Gargos, Vicious Watcher MTG Card
Text of card
Vigilance Hydra spells you cast cost less to cast. Whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell, Gargos, Vicious Watcher fights up to one target creature you don't control.
Cards like Gargos, Vicious Watcher
Gargos, Vicious Watcher stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable force for decks that leverage Hydras. This legendary creature lowers the cost of Hydra spells, making it akin to a tribal lord. When compared to other mana-reducing lords like Goblin Warchief or Urza’s Incubator, Gargos excels in providing a cost reduction of four generic mana for Hydras. While Goblin Warchief and Urza’s Incubator assist their respective tribes in speed and efficiency, they don’t match Gargos in terms of sheer mana value for key creature spells.
Moreover, Gargos offers more than just mana efficiency. It also brings a layer of protection through its ability to fight another target creature when a spell targets one of your Hydras. In contrast, tribal leaders such as Elvish Archdruid boost mana but lack direct interactivity that can remove threats and defend your board presence like Gargos can.
Thus, for Hydra enthusiasts and deck builders crafting around this creature type, Gargos, Vicious Watcher provides an unparalleled blend of cost reduction and board control, solidifying its place as a pivotal card in Hydra-centric builds in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Gargos, Vicious Watcher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unlike many creatures that offer value only upon their entry or exit from the battlefield, Gargos, Vicious Watcher’s ability to fight another target creature when targeted by a spell affords you the potential for multiple eliminations. This Hydra-centric mechanic can tip the scales in your favor, effectively clearing the board of threats without costing you extra cards from hand.
Resource Acceleration: Gargos stands out in green’s repertoire for its cost-reduction ability for Hydra spells. By trimming 4 generic mana off each Hydra you cast, Gargos not only accelerates your board presence but also frees up resources. This allows you to deploy additional spells, ramp up your mana, or establish dominance with overwhelming force significantly earlier than most opponents can handle.
Instant Speed: While Gargos itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its reactive ability aligns with green’s nature by making any instant-speed targeting spell a potential removal tool. This interaction creates a deterrent for opponents, who must consider the risk of triggering Gargos’s fight ability each time they contemplate a spell or ability targeting your creatures. It encourages a cautious approach, providing you with psychological and board advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Gargos Vicious Watcher doesn’t impose a discard requirement itself, players who want to maximize its potential often lean on cards that do. This strategy can backfire if your hand becomes depleted too quickly, leaving you at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Gargos comes with a demanding color commitment of three green mana. Deck builders must ensure a highly tuned mana base to reliably cast it, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to mono-green or heavily green-weighted decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six-mana total cost to summon Gargos is steep, particularly in formats where speed is of the essence. While its effect on Hydra spells is significant, in some situations, players might find lower-cost creatures or spells that provide utility and board presence more rapidly.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gargos Vicious Watcher serves as a powerful force in any deck that embraces Hydras or heavy creature-based strategies. Its ability to reduce the cost of Hydra spells makes it an asset for summoning colossal creatures swiftly and efficiently.
Combo Potential: Gargos is not just a cost-reducer; its reactive ability to fight a creature when targeted by a spell creates opportunities for tactical removal. Pair this with cards that target your own creatures for beneficial effects, and Gargos turns those moments into an offensive advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s creature-focused or where removal spells are prevalent, Gargos stands out. It can dissuade opponents from targeting your creatures, knowing they might lose one of their own, and its formidable 8/7 stats make it a significant threat on the board.
How to beat
Gargos, Vicious Watcher offers a potent boost for hydra-themed decks in MTG, presenting a significant challenge for opponents. Its cost reduction for Hydra spells and its reactive ability to fight other creatures when targeted demand thoughtful strategies to overcome. Countering Gargos effectively requires a two-pronged approach: preventing it from hitting the battlefield and managing it once in play.
Control decks can maintain the upper hand by keeping counterspells ready. Spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can prevent Gargos from ever becoming a threat. For those facing Gargos post-summoning, spot removal that doesn’t target, such as board wipes or sacrifice effects, can sidestep its fighting mechanic. Wraths like Damnation or Toxic Deluge clear the board without triggering Gargos’ defensive capabilities.
Close games rely on understanding creature dynamics and capitalizing on non-targeted removal or timing counterspells precisely can mean the difference between defeat and victory against the formidable Gargos, Vicious Watcher.
BurnMana Recommendations
Anchoring your deck around Gargos, Vicious Watcher can transform your MTG strategy with a tantalizing blend of mana economy and tactical board control. Harnessing Gargos’s unique abilities can clear the way for mighty Hydra assaults while keeping your hand flush with options. For those captivated by the allure of raw power and crafty battlefield dynamics, delve deeper into Gargos’s potential. Grow your collection, optimize your deck, and become a formidable presence at any table. Dive into our resources and allow Gargos, Vicious Watcher, to elevate your MTG experience to new, exhilarating heights. Embark on the journey with us!
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gargos, Vicious Watcher MTG card by a specific set like Resale Promos and 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 Gargos, Vicious Watcher and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Gargos, Vicious Watcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-01-01 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-01-01 | Resale Promos | PRES | 172 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 2 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 172 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1329 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | CatDirty |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gargos, Vicious Watcher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gargos, Vicious Watcher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-07-12 | Gargos’s controller chooses which creature (if any) Gargos will fight, not the controller of the spell. |
| 2019-07-12 | Gargos’s cost-reduction ability affects only generic mana in a Hydra’s cost. For example, if you cast a Hydra spell with mana cost , it will cost to cast, not . |
| 2019-07-12 | Gargos’s cost-reduction ability applies only while it’s on the battlefield. Gargos doesn’t reduce its own cost. |
| 2019-07-12 | Gargos’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2019-07-12 | If a spell has in its mana cost, you choose the value for X before applying cost reductions. For example, if you cast a Hydra spell with mana cost and choose for X to be 6, you pay . Any of that Hydra’s abilities that refer to X still uses 6 as the value for X regardless of what you actually paid. |
| 2019-07-12 | If a spell targets one creature you control multiple times, Gargos’s ability triggers once. If that spell targets multiple creatures you control, Gargos’s ability triggers once for each of those creatures. |
| 2019-07-12 | If the target creature is an illegal target when Gargos’s last ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve. If Gargos is no longer on the battlefield, the target creature won’t deal or be dealt damage. |
| 2019-07-12 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Gargos). The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was. |
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.