Gargoyle Castle MTG Card

Gargoyle Castle offers late-game utility, acting as both a land and a creature to enhance board presence. It morphs at instant speed, allowing surprise defensive or offensive plays, optimizing strategic gameplay. Activation requires a significant sacrifice, which may affect mana stability and overall gameplay strategy.

Magic 2010 (M10)
2009-07-17 - Number 225

Commander 2014 (C14)
2014-11-07 - Number 297

Gargoyle Castle - Commander Anthology (CMA)

Commander Anthology (CMA)
2017-06-09 - Number 250

Commander 2019 (C19)
2019-08-23 - Number 245

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Rarity	Rare
Type	Land

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool. , , Sacrifice Gargoyle Castle: Put a 3/4 colorless Gargoyle artifact creature token with flying onto the battlefield.

Most knew of the tower's wizard and gargoyle. Few realized which was guardian and which was master.

Cards like Gargoyle Castle

Gargoyle Castle is a unique land card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a versatile option for their deck. It shines when compared to cards like Foundry of the Consuls, which similarly transforms into a creature, albeit producing two 1/1 artifact creature tokens instead of a singular entity. Gargoyle Castle’s ability to create a formidable 3/4 flying Gargoyle offers a significant aerial threat, standing out in decks that require durable blockers or aggressive flyers.

Looking at Spawning Bed, another land with transformation capabilities, we notice an emphasis on quantity over individual quality. Spawning Bed provides three 1/1 Eldrazi Scion tokens, which can add up in power but lack the formidable presence of a single Gargoyle Castle’s Gargoyle. Furthermore, the utility of Spawning Bed’s tokens as a mana resource may appeal to specific strategies.

In evaluating these cards, Gargoyle Castle’s instant creation of a substantial flying creature can be a game-changer in late-game scenarios, offering both a defensive fortitude and an offensive edge. Its one-time use and activation cost is a strategic consideration, yet it remains a valuable asset in MTG decks that benefits from versatile lands with creature-generating potential.

Foundry of the Consuls - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gargoyle Castle by color, type and mana cost

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Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gargoyle Castle offers a unique edge in late-game scenarios by transforming into a creature, adding to your board presence without the need to draw additional creature cards. This provides not only a land but also a potential attacker or blocker, thus serving as a two-in-one resource.

Resource Acceleration: As a land, Gargoyle Castle seamlessly integrates into your mana base, avoiding the pitfalls of drawing a situational card too early. When the time is right, it morphs into an asset that can act as both a mana source early on and a threatening presence later, optimizing resource usage throughout the match.

Instant Speed: The transformation of Gargoyle Castle from a land to a flying creature can be activated at instant speed, making it a versatile play during the end step of your opponent’s turn. This sudden shift can surprise unsuspecting opponents, providing defensive capabilities or an unexpected offensive maneuver.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gargoyle Castle provides a defensive creature, it also requires a significant sacrifice. Activating its ability means discarding a vital land from your battlefield, which could set you back, especially when you’re clawing for mana stability.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of the Gargoyle Castle is quite specific, needing one of each colored mana. This may not always mesh well with all deck types, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolored decks that might not always have the right mana available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Gargoyle Castle comes with a hefty mana cost for its activation. When you’re in the midst of an intense game, the five mana investment to produce a single Gargoyle token may not be the most cost-effective play, as there are alternatives that could provide a greater impact on the game with a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Gargoyle Castle in Your Collection

Versatility: Gargoyle Castle brings a unique blend to your deck, seamlessly integrating with various strategy builds. It serves both as a land early on and a creature generator in the late game when you need to apply pressure or defend.

Combo Potential: This card offers strategic depth for decks that synergize with creature tokens or need a creature on demand to activate certain abilities or enhance your battlefield presence.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the current meta, having a flexible land that can turn into a flying creature provides an edge against opponents, especially in formats where lands that double as threats are less common.

How to beat

Gargoyle Castle is an intriguing land card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a unique utility by transforming into a flying creature. While this adds a great defensive and offensive asset to your game, strategically overcoming it is quite possible. The key to defeating Gargoyle Castle lies in timing and resource management.

Firstly, keeping counter magic or instant-speed removal in your hand can ensure you are prepared when your opponent attempts to activate the castle’s ability. Be ready to act when they invest the mana to transform their land into a creature. This kind of response can negate the temporary advantage they might gain. Also, land destruction or other land control spells can effectively remove Gargoyle Castle before it ever becomes a threat on the board.

Moreover, since the castle becomes a creature with flying, cards that specifically manage or neutralize creatures with flying can be particularly useful. An artifact with reach or any spell that can bring down flying creatures will prevent Gargoyle Castle from soaring over your defenses. Ensuring you have such answers in your deck can tilt the game in your favor, negating the potential impact of Gargoyle Castle.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gargoyle Castle MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Commander 2014, 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 Gargoyle Castle and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gargoyle Castle Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2019-08-23. Illustrated by Paul Bonner.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-07-17	Magic 2010	M10	225	2003	Normal	Black	Paul Bonner
2	2014-11-07	Commander 2014	C14	297	2015	Normal	Black	Paul Bonner
3	2017-06-09	Commander Anthology	CMA	250	2015	Normal	Black	Paul Bonner
4	2019-08-23	Commander 2019	C19	245	2015	Normal	Black	Paul Bonner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gargoyle Castle has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal