unlike the Boros Guildgate, however, Rugged Prairie doesn’t enter the battlefield tapped but requires the player to either manage existing resources or take a hit on life points. Stone Quarry also shares similarities, entering the battlefield tapped and generating red or white mana, yet lacking the Guildgate subtype which can be relevant in certain game interactions.

While the Boros Guildgate might not appeal to players who prioritize speed, its simplicity and stability make it a suitable choice for multicolored decks that can accommodate a more deliberate pace, proving its merit within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse landscape of land cards.

Azorius Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Rugged Prairie - MTG Card versions
Stone Quarry - MTG Card versions
Azorius Guildgate - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Rugged Prairie - Eventide (EVE)
Stone Quarry - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Cards similar to Boros Guildgate by color, type and mana cost

Plateau - MTG Card versions
Scabland - MTG Card versions
Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway - MTG Card versions
Sundown Pass - MTG Card versions
Boros Garrison - MTG Card versions
Sacred Foundry - MTG Card versions
Temple of Triumph - MTG Card versions
Furycalm Snarl - MTG Card versions
Battlefield Forge - MTG Card versions
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - MTG Card versions
Ancient Amphitheater - MTG Card versions
Rugged Prairie - MTG Card versions
Wind-Scarred Crag - MTG Card versions
Needle Spires - MTG Card versions
Inspiring Vantage - MTG Card versions
Stone Quarry - MTG Card versions
Clifftop Retreat - MTG Card versions
Sunbaked Canyon - MTG Card versions
Slayers' Stronghold - MTG Card versions
Spectator Seating - MTG Card versions
Plateau - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scabland - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Sundown Pass - Doctor Who (WHO)
Boros Garrison - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Sacred Foundry - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Temple of Triumph - Fallout (PIP)
Furycalm Snarl - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Battlefield Forge - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Ancient Amphitheater - Lorwyn (LRW)
Rugged Prairie - Double Masters (2XM)
Wind-Scarred Crag - March of the Machine (MOM)
Needle Spires - Oath of the Gatewatch Promos (POGW)
Inspiring Vantage - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Stone Quarry - Commander Legends (CMR)
Clifftop Retreat - Fallout (PIP)
Sunbaked Canyon - Doctor Who (WHO)
Slayers' Stronghold - Commander 2021 (C21)
Spectator Seating - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Boros Guildgate MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Dragon's Maze, 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 Boros Guildgate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Boros Guildgate Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 2392003normalblackNoah Bradley
22013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 1472003normalblackNoah Bradley
32013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 332003normalblackNoah Bradley
42013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2802003normalblackNoah Bradley
52015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2802015normalblackNoah Bradley
62017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2312015normalblackNoah Bradley
72017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2402015normalblackNoah Bradley
82018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2402015normalblackNoah Bradley
92018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2442015normalblackTitus Lunter
102018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2432015normalblackTitus Lunter
112019-08-23Commander 2019C19 2342015normalblackNoah Bradley
122020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1232015normalblackNoah Bradley
132020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4782015normalblackNoah Bradley
142024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3981997normalblackTitus Lunter
152024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2742015normalblackTitus Lunter
162024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 2322015normalblackTitus Lunter

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Boros Guildgate has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Gate is not a basic land type.
2013-04-15 The subtype Gate has no special rules significance, but other spells and abilities may refer to it.

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