Gempalm Avenger MTG Card
2003-02-03 - Number 14
2015-02-27 - Number 9
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Cycling |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Cycling (, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.) When you cycle Gempalm Avenger, all Soldiers get +1/+1 and gain first strike until end of turn.
Cards like Gempalm Avenger
Gempalm Avenger is a distinctive card that can bolster a soldier deck in MTG. It bears resemblance to other cycling cards like Gempalm Polluter, which also provides an ability when cycled, except that instead of buffing creatures it deals damage to an opponent based on the number of zombies you control. Gempalm Avenger is unique, however, because it grants a temporary boost and vigilance to your soldiers when cycled.
Another similar card is Expunge, offering not only cycling but also an unconditional removal effect provided the target is nonartifact and nonblack. While Expunge serves a different purpose of creature control, Gempalm Avenger focuses on enhancing your army’s capabilities during combat. Both cards offer versatility and the advantage of cycling for card draw and additional effects.
Comparatively, Gempalm Avenger aligns more closely with cards that support specific creature types, enhancing the strength of tribal decks in the MTG universe. By examining its unique traits and how it synergizes with a soldier tribal strategy, Gempalm Avenger carves its niche as a tactical play in the right deck.
Cards similar to Gempalm Avenger by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Gempalm Avenger excels in providing card advantage as it allows you to cycle it from your hand, meaning you can draw a card while also potentially affecting the board state.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Gempalm Avenger can act as a tempo play by cycling it to draw into critical lands or spells, effectively smoothing out your mana curve for a more efficient game progression.
Instant Speed: What sets Gempalm Avenger apart is its cycling ability, which can be activated at instant speed. This offers the flexibility to surprise an opponent during their turn by boosting your creatures’ stats, thereby altering the course of combat to your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When cycling Gempalm Avenger, you need to discard it from your hand, potentially losing a valuable creature that could have been played on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Gempalm Avenger requires a precise mix of white mana for its casting cost, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored or mana-flexible decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end for its stat line and abilities, there might be other creatures or cards that offer similar benefits for less mana, making it a less attractive option in some strategies.
Reasons to Include Gempalm Avenger in Your Collection
Versatility: Gempalm Avenger can be a flexible addition to multiple decks due to its cycling ability, allowing card draw, while also providing a potential boost to your creatures during combat.
Combo Potential: Its cycling-triggered ability that provides +1/+1 and vigilance to your creatures is a neat combo enhancer, especially in decks that focus on creature-based strategies or go wide tactics.
Meta-Relevance: With the evolving game state, Gempalm Avenger holds relevance particularly against decks that lean heavily on combat. This solidifies its place in any collection geared towards adaptive gameplay.
How to beat
Gempalm Avenger can be a real game-changer for players who thrive on mixing soldier synergy with tactical card draw in Magic: The Gathering. Its cycling ability not only allows for a timely card refresh but it also buffs your soldiers, making them tougher to bring down in battle. However, defeating this card requires a deliberate strategy.
Removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, are highly effective against Gempalm Avenger. Consider using cards like Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the battlefield, negating the advantage this card provides. Counterplay also hinges on interrupting the cycling synergy. Graveyard disruption tools like Tormod’s Crypt can halt the momentum that the Gempalm Avenger’s player might depend upon. Additionally, maintaining removal options for the key soldier cards can undercut the value Gempalm Avenger brings to the table.
Flexibility and timing are paramount. Responding to the Avenger’s cycling trigger preemptively can minimize its impact, ensuring your opponent doesn’t get the upper hand. Factor in efficient removal and don’t let the cycle of advantages commence, hence Gempalm Avenger’s influence on the game will diminish significantly.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gempalm Avenger MTG card by a specific set like Legions 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 Gempalm Avenger 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
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Printings
The Gempalm Avenger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2015-02-27. Illustrated by Tim Hildebrandt.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-02-03 | Legions | LGN | 14 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 2 | 2015-02-27 | Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora | DDO | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tim Hildebrandt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gempalm Avenger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| 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 Gempalm Avenger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not. |
| 2008-10-01 | The cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. If the triggered ability doesn’t resolve (due to being countered with Stifle, for example, or if all its targets have become illegal), the cycling ability will still resolve and you’ll draw a card. |
| 2008-10-01 | When you cycle this card, first the cycling ability goes on the stack, then the triggered ability goes on the stack on top of it. The triggered ability will resolve before you draw a card from the cycling ability. |