Gollum, Patient Plotter MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 309
2023-06-23 - Number 535
2023-06-23 - Number 84
2023-06-23 - Number 801
2023-06-23 - Number 450
2023-06-23 - Number 41
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Halfling Horror |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Gollum, Patient Plotter leaves the battlefield, the Ring tempts you. , Sacrifice a creature: Return Gollum from your graveyard to your hand. Activate only as a sorcery.
Cards like Gollum, Patient Plotter
Gollum, Patient Plotter introduces a unique dynamic to gameplay that echoes certain characteristics found in other MTG cards. Notably, it shares similarities with cards like Crafty Cutpurse, which twist the tide of token generation to the player’s advantage. Gollum’s ability to hijack an opponent’s creature token by simply revealing it from their hand stands out as an intriguing strategic element. However, unlike Crafty Cutpurse, Gollum requires the token to be a goblin and involves an additional draw effect, making it a more situational yet potentially rewarding play.
Looking at Sower of Temptation offers another comparison. This card also allows for taking control of creatures, though its application is broader since it’s not restricted to token creatures. But Gollum’s edge lies in its lower cost and letting its controller draw a card when a goblin token creature is taken, underscoring Gollum’s potential for both control and draw strategies.
By examining gameplay impact and ease of integration into decks designed around creature control and token manipulation, Gollum, Patient Plotter earns its place as a compelling choice, especially in formats where goblins are a prevalent and potent force.
Cards similar to Gollum, Patient Plotter by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gollum, Patient Plotter. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Black Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gollum, Patient Plotter provides a consistent mechanism for card selection and draws, truly shining in long-term strategies that require a steady flow of options.
Resource Acceleration: This card is adept at ramping up your mana resources. Its ability to generate clue tokens can be converted into card draws or additional mana, pivotal for outpacing opponents.
Instant Speed: Although Gollum, Patient Plotter operates at sorcery speed, its generated clue tokens can often be utilized at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt to the game’s changing dynamics on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gollum, Patient Plotter, demands that you discard another card to utilize its abilities, which can be a steep price when your hand is already depleted or when every card counts towards your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: To summon Gollum to the battlefield, you’ll need to meet a very precise mana requirement which makes it less flexible, likely narrowing its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce the needed colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the total cost to both play and activate Gollum, Patient Plotter’s abilities, it becomes evident that the investment is significant. Other cards at a similar mana cost could potentially provide more immediate or impactful advantages.
Reasons to Include Gollum, Patient Plotter in Your Collection
Versatility: Gollum, Patient Plotter is a dynamic addition to any deck seeking a balance between control and subtle power. Its ability to manipulate draws through scry ensures that players have access to necessary resources at critical moments in gameplay.
Combo Potential: With Gollum, Patient Plotter, deck builders have a linchpin for intricate combos, especially in decks that capitalize on knowledge of the upcoming cards or need to set up the perfect hand for a winning move.
Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment that’s constantly evolving, the adaptability of Gollum, Patient Plotter keeps it relevant. Its strategic edge shines against decks that may not expect such cunning from an unassuming card, making it a crafty play in various metagames.
How to Beat Gollum, Patient Plotter
Gollum, Patient Plotter joins the ranks of unique creatures in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering. Key to dealing with this crafty character is understanding its mechanics and impact on the game. Gollum, known for its resourceful accumulation and manipulation abilities, presents a challenge to overcome. Nevertheless, with careful strategy, this obstacle can be surmounted.
A proactive approach involves disrupting Gollum’s synergies before they can substantially affect the board state. Utilizing removal spells efficiently to target Gollum before its controller can benefit from long-term investments is a solid tactic. Moreover, implementing graveyard hate cards to prevent any form of recursion ensures that Gollum remains a one-time threat. Incorporating instant-speed interaction allows players to react quickly to Gollum’s activated abilities, preserving a balance of power on the battlefield.
Ultimately, the interplay of precise timing, resource allocation, and preemptive disruption forms the backbone of a successful strategy against Gollum, Patient Plotter. By implementing these tactics, players can navigate the pitfalls set by this scheming creature and maintain an advantage in their Magic: The Gathering matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gollum, Patient Plotter MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Gollum, Patient Plotter 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 Gollum, Patient Plotter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 309 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Dominik Mayer | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 535 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lorenzo Mastroianni | |
| 3 | Tales of Middle-earth Art Series | ALTR | 41 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lorenzo Mastroianni | |
| 5 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 801 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Dominik Mayer | |
| 6 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 450 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Marta Nael |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gollum, Patient Plotter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gollum, Patient Plotter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer. |
| 2023-06-16 | Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time. |
| 2023-06-16 | Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one. |
| 2023-06-16 | If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you. |
| 2023-06-16 | The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger. |
| 2023-06-16 | The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game. |