Gravelgill Axeshark MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Soldier |
| Abilities | Persist |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 164 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Kendall |
Text of card
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to play under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
"Their sharp scales would make good armor, if they'd just stay dead." —Taeryn, cinder armorkeep
Cards like Gravelgill Axeshark
Gravelgill Axeshark joins the ranks of defensive sea creatures in MTG with its potential to be a game-changer on the board. When diving into its depths, we can compare it to other sea-faring creatures such as Spiny Starfish. Both inhabit the blue realm of MTG’s vast waters, yet Gravelgill Axeshark presents a more aggressive approach with its higher power and the ability to persist, coming back once after being destroyed if certain conditions are met. Spiny Starfish, conversely, provides recurring defense with its regenerative ability and lacks the attacking edge of the Axeshark.
Another similar inhabitant of MTG’s oceans is Wall of Frost. This creature, like Gravelgill Axeshark, is excellent at stopping opponents in their tracks. Wall of Frost completely freezes any attacker that dares to confront it, whereas the Axeshark’s resilience lies in its ability to return to the battlefield. This makes the Axeshark a more versatile choice when strategizing for long-term presence and pressure on your adversaries.
Both cards hold merit depending on the strategy employed. One excels in defense, while Gravelgill Axeshark thrives on surviving the ebb and flow of battle, ready to wield its axelike fins again and again. MTG players looking to bolster their arsenal with creatures that can make a splash should certainly give Gravelgill Axeshark a slot in their deck.
Cards similar to Gravelgill Axeshark by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gravelgill Axeshark enables you to potentially trade with two of an opponent’s creatures due to its double strike ability, effectively offering a two-for-one scenario and enhancing your card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: This creature’s ability to untap a land whenever it attacks can provide a vital boost in resource acceleration, giving you the opportunity to utilize your lands more efficiently and potentially cast additional spells within the same turn.
Instant Speed: While Gravelgill Axeshark itself is not an instant, its synergy with instant speed spells is noteworthy. Playing it in a deck that utilizes instants allows you to maximize the value of its untap land ability, thereby keeping mana available for responses or end-of-turn plays, thus offering strategic flexibility during the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gravelgill Axeshark demands that you pitch another card to cast it from your graveyard. This can deplete your hand, especially in the crucial stages of gameplay where each card in hand could turn the tide.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a mix of black and blue mana, meaning it’s not the best fit for decks outside those colors. If your mana base isn’t set up to accommodate these requirements, the Axeshark might be a dead draw.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end for its stats, this card may not always be the most mana-efficient choice in your deck. In a game where tempo matters, there could be other creatures or spells that provide greater impact for the same or lesser cost.
Reasons to Include Gravelgill Axeshark in Your Collection
Versatility: Gravelgill Axeshark brings adaptability to the table as it can be included in blue or black decks or as part of a multicolored strategy. Its shapeshifting nature makes it an asset in various scenarios and can be a surprise factor mid-game.
Combo Potential: Combine this creature’s capabilities with cards that favor merfolk or those that have effects when a shapeshifter enters play. It can also be used to empower tribal themes, amplifying its impact on board presence.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s ability to adopt multiple types, it can prove highly effective in a meta that values tribal synergies and versatility. It navigates challenges posed by decks that might otherwise narrow out more singular-type creatures.
How to beat
The Gravelgill Axeshark is a distinct creature card in MTG that mesmerically masters the battlefield with its prowess. When facing this aquatic threat, understanding its mechanics is key. It typically excels in decks that emphasize on merfolk synergy or underwater themes. To successfully navigate against this tenacious predator, it’s crucial to implement strategies that disable its abilities or remove it directly from play.
Effective tactics include using removal spells that sidestep its hexproof capacity when it’s untapped, such as board wipes or spells that target when the Axeshark becomes a legal target during the player’s own turn. Employing creatures with protection from blue can neutralize its combat effectiveness, as they cannot be blocked or targeted by the underwater behemoth. Artifacts and spells that prevent creatures from untapping can also hamper its ability to shield itself with hexproof, leaving it vulnerable to your subsequent strategies.
Ultimately, outmaneuvering the Gravelgill Axeshark in MTG requires a balance of forethought and tactical removal. By integrating these approaches into your game plan, the tide can turn in your favor against this formidable opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gravelgill Axeshark MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Gravelgill Axeshark and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
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- MTG Mint Card
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gravelgill Axeshark has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gravelgill Axeshark card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-06-07 | If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work. |
| 2013-06-07 | If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner’s graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won’t trigger and the card won’t return to the battlefield. That’s because persist checks the creature’s existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point. |
| 2013-06-07 | If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they’ll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing. |
| 2013-06-07 | If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can’t return to the battlefield. |
| 2013-06-07 | If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player’s persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player’s persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time. |
| 2013-06-07 | The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it. |
| 2013-06-07 | When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it’s a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence. |