Griffin Aerie MTG Card


Provides card advantage by creating tokens, boosting both offense and defense in your MTG matches. The surprise element at instant speed during opponent’s turn can shift the tide of battle in your favor. Demanding activation conditions may limit Griffin Aerie’s effectiveness outside life-gain-centric decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of your end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, create a 2/2 white Griffin creature token with flying.

When griffins started nesting atop the northern tower, the castellan worried they'd be a nuisance. Instead, they took the entire castle under their protection.


Cards like Griffin Aerie

Griffin Aerie carves its niche within life gain strategies in Magic: The Gathering, standing alongside cards that reward players for maintaining a high life total. Ajani’s Pridemate is a befitting example, growing stronger each time you gain life. Griffin Aerie requires a life gain of three or more to create a token, a similar trigger to the Pridemate’s ability.

Resplendent Angel offers a comparable mechanic but heightens the game’s tempo with the potential to produce a more powerful angel token under the right conditions. Meanwhile, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun shines in decks focused on lifegain, providing consistent incremental life points and acting as a sturdy creature on the battlefield, though without the direct token generation that Griffin Aerie provides.

Ultimately, Griffin Aerie presents a unique option for players championing life gain, coupling durability with the strategic advantage of token creation—a feature that complements similar cards while contributing to the diversification and resilience of decks built around such themes in Magic: The Gathering.

Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Resplendent Angel - MTG Card versions
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Resplendent Angel - MTG Card versions
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Griffin Aerie by color, type and mana cost

Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Serra Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
Angelic Renewal - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Serra Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
Angelic Renewal - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Griffin Aerie. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Griffin Aerie offers a unique way to generate card advantage through creature tokens. When you fulfill its condition, you begin to accumulate an army of 2/2 flying Griffins, which can quickly tip the scales in your favor by providing both offensive and defensive options.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your available mana, having additional creatures on the field can significantly accelerate your board presence. Each Griffin you get acts as an additional resource, potentially saving mana you would have otherwise spent casting creatures from your hand.

Instant Speed: The ability to create 2/2 Griffin tokens can also be triggered at instant speed if you gain the requisite life during an opponent’s turn, which can be a surprise for an adversary not expecting aerial blockers or additional attackers during your next turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To trigger Griffin Aerie’s ability to create a Griffin creature token, your life total must increase by at least four during the turn. For decks that are not built around consistent life gain, this prerequisite can be difficult to fulfill, essentially rendering the card’s potential useless in certain game scenarios.

Specific Mana Cost: Griffin Aerie’s casting cost demands one white mana. This requirement potentially hinders its integration into multicolored decks that may run a tighter mana base, making it less flexible for a broader range of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for this enchantment, the investment might not align with the rewards, particularly when you consider other enchantments in the same cost bracket. Its activation hinges on a specific mechanic—life gain—which might not always be leveraged depending on your deck’s strategy or the state of the match, leading to an inefficient use of mana resources over the course of a game.


Reasons to Include Griffin Aerie in Your Collection

Versatility: Griffin Aerie is a card that can seamlessly integrate into life-gain themed decks or any strategy aiming to maintain a high life total. Its ability to create tokens can bolster your defenses or add firepower to your offense.

Combo Potential: With Griffin Aerie, you unlock a realm of synergy, especially with cards that enable you to gain life each turn. These consistent life triggers can quickly populate your board with flying creatures, a real advantage in the aerial combat aspect of the game.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape shifts, Griffin Aerie holds its ground in formats where life gain is relevant, or creature-based strategies dominate. It proves a steadfast companion in decks designed to outlast opponents through incremental advantage and board presence.


How to Overcome Griffin Aerie

Griffin Aerie, a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, can be a real nuisance if it’s allowed to trigger its ability consistently. Known for its potential to create 2/2 white Griffin creature tokens with flying, it becomes a problem if an opponent gains three or more life in a turn. To counter this, it’s essential to focus on preventing or mitigating life gain strategies that enable Griffin Aerie. Employing removal spells like Disenchant that directly target and destroy enchantments is a straightforward tactic. Additionally, redirecting your strategy to include more control elements can hinder your opponent’s ability to meet the aerie’s activation conditions.

Controlling the battlefield with board wipes or using counterspells to stop life gain spells ensures that the conditions for Griffin Aerie’s effect rarely, if ever, materialize. Graveyard interaction can also be key, with spells like Scavenging Ooze hindering strategies that rely on recurring life gain from the graveyard. Choosing the right moment and having a well-thought-out plan to disrupt life gain synergies will nullify Griffin Aerie’s impact on the game and maintain your control over the board.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhance your MTG collection with an informed edge by incorporating Griffin Aerie, a versatile card championing life gain strategies. Its token-generating ability fortifies your lineup, creating opportunities for both defense and offense. If life gain is a staple in your deck’s blueprint, this card is an asset worth considering. Yet, every card has its counters and understanding how to neutralize Griffin Aerie’s strengths will give you the upper hand. Board wipes, strategic counterspells, and enchantment removal can curb the advantage it offers. Dive deeper into MTG strategy with us and make every play count. Your deck’s evolution starts here.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Griffin Aerie MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and The List, 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 Griffin Aerie and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Griffin Aerie Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 222015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
22020-09-26The ListPLST M21-222015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 52015NormalBorderlessEva Eskelinen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Griffin Aerie has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Griffin Aerie card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-06-23 Griffin Aerie's ability looks at how much life you've gained in the turn, even if it wasn't on the battlefield when you gained life. It doesn't care if you also lost life, even if you lost more life than you gained.
2020-06-23 If you haven't gained 3 life by the time your end step begins, Griffin Aerie's ability won't trigger at all.
2020-06-23 You create just one Griffin token, no matter how much life you've gained past 3 life.