Gustcloak Savior MTG Card

Onslaught (ONS)
2002-10-07 - Number 36

Gustcloak Savior - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora (DDO)

Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora (DDO)
2015-02-27 - Number 11

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Bird Soldier
Abilities	Flying
Power	3
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Gustcloak Savior enhances battlefield presence by protecting creatures and maintaining strategic plays.
It requires careful deck building with its specific mana cost, potentially narrowing versatility.
Direct removal spells or board wipes can effectively counteract Gustcloak Savior’s defenses.

Text of card

Flying Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, you may untap that creature and remove it from combat.

"Our death-arrows flew in high arcs towards the aven. And then . . . nothing." —Coliseum guard

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gustcloak Savior proves its worth by allowing you to redirect potentially unfavorable combat situations, essentially preserving your creatures for future turns and maintaining card presence on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct ramp card, Gustcloak Savior indirectly accelerates your resources by keeping your key creatures on the field, ready to continue your strategic plays without missing a beat.

Instant Speed: While not at instant speed itself, Gustcloak Savior grants your creatures the ability to effectively dodge spells or abilities designed to take them out in combat. This reactive capability can be a game-changer, presenting a swift response to the ever-changing dynamics of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Gustcloak Savior, players must be aware there isn’t a direct discard requirement, but it’s essential to consider the card resources committed to keeping it on the battlefield. Allocating cards to protect or synergize with it could indirectly lead to a thinner hand, which can compromise your position if Gustcloak Savior is removed.

Specific Mana Cost: Gustcloak Savior demands a precise mana combination to cast—three generic and two white mana—which may not align well with multicolored or particularly fast-paced decks. This specific cost requirement can influence deck building and mana base decisions, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to mainly white or white-centric decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Gustcloak Savior is somewhat expensive for its offered abilities, especially when compared to other creatures that can be played earlier in the game or offer more immediate board impact. Its mana cost can be a significant investment, which might deter players from including it in their decks if faster or more impactful options are available.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gustcloak Savior can be a flexible addition to decks focused on combat strategies. It offers protection for your attacking creatures, allowing them to evade unfavorable blocks and survive to attack another turn.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with various abilities like “tap an untapped creature you control” or with cards that have beneficial effects whenever a creature is returned to your hand, empowering numerous synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where combat-heavy strategies prevail, Gustcloak Savior holds considerable relevance. Its ability to safeguard your key creatures can swing the tide in creature-centric matchups, making it a strategic asset.

How to beat Gustcloak Savior

Gustcloak Savior can pose a significant challenge in creature-focused matchups within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to untap a creature and remove it from combat when it becomes blocked offers a strategic defense mechanism, especially in white weenie or token strategies where preserving your creatures is essential. The Savior is particularly adept at foiling combat maths and turning potential blowouts into mere setbacks.

Overcoming Gustcloak Savior often requires a shift from combat reliance to alternative strategies. Tactics such as removal spells bypass the need to engage in combat entirely. Cards like Murder or Path to Exile can cleanly remove Gustcloak Savior from the battlefield. Utilizing these options allows for a more direct and unimpeded path to your opponent’s life total. Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, nullifying the Savior’s utility and leaving your opponent without their critical defense.

Therefore, when facing off against the defensive might of Gustcloak Savior, adapting your approach to incorporate direct removal or sweeping board clears can tip the scales in your favor. By doing so, you counteract the Savior’s protective abilities and maintain the pressure on your opponent in MTG.

Cards like Gustcloak Savior

Gustcloak Savior is a unique creature card that offers a tactical advantage in creature-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to cards like Reconnaissance, which also grants the ability to remove creatures from combat. However, Gustcloak Savior stands out by directly returning the creature to play, thus protecting it from potential combat damage or from triggers associated with being dealt damage.

Another card with a similar protective theme is Stonecloaker. While Stonecloaker offers a one-time use, by returning a creature to hand and then re-casting it, it can also purge a card from a graveyard, giving it a dual purpose and flexibility in playstyles. Gustcloak Savior, however, remains steady on the battlefield, providing ongoing protection round after round.

Examining these parallels, Gustcloak Savior’s continuous protective ability can be a game-changer in Magic: The Gathering, particularly for those players valuing the safety and tactical reassignment of their creatures during the heat of battle.

Cards similar to Gustcloak Savior by color, type and mana cost

Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions

Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gustcloak Savior MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora, 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 Gustcloak Savior and other MTG cards: