Gaseous Form MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 59
1995-04-01 - Number 74
1995-04-01 - Number 74
1995-08-01 - Number 32
1997-03-24 - Number 90
1997-10-14 - Number 65
1999-04-21 - Number 71
2000-10-01 - Number 8
2015-05-06 - Number 51
2016-06-10 - Number 51
2019-11-07 - Number 389
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-51
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Damage done to target creature by creatures it blocks, or that block it, is reduced to 0. Creature deals no damage during combat.
". . . [A]nd gives to airy nothing/ A local habitation and a name." —William Shakespeare, *A Midsummer-Night's Dream*
Cards like Gaseous Form
Gaseous Form is a classic protective enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that offers a unique defensive strategy. It shares similarities with spells like Ghostly Possession and Guard Gomazoa in the realm of creature protection. Gaseous Form ensures that a creature neither deals nor receives combat damage, somewhat echoing the capabilities of Ghostly Possession, which also eliminates all combat damage that would be dealt to and by the enchanted creature.
Despite these parallels, Gaseous Form stands out due to its lower mana cost and the absence of a life point cost which accompanies Ghostly Possession. Moreover, Guard Gomazoa provides a deterrent by being an actual defender with a similar damage prevention effect, but it must be on the battlefield to function, whereas Gaseous Form can protect any creature.
Assessing the strengths and utility of these cards, Gaseous Form presents itself as a cost-effective method for protecting valued creatures or nullifying enemy threats, making it a respectable choice among MTG protection spells. Its flexibility and affordability neatly position it within the game’s long history of creature protection strategies.
Cards similar to Gaseous Form by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gaseous Form ensures your key creatures stay on the board by preventing all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by the enchanted creature. This advantage preserves your creatures’ ability to influence the board without risking their loss in battle.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana resources, Gaseous Form can be a form of acceleration by allowing your creatures to survive combat phases, effectively sparing you from investing further resources into casting new creatures.
Instant Speed: While Gaseous Form itself is an enchantment that requires sorcery speed, its impact on the game is similar to instant speed interactions by negating the threat of instant speed removals or combat tricks your opponents might have, protecting your creatures when it’s most crucial.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Gaseous Form card doesn’t inherently cause card disadvantage, but it requires careful planning as it necessitates a permanent on the battlefield to be useful. In situations where board presence is scarce, it may sit idly in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: While not overly restrictive, Gaseous Form’s mana cost does include one blue mana. This makes it exclusive to decks running blue or approaches that accommodate dual or any-color mana resources, potentially excluding it from mono-colored or color-limited strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, including one blue, players might consider the cost for an effect that only prevents damage—but not blocking—a bit steep. For the same investment, alternatives could provide more comprehensive protection or even counter threats before they materialize on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gaseous Form is a unique enchantment that can be a part of various blue-centric decks, particularly those geared towards control. By preventing all damage that would be dealt to and by the enchanted creature, it serves as both a defensive measure and a way to neutralize potential threats.
Combo Potential: This card is an excellent addition to any deck that seeks to exploit specific creature abilities without risking combat damage. It can be part of combos that need protecting key creatures or effectively taking opponents’ major threats out of combat.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies often dominate, having a reliable way to protect your most valuable creatures or nullify an opponent’s attacker can be incredibly impactful. Gaseous Form remains relevant in environments where combat damage is a primary path to victory.
How to beat
Gaseous Form is a unique aura in the world of Magic: The Gathering, rendering any creature it enchants immune to combat damage. This can be a strategic annoyance, but there are several methods to circumvent its protective bubble. Targeted removal spells that do not deal damage, such as Path to Exile or Murder, can efficiently dispose of the enchanted creature without the need to engage it in combat.
Enchantment removal is another straightforward solution. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize allow you to strip away the Gaseous Form, leaving the creature vulnerable once again. Alternatively, board wipes that don’t specify damage, like Wrath of God, can clear the field irrespective of any damage-preventing effects. It’s worth noting that Gaseous Form only prevents combat damage, so abilities that cause loss of life or reduce toughness can also bypass its protection.
Overall, while Gaseous Form might seem daunting at first glance, it cannot stand against the myriad of non-damage based removals and board-control strategies available in Magic: The Gathering. With the right tactics, overcoming this enchantment is a breeze, ensuring your path to victory remains unobstructed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gaseous Form MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition, 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 Gaseous Form 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Gaseous Form Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 59 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 74 | 1993 | Normal | White | Phil Foglio | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 74 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 32 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 5 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 90 | 1997 | Normal | White | Doug Keith | |
| 6 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 65 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 7 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 71 | 1997 | Normal | White | Roger Raupp | |
| 8 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 8 | 1997 | Normal | White | Roger Raupp | |
| 9 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 51 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 10 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 51 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 11 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 389 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | EMA-51 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gaseous Form has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gaseous Form card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | The enchanted creature can still attack and block. |