Gorilla Chieftain MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 94a
1996-06-10 - Number 94b
1999-04-21 - Number 235
2001-04-11 - Number 250★
2001-04-11 - Number 250
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Ape |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
o1o G: Regenerate
"Oh, no—not *you* again?!" —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Cards like Gorilla Chieftain
Gorilla Chieftain holds its own in the long list of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, emphasizing strength and resilience on the battlefield. Analogous to cards like Troll Ascetic, the Chieftain provides players with the ability to stand firm against an opponent’s attempts to remove it. Unlike the Troll, which inherently boasts hexproof, Gorilla Chieftain requires mana to regenerate. Despite this, the flexibility to use this ability any number of times makes it a formidable opponent indeed.
In the realm of green creature cards, we see the likes of Thrun, the Last Troll making waves due to its uncounterable nature and regeneration. The Chieftain, while it lacks the protection from being countered, compensates with its lower casting cost. It also echoes the abilities of cards like Silvos, Rogue Elemental, yet it is more mana-efficient and easier to cast, albeit less powerful in terms of raw stats.
Ultimately, while there are numerous options available for players seeking resilient creatures, Gorilla Chieftain offers a unique balance between cost and survival capabilities, striking a harmonious chord within the roster of creatures that can repeatedly dodge destruction.
Cards similar to Gorilla Chieftain by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gorilla Chieftain offers a unique edge by potentially forcing your opponent to use more than one card to deal with it, thanks to its ability to regenerate. This means that in the long game, you can wind up ahead in the card economy, as opponents waste resources trying to remove it from the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although Gorilla Chieftain itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its resilience can lead to a form of virtual acceleration. By consistently having a board presence without needing to invest multiple cards, you can allocate resources elsewhere, effectively advancing your board state.
Instant Speed: The Chieftain’s regeneration ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you flexibility during combat or in response to removal spells. This allows you to make decisions with more information and potentially bluff interactions during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and potentially misallocating their own resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Gorilla Chieftain does not directly require you to discard a card, playing it in a game can indirectly lead to discarding if you’re stretched for resources to activate its abilities or cast other spells in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Gorilla Chieftain demands a specific mana composition to be cast – two green mana as part of its total cost. This restricts the card to green-centric or multi-colored decks that are capable of producing green mana reliably.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic and two green mana, Gorilla Chieftain comes with a somewhat high price for its stats and abilities. Players must evaluate whether its ability to gain trample until end of turn justifies the cost, especially when there are other creatures that offer more impact or versatility for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gorilla Chieftain stands out as a flexible choice for various green deck builds, offering a sizable creature that can become a threat on its own. Its ability to regenerate makes it a resilient option against control decks relying on destroying creatures as a path to victory.
Combo Potential: In decks geared towards utilizing creatures’ abilities, Gorilla Chieftain can be particularly potent. Its inherent regeneration sets up the potential for various combos with cards that capitalize on creatures surviving combat or spells. It can be a key piece in creature-based synergies, providing both offense and defense.
Meta-Relevance: While not always at the forefront of the competitive scene, Gorilla Chieftain can offer surprise value in a meta that is unprepared for it. Its capability to dodge common removal spells can make it a formidable presence in games where opponents might lack the right answers.
How to beat
Gorilla Chieftain holds its own in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It brings a robust presence on the battlefield with its resilience, thanks to the ability to regenerate. This forest-dwelling powerhouse can stand up to many threats that would otherwise send a creature to the graveyard, enabling it to fight another day.
Counteracting Gorilla Chieftain’s might typically requires a strategy that circumvents its regenerative capabilities. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation clear the field of all creatures, regardless of their protective traits. Alternatively, exile effects from cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can permanently remove the Chieftain from the game, bypassing its ability to endure destruction. Additionally, taking control of the match with enchantment-based restrictions such as Pacifism can neutralize the Gorilla Chieftain without having to engage it directly.
Understanding your arsenal of spells and choosing the most effective means of removal or control are key when facing a creature with the tenacity of Gorilla Chieftain. By deploying a smart tactical approach, you can ensure that this formidable ape doesn’t become king of the jungle on your watch.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gorilla Chieftain MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Gorilla Chieftain 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 Gorilla Chieftain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 94a | 1993 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
| 2 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 94b | 1993 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 235 | 1997 | Normal | White | Quinton Hoover | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 250★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 250 | 1997 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gorilla Chieftain has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |