Ghirapur Guide MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elf Scout
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Embrace Ghirapur Guide to bypass blockers and pressurize opponents with direct creature attacks.
  2. Combine with mana sinks or for indirect resource acceleration to optimize board state.
  3. Instant speed activation offers combat flexibility, keeping tactical decisions open.

Text of card

: Target creature you control can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less this turn.

Fairgoers were delighted to find that even outside the fairgrounds, Ghirapur was a city of wonders.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghirapur Guide has the ability to ensure that your creatures are not blocked by the opponent’s lesser threats, helping you maintain pressure and card quality on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Ghirapur Guide itself may not produce additional mana or tokens, its ability to clear the path for your more powerful creatures with mana sinks or other abilities can effectively accelerate your board state and resources indirectly.

Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering you the flexibility to decide during combat whether you want to invest your mana in making a creature unblockable, thereby keeping your opponents guessing and your tactical options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ghirapur Guide necessitates the discard of a card to activate its ability. In scenarios where hand size is critical, this can put players at a disadvantage, depleting valuable hand resources that might be necessary for executing strategic plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: As Ghirapur Guide carries a specific mana requirement of green, it pigeonholes the card into decks that run Green mana sources. This requirement can be restrictive, diminishing the card’s flexibility across the diverse MTG landscape and reducing its viability in multi-colored decks that may not prioritize green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to get Ghirapur Guide on the battlefield is on the higher side, especially considering its ability and overall impact on the game. When evaluating the opportunity cost, players might find other creatures or spells that offer greater utility or board presence for the same, if not lower, mana cost, making Ghirapur Guide not always the optimal choice in a game where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghirapur Guide’s ability to ensure a creature can’t be blocked this turn allows it to be a welcomed addition to decks focusing on creature-based strategies or ones that benefit from direct attacks.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that have enter-the-battlefield effects or need to connect with an opponent to trigger abilities, this card maximizes their potential by assuring their unblocked passage.

Meta-Relevance: With various creature-heavy decks surfacing in the meta, Ghirapur Guide can serve as an essential piece in carving a direct path to victory against slower, more controlling archetypes.


How to beat

Ghirapur Guide is a utility creature card that’s found its way into many MTG decks, especially those building around an aggressive strategy. This green creature is known for its ability to make a creature you control unblockable for a turn, barring it from being blocked by creatures with power 2 or less when you pay three mana. This effect can create significant opportunities for direct damage, turning the tide of a game.

Countering Ghirapur Guide effectively involves understanding the moment it becomes most threatening – during the declare attackers step. Removal spells like Fatal Push or Cast Down used in response to the activation of the Guide’s ability can fizzle the effect, leaving your opponent’s mana spent with little to show for it. Alternatively, playing creatures with a power of 3 or greater renders the Guide’s ability less potent, providing a wall your opponent cannot easily bypass. Board control spells or those that limit activated abilities, such as Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can also be incredibly effective in mitigating the Guide’s impact on the game.

By keeping key removal spells at the ready, or preemptively building a defensive stance, players can navigate the challenges posed by Ghirapur Guide, ensuring it doesn’t lead their opponent to victory.


Cards like Ghirapur Guide

Ghirapur Guide is an intriguing creature in the MTG universe, offering a unique ability to give another target creature you control the capability to become unblockable for a turn. This makes it somewhat akin to cards like Rogue’s Passage, which also provides a similar unblockable utility. The notable difference between Ghirapur Guide and Rogue’s Passage lies in their form; the Guide being a creature provides a body on the board that can advance your battlefield presence.

A comparable creature card is Breaker of Armies, which, while significantly more mana-intensive, forcibly draws all blocker’s attention, effectively allowing your other creatures unobstructed passage to your opponent’s life points. While Breaker of Armies acts as a universal unblockable enabler, Ghirapur Guide’s ability is more targeted and cost-efficient, allowing for more strategic play rather than an overwhelming force approach.

In the context of creatures that facilitate unobstructed attacks, Ghirapur Guide stands out for its versatility and the tactical advantage it provides in MTG matches. Its ability to selectively render creatures unblockable can create pivotal turning points in gameplay, making it a valuable asset for decks looking to push through critical damage.

Rogue's Passage - MTG Card versions
Breaker of Armies - MTG Card versions
Rogue's Passage - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Breaker of Armies - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

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Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
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Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
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Yavimaya Elder - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Awakener Druid - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghirapur Guide MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Core Set 2019, 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 Ghirapur Guide and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghirapur Guide Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Scott Murphy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1562015normalblackScott Murphy
22018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1822015normalblackScott Murphy
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4002015normalblackScott Murphy
42022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6652015normalblackScott Murphy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghirapur Guide has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 Once a creature with power 2 or less has blocked a creature, activating Ghirapur Guide's ability won't change or undo that block.
2018-07-13 Once a creature with power 3 or greater has blocked the target creature, changing the power of the blocking creature won't change or undo that block.

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