Goldmane Griffin MTG Card


Goldmane Griffin - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Griffin
Abilities Flying, Vigilance
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number283
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byPaul Scott Canavan

Key Takeaways

  1. Absolute when optimizing card advantage, the Griffin provides a creature and an enchantment simultaneously.
  2. Resource acceleration isn’t direct, but fetching mana-enhancing enchantments crafts a gateway for rapid growth.
  3. Griffin’s instant-speed ability nuances matches, offering strategic superiority and flexible game interactions.
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

Flying, vigilance When Goldmane Griffin enters the battlefield, you may search your library and/or graveyard for a card named Ajani, Inspiring Leader, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you search your library this way, shuffle it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Goldmane Griffin enters the battlefield, its ability to tutor up an enchantment card directly into play helps establish immediate board presence. This inherently presents two points of value – you get a creature plus an enchantment without depleting extra cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Goldmane Griffin itself may not accelerate resources in the traditional sense, fetching an enchantment with inherent mana-producing capabilities can effectively serve this purpose. Cards that reduce casting costs or provide additional mana can be put into play directly, potentially ramping up your resources significantly.

Instant Speed: Ability triggers at instant speed are a rarity, but this is where Goldmane Griffin shines. With a relevant enchantment in play, you may activate abilities or combo interactions in response to opponents’ moves, thus gaining strategic advantage and control over the pace of the game with the Griffin’s versatile ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goldmane Griffin brings utility to the battlefield, its ability requires a nonland card to be discarded. This can be a setback, especially when your hand is already depleted or full of essential cards you can’t afford to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana required to cast Goldmane Griffin is not just any mana, but specifically includes white. This ties it strictly to decks that can produce white mana, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a mana value that can be demanding, especially in the early game, there are alternatives that might bring flying creatures to the field or provide similar abilities at a lower cost, allowing for a more efficient mana curve in your deck build.


Reasons to Include Goldmane Griffin in Your Collection

Versatility: Goldmane Griffin is a flexible card that can be slotted into various deck archetypes. As a flyer with vigilance, it can serve as both an offensive and defensive asset, fitting well into strategies that value creatures which can maintain board presence and exert pressure simultaneously.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to bring another permanent back into play when it enters the battlefield opens up multiple combo opportunities. It synergizes effectively with cards that have powerful enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects, allowing for recurring value and interaction in your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based strategies or demands board control, Goldmane Griffin holds its own. Its resilience and utility make it a contender in matches where maintaining a field presence can dictate the pace of the game, giving it a solid position in the competitive scene.


How to beat

Goldmane Griffin presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its vigilant flight and ability to bring renowned planeswalkers into play. Tackling this celestial being requires a combination of strategy and timing. Removing it before its renowned ability triggers is crucial. Consider instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to catch your opponent off-guard. If the Griffin lands and calls forth a planeswalker, you will need to shift your focus quickly. Direct damage spells or even board wipes can be effective in regaining control.

Don’t forget to manage your resources wisely. Goldmane Griffin carries a significant mana value, which means your opponent is potentially vulnerable elsewhere on the board. Capitalize on this by developing your board presence or holding up mana for counterspells to prevent the griffin from ever hitting the field. Edict effects that force your opponent to sacrifice a creature are also valuable, bypassing the Griffin’s potential indestructibility or protective abilities.

Ultimately, overcoming the Griffin is about anticipation and immediate response. By employing smart removal tactics and keeping pressure on your opponent, you can negate the advantage that Goldmane Griffin intends to bring to the match. Stay vigilant, and like the Griffin itself, soar above the challenges it presents.


Cards like Goldmane Griffin

Goldmane Griffin stands out in Magic: The Gathering with its aerial elegance and tactical advantage. This majestic creature shares qualities with other vigilant fliers, like the renowned Serra Angel. Both cards offer the perk of vigilance, enabling them to attack without tapping, which is excellent for defense. However, Goldmane Griffin elevates the game with its additional ability to proliferate when it enters the battlefield, increasing counters across your permanents, potentially tipping the scales in your favor.

Another card reminiscent of Goldmane Griffin’s utility is Juniper Order Ranger. While the ranger doesn’t possess flying, it compensates with a strengthening ability that boosts creatures every time they enter the battlefield under your control. It doesn’t have vigilance but can become markedly stronger over time, a key differentiator from the Griffin’s one-time proliferate effect.

Analyzing the attributes and synergy potential, Goldmane Griffin can be a game-changer in decks that capitalize on counters. Its arrival could catalyze the growth of not just one but multiple permanents, offering a strategic advantage that can be more impactful in certain situations than the incremental gains offered by similar creatures.

Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Juniper Order Ranger - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Juniper Order Ranger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goldmane Griffin MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Goldmane Griffin and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goldmane Griffin has restrictions

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

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