Darklit Gargoyle MTG Card


Darklit Gargoyle - Conflux
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Gargoyle
Abilities Flying
Released2009-02-06
Set symbol
Set nameConflux
Set codeCON
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number7
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byHoward Lyon

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card efficiency and strategic flexibility with its at instant speed ability activation.
  2. Requires careful mana management due to its activation cost and white mana dependency.
  3. Combines well with other cards, making it a valuable asset in artifact-centered decks.

Text of card

Flying : Darklit Gargoyle gets +2/-1 until end of turn.

It shines in the darkness of its master's ambitions.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Darklit Gargoyle may seem unassuming at first glance, but its true power shines when it grants you an ever-important edge in card efficiency. Being able to upgrade its abilities strategically, it can make impactful swings in your card advantage during the right moments of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, the scalability of Darklit Gargoyle’s offensive capabilities acts as a form of resource acceleration. Investing mana into this creature’s power-up feature during end-step turns can be a potent tactic, transforming what you’ve held back into significant damage on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Being able to activate the Darklit Gargoyle’s ability at instant speed gives players a flexible management of their resources. You can adapt to the evolving game state, utilizing your mana efficiently and making informed decisions on whether to enhance your gargoyle or hold mana for other crucial plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Darklit Gargoyle may push you towards a challenging decision, especially if it requires discarding another potentially valuable card from your hand, thus reducing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building can be constricted due to the Darklit Gargoyle’s specific mana need. Incorporating this card means ensuring an adequate source of white mana, which might not always align with a deck’s overall mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluated against other options, the mana investment for Darklit Gargoyle can be on the higher side, particularly given its initial impact on the board. There might be creatures or artifacts available that either give more value or require less mana to cast.


Reasons to Include Darklit Gargoyle in Your Collection

Versatility: Darklit Gargoyle offers a flexible role in both offense and defense. As a one-drop creature with the potential to increase its damage output, it can seamlessly fit into various deck themes, particularly those focusing on artifact interactions or evasion tactics.

Combo Potential: With its activated ability to gain flying, Darklit Gargoyle can synergize with cards that capitalize on creatures having flying. Moreover, it can be a key component in decks that aim to scale up creature power, making it a consistent threat each turn.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where reaching the optimal mana curve is essential, Darklit Gargoyle’s low casting cost and scalability make it a useful addition. It can counteract swarm strategies or be a resilient threat against control decks, proving its worth across various match-ups.


How to beat

Darklit Gargoyle presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its versatility in both offense and defense. As a card that can boost its damage output with a simple mana investment, it requires a tailored strategy to handle effectively. To counter this shifty artifact creature, consider utilizing removal spells that bypass its potential for toughness increase. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently dispatch it before the opponent has the opportunity to pump up its attack.

Prioritizing the removal of Darklit Gargoyle in the early game can be crucial, as it prevents your opponent from establishing a robust defense or chipping away at your life total in the skies. Additionally, since it’s an artifact creature, enchantments like Stony Silence can shut down its activated abilities, rendering it a mere blocker without additional threat. Always be mindful of open mana from the opposing side that can signal a potential boost in the gargoyle’s power, so engage with your removal decisively.

Ultimately, understanding your deck’s removal suite and keeping an eye on mana resources is vital when navigating around creatures like Darklit Gargoyle. Neutralizing it swiftly and efficiently can help maintain control over the game’s pacing and prevent your opponent from leveraging its power and toughness modification abilities.


Cards like Darklit Gargoyle

Within the vast collection of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Darklit Gargoyle is an intriguing card worth examining. It shares characteristics with numerous other creatures but holds its unique charm. One such comparable creature is Suntail Hawk, a simple and efficient flyer just like our gargoyle. However, Darklit Gargoyle distinguishes itself with the capability to boost its power, albeit at the cost of mana.

Drifting Meadow is another card that echoes the gargoyle’s ability to soar above the battlefield. Whereas Drifting Meadow taps for white mana, our stone sentinel has potential for offensive plays with an investment. The flexibility to enhance its power can be a game-changer during combat, which Drifting Meadow utterly lacks. Then there’s Venerable Monk, a creature that brings life gain on its entry but cannot rise to the skies nor adjust its power dynamics in combat like the Darklit Gargoyle does.

Ultimately, Darklit Gargoyle holds its edge as a flexible combatant amongst other creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to adapt in battle aligns it with players’ strategies that value control and power manipulation, marking its own niche in the deck-building universe.

Suntail Hawk - MTG Card versions
Drifting Meadow - MTG Card versions
Venerable Monk - MTG Card versions
Suntail Hawk - Judgment (JUD)
Drifting Meadow - Urza's Saga (USG)
Venerable Monk - Portal (POR)

Cards similar to Darklit Gargoyle by color, type and mana cost

Orzhov Signet - MTG Card versions
Talisman of Hierarchy - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Sculler - MTG Card versions
Invasion of New Capenna // Holy Frazzle-Cannon - MTG Card versions
Orzhov Signet - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Talisman of Hierarchy - Fallout (PIP)
Tidehollow Sculler - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Invasion of New Capenna // Holy Frazzle-Cannon - March of the Machine (MOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Darklit Gargoyle MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 Darklit Gargoyle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darklit Gargoyle has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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