Granite Gargoyle MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 155
1993-10-04 - Number 156
1993-12-01 - Number 156
1993-12-10 - Number 156
1993-12-10 - Number 156
1994-04-01 - Number 156
1994-04-01 - Number 156
1994-06-21 - Number 156
2007-09-10 - Number 99
2022-11-28 - Number 151
2022-11-28 - Number 448
| Card sets | Released in 11 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Gargoyle |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying; oo R +0/+1 until end of turn.
"While most overworlders fortunately don't realize this, Gargoyles can be most delicious, providing you have the appropriate tools to carve them." —The Underworld Cookbook, by Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar
Cards like Granite Gargoyle
When delving into the robust roster of creatures in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Granite Gargoyle offers a unique flavor. This flying creature shares the skies with the likes of Mogg Sentry, which reacts to your opponent’s strategy by gaining strength indefinitely. However, Granite Gargoyle stands out with its mana-flexible ability to boost its own defense, giving it an edge in combat flexibility.
Glaring at the Granite Gargoyle and its cousins, we notice Ghitu Slinger – a creature that deals direct damage when entering the battlefield. It presents a more aggressive, though one-time, approach compared to the Gargoyle’s ongoing tactical defensive maneuvering. Then there’s Furnace Whelp, another dragon kin that increases its offensive capabilities with mana investment. While it demonstrates a similar mana-for-power dynamic, its focus is primarily on attack rather than defense.
Analyzing these comparisons, Granite Gargoyle secures a respected position among its creature peers. Its defense-scaling ability enables a strategic depth that offers players both defensive and offensive opportunities, making it especially valuable in decks that capitalize on board control and combat tricks within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Granite Gargoyle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Granite Gargoyle may not directly allow you to draw cards; however, its ability to avoid unfavorable trades due to its adjustable power can indirectly maintain your board presence. This ongoing threat requires opponents to deal with it, potentially draining their resources and keeping your advantage steady.
Resource Acceleration: While Granite Gargoyle itself doesn’t accelerate your resources in traditional ways, its mana-intensive ability can be a manner to make use of unused mana each turn, especially if you find yourself with an excess. This efficient use of resources across the course of a game can yield a subtle yet significant advantage.
Instant Speed: The true strength of Granite Gargoyle lies in its ability to increase its power at instant speed. This versatile feature ensures it can act both offensively and defensively, adapting fluidly to the state of the game and making it a formidable creature in combat scenarios.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Granite Gargoyle requires a very specific mana investment to cast. It’s not just about having three mana available; you need two of those to be red. This can make it challenging to slot the card into multi-colored decks or ones that are not heavily red-centric.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a flying creature with the potential for increase in toughness is advantageous, the Granite Gargoyle comes at a cost of three mana, which is a bit steep for its base stats. In a game where efficiency is key, there are other creatures that could provide more impact on the board for the same, if not a lower, mana investment.
Discard Requirement: Utilizing Granite Gargoyle’s ability to its full extent requires a commitment of not just mana, but often also cards from your hand. This can be seen as a downside since it decreases the cards available to you, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage in the later stages of the game where resources might be scarce.
Reasons to Include Granite Gargoyle in Your Collection
Versatility: The Granite Gargoyle thrives in decks that capitalize on its ability to tweak its power. Its flying attribute allows it to be a formidable defender as well as a reliable attacker in the skies.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its power-adjusting ability, this card complements strategies that involve damage triggers or power-based effects. It seamlessly slots into themes that revolve around power manipulation or red’s inherent unpredictability in battle.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, the Granite Gargoyle remains a flexible choice. Should the meta favor creatures with the power to control their battle stats, this gargoyle gains an edge, holding its ground amid the evolving dynamics of competitive play.
How to beat
The Granite Gargoyle, with its flying ability and flexibility in adjusting its toughness, may seem like an airborne menace on the MTG battlefield. To effectively counter this card, players should consider using efficient removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their power and toughness stats. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile are prime examples as they can bypass the Gargoyle’s toughness modification.
Another strategy would be to employ counter-magic when the Granite Gargoyle is cast. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent the Gargoyle from entering the battlefield in the first place, avoiding the challenge of dealing with it later. Additionally, utilizing creatures with reach or ones that can block flying creatures can also be a solid defensive tactic against the Gargoyle, making it difficult for the opponent to leverage its aerial capability.
In summary, facing the Granite Gargoyle need not be a daunting task if you’re equipped with the right spells to counter or prevent its impact. Through smart deck-building and strategic play, the challenge posed by this card can be effectively mitigated.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Granite Gargoyle MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Granite Gargoyle 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 Granite Gargoyle Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Christopher Rush.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 155 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 156 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 156 | 1993 | Normal | White | Christopher Rush | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 156 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 156 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 156 | 1993 | Normal | White | Christopher Rush | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 156 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 156 | 1993 | Normal | White | Christopher Rush | |
| 9 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 99 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 10 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 448 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Granite Gargoyle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |