Galvanic Juggernaut MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 222
2014-06-06 - Number 200
2023-03-21 - Number 72
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Juggernaut |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Galvanic Juggernaut attacks each turn if able. Galvanic Juggernaut doesn't untap during your untap step. Whenever another creature dies, untap Galvanic Juggernaut.
Cards like Galvanic Juggernaut
Galvanic Juggernaut finds its niche in the landscape of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering with its unique untap mechanic. This card stands shoulder to shoulder with other self-impeding behemoths like Stuffy Doll. Both impose restrictions on themselves; Stuffy Doll with its indestructibility and targeted damage, and Galvanic Juggernaut needing a creature to perish each turn to untap. Yet, unlike Stuffy Doll, the Juggernaut requires a little more strategy to keep it consistently active.
Another card with a kindred spirit is Phyrexian Juggernaut. This juggernaut, however, charges forward with infect, converting its damage into poison counters against opponents—a different approach to hastening the game’s end. It does not have the untap limitation of the Galvanic counterpart, trading the versatility of damage for a more singular lethal focus.
Comparatively, Galvanic Juggernaut’s strength lies in its potential to be a recurring force once a foothold in creature control is established. Its capability to untap following the demise of any creature on the battlefield gives it a persistent presence that, if leveraged effectively, can repeatedly deliver powerful strikes in a player’s favor.
Cards similar to Galvanic Juggernaut by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Galvanic Juggernaut itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its persistent presence on the battlefield can lead to indirect card advantage. By forcing your opponent to deal with a robust threat, you may pull removal spells from their hand, thus depleting their resources. It also continuously untaps whenever any creature dies, including yours, allowing for consistent pressure and the potential for multiple blocks or attacks across turns.
Resource Acceleration: Galvanic Juggernaut, as a standalone artifact creature, doesn’t produce mana or ramp directly. However, its solid 5/5 body for 4 mana makes for an efficient usage of resources. The ability to untap it repeatedly could be synergized with cards or abilities that benefit from or activate with tapped creatures, potentially accelerating your board state or combo plays.
Instant Speed: Although Galvanic Juggernaut operates at sorcery speed since it’s a creature, its continuous untapping mechanism activates at instant speed. That means you can spring back to action immediately any time a creature dies. This trait keeps the Juggernaut poised and ready, threatening opponents with potential combat tricks or synergies with other instant-speed interactions in your deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One potential downside to Galvanic Juggernaut is its requirement for a creature to go to the graveyard to untap it. While this can synchronize with certain deck themes like sacrificial strategies, it might not always align with your game plan, leading to occasions where the Juggernaut remains tapped and unable to contribute to your defense or assault.
Specific Mana Cost: Despite its colorless nature, the four-mana cost of Galvanic Juggernaut can be demanding in the early game. It requires a solid mana base to ensure it can hit the battlefield without causing delays in your other plays, especially in multi-colored decks where mana consistency is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the increasing pool of artifact creatures in the game, Galvanic Juggernaut contends with many others that may offer immediate impact or lower casting costs. This could make the Juggernaut a less appealing option in faster-paced games where efficiency and tempo are crucial for victory.
Reasons to Include Galvanic Juggernaut in Your Collection
Versatility: Galvanic Juggernaut stands out due to its ability to be a formidable force across multiple deck archetypes. Given its solid stats for its cost, it’s a strong inclusion in both aggressive strategies seeking to apply pressure, and in more control-centric decks that might benefit from a resilient threat.
Combo Potential: With its unique untap mechanic, this card excels in decks that are rich in sac outlets or have creatures that tap to activate their abilities. It pairs well with cards that can continuously supply creatures to the board, thereby keeping the Juggernaut always ready to attack or block.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment regularly adjusts, the Galvanic Juggernaut can become a potent answer to decks that rely on establishing board control through creatures. Being able to consistently have a 5/5 attacker or blocker can heavily sway the tempo in your favor against midrange decks that aim to stabilize the board.
How to beat
Galvanic Juggernaut is a unique artifact creature in the realm of MTG, demanding special attention given its capacity to untap whenever another creature dies. However, despite its strength, defeating it isn’t an insurmountable task. Control spells can keep this behemoth in check, stalling the untapping ability crucial for its offensive momentum. Removal spells that don’t involve creatures dying, such as exile or bounce effects, can efficiently handle the Juggernaut without triggering its untap ability.
Ensnaring this artifact creature in a state of constant tap is also an effective strategy. Cards with tapping abilities can successfully lockdown Galvanic Juggernaut. Moreover, strategies leveraging board wipes circumvent its potential by removing multiple threats at once, ensure a clear path for your own creatures to triumph. Remember to play around Galvanic Juggernaut strategically; manage your creature engagement to limit opportunities for its untapping, thus blunting its impact on the battlefield.
In essence, to dismantle the advantage of Galvanic Juggernaut, adopt a tactical approach that minimizes creature deaths on your side and exploit its inability to untap on its own. In executing such plans, one finds the key to overcoming the formidable presence of the Galvanic Juggernaut in an MTG match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Galvanic Juggernaut MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Conspiracy, 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 Galvanic Juggernaut and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Galvanic Juggernaut Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 222 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano | |
| 2 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 200 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows of the Past | SIS | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Galvanic Juggernaut has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |