Gloom Pangolin MTG Card

Disruptive to opponents, the Gloom Pangolin can subtly shift the tide of the game to your favor. With a low casting cost, it supports maintaining an efficient mana curve for strategic plays. Its potential as a blocker makes it unexpectedly useful during combat phase strategies.
Gloom Pangolin - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Nightmare Pangolin
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 1
Toughness 5
Number89
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byYW Tang

Cards like Gloom Pangolin

Gloom Pangolin has a unique place among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in terms of function could be cards like Wall of Wood or Tanglebloom, which also provide a low-cost option for early-game defense. Gloom Pangolin stands out for its efficient defense stats that make it a sturdy barrier against early aggressors in the game.

Comparing it to Wall of Wood, both share the commonality of being one-mana creatures with decent toughness, enabling players to stall the battlefield. However, Gloom Pangolin’s defining characteristic is its lack of defender status, allowing it to attack and not just serve as an immovable object. In contrast, another cousin in the defensive lineup is Tanglebloom, which can aid in mana fixing and provides occasional life gain. The Pangolin doesn’t share this versatility but compensates with potential offensive capabilities.

In sum, while assessing the purpose and impact of defensive options, Gloom Pangolin offers a strong presence for players seeking both a defensive wall and potential for combat engagement in their early-game strategy, positioning it firmly within Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal of defensive creatures.

Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Tanglebloom - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Tanglebloom - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Gloom Pangolin’s presence in your deck can potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy, which over time may translate into a subtle card advantage. This advantage is especially important in formats where grinding out resources is key to winning.

Resource Acceleration: While the Gloom Pangolin does not directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost helps maintain a smooth mana curve. This allows you to deploy threats efficiently while keeping mana available for other crucial plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Gloom Pangolin isn’t an instant itself, its impact can be felt during the combat phase. This creature can be an unsuspecting defender due to its surprising toughness, ready to block when your opponent least expects it, similar to the tactical flexibility that instant speed spells provide.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gloom Pangolin demands that you discard another card to activate certain abilities, which might deplete your hand faster than desired, especially in decks that don’t synergize with discard strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Gloom Pangolin’s casting cost is color-specific, requiring black mana. This can sometimes restrict its inclusion in multicolor decks or make it less accessible for players without a solid black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing in mind its abilities and overall impact on the game, Gloom Pangolin carries a somewhat hefty mana cost. Players might find themselves weighed down by this cost when there could be other creatures or spells that provide more tactical advantage or versatility for the same, or less, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Gloom Pangolin in Your Collection

Versatility: Gloom Pangolin’s simple requirements make it an adaptable choice for decks focusing on creature-based strategies or needing a solid defensive option. Its low mana cost allows for an early presence on the board.

Combo Potential: With its creature type and mechanics, Gloom Pangolin can synergize with cards that capitalize on creature sacrifice or graveyard strategies, potentially unlocking new layers of gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: If defensive creatures that excel at blocking are valuable in the current meta, then Gloom Pangolin’s robust toughness for its cost makes it a practical inclusion for decks needing to withstand aggressive opponents.

How to beat

Gloom Pangolin presents itself as a creature card that can catch players off guard in MTG. Its defining attribute is its resilience in the face of certain forms of removal due to its higher than average toughness for its cost. Recognizing this, the first step to surpassing it is through utilizing spells that specify destruction without concerning power or toughness. Broad-sweep damage spells, which deal damage to all creatures, can be ineffective given the Pangolin’s substantial toughness.

Strategic play is key when facing Gloom Pangolin. Employing exile effects or utilizing spells that force a player to sacrifice creatures can effectively bypass the Pangolin’s defense, as they do not rely on damage or destroy mechanics that compare to power or toughness. Direct player-to-player combat tricks or abilities that weaken or tap a creature can also render it harmless, preventing it from becoming a blocker.

Overall, your approach should be to circumvent the standard combat scenario where Gloom Pangolin thrives. By adopting alternative removal strategies or imposing conditions that negate its defensive capabilities, you can neutralize this unique creature and maintain an edge on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gloom Pangolin MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Gloom Pangolin and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gloom Pangolin has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal