Selesnya Guildgate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeLand — Gate

Key Takeaways

  1. Selesnya Guildgate aids in casting multicolor spells and supports dynamic green-white decks despite entering tapped.
  2. Works well in slower formats, providing consistent mana for Selesnya strategies without a high investment.
  3. Early pressure and land disruption can effectively counter decks relying on Selesnya Guildgate’s mana.

Text of card

Selesnya Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.

Enter and rejoice! The Conclave stands united, open to one and all.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Selesnya Guildgate itself doesn’t directly contribute to card draw, it supports a mana base that enables playing potent card advantage spells in the Selesnya colors efficiently.

Resource Acceleration: As a dual land, Selesnya Guildgate can be valuable in accelerating your resources. It may enter the battlefield tapped, but it provides access to two different colors which helps in casting multicolor spells sooner and with more consistency.

Instant Speed: Although the Selesnya Guildgate comes into play at sorcery speed, the mana it provides allows you to keep up with the pace of the game. This access to both green and white mana ensures you can cast impactful instant-speed spells in either color when the time is right.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Selesnya Guildgate doesn’t enforce a discard itself, it can indirectly lead to discard decisions due to its inability to provide immediate mana. This can pressure hands that are mana hungry, especially in the early game where tempo is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Selesnya Guildgate’s tap effect provides only green or white mana. This specificity can be restrictive for decks that are multi-colored beyond the Selesnya combination or require colorless mana for their key plays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Entering the battlefield tapped is akin to a higher mana cost because it delays usage until your next turn. For players competing in fast-paced games, the tempo loss could mean falling behind opponents who utilize more efficient lands.


Reasons to Include Selesnya Guildgate in Your Collection

Versatility: Selesnya Guildgate is a gateway to Green-White decks, providing a dependable source to balance your mana base without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for casual play and can be a worthwhile inclusion for multicolored commander decks.

Combo Potential: This card can be a crucial element in activating landfall abilities or supporting strategies revolving around gates, such as with the Maze’s End win condition. It can also be leveraged with cards that benefit from having a variety of lands in play.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where the pace is slower, and the focus is on methodical play, having a stable mana source like Selesnya Guildgate can be quite beneficial. It keeps your deck running smoothly and prepares you for casting significant spells without the strain on your budget that comes with pricier lands.


How to beat Selesnya Guildgate

In the vast universe of MTG, Selesnya Guildgate serves as a gateway for players to access both green and white mana. Its role is specifically pivotal in multicolor decks that rely on this color combination to fuel their strategies. This dual land, while beneficial in providing mana fixing, comes into play tapped, slowing the player’s momentum.

One effective tactic to outpace a deck hinging on Selesnya Guildgate is to apply early pressure. Aggressive decks that can unleash threats quickly may capitalize on the slowed tempo of a player depending on tapped lands. Furthermore, land destruction spells or effects that disrupt mana bases, such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin, can target guildgates, potentially stalling your opponent’s strategy even further. Another strategy includes employing cards like Blood Moon, which renders nonbasic lands less advantageous by turning them into basic mountains—hindering their original purpose.

By understanding the inherent limitations of Selesnya Guildgate, such as its entry into play tapped, players can strategize around it and potentially gain the upper hand in the rhythm of the game. Efficient mana curves and disruption tools are key in gaining an edge over decks that include this dual land.


Cards like Selesnya Guildgate

Selesnya Guildgate is a nonbasic land that taps for green or white mana, which is a cornerstone for multicolored decks within the MTG realm. It finds its parallels in the vast array of dual-land cards like Azorius Guildgate which provides blue or white mana, and Rakdos Guildgate that offers black or red mana options. However, Selesnya Guildgate is unique in supporting the conclave’s creatures and spells.

Another comparable card is Blossoming Sands. While also entering the battlefield tapped and providing the same mana colors upon activation, Blossoming Sands includes an added benefit of gaining 1 life when it comes into play. This slight advantage is worth considering during deck building. Alternatively, Temple Garden stands out as an upgrade, offering the choice to come into play untapped at the cost of 2 life, giving immediate access to mana resources.

Conclusively, in the intricate ecosystem of land cards, Selesnya Guildgate offers a reliable but basic option for green-white decks. It’s the go-to for players building on a budget, while those looking for faster or more beneficial effects might explore its aforementioned counterparts.

Azorius Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Sands - MTG Card versions
Temple Garden - MTG Card versions
Azorius Guildgate - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Rakdos Guildgate - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Blossoming Sands - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Temple Garden - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Cards similar to Selesnya Guildgate by color, type and mana cost

Savannah - MTG Card versions
Brushland - MTG Card versions
Vec Townships - MTG Card versions
Elfhame Palace - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Monastery - MTG Card versions
Riftstone Portal - MTG Card versions
Temple Garden - MTG Card versions
Overgrown Farmland - MTG Card versions
Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway - MTG Card versions
Temple of Plenty - MTG Card versions
Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree - MTG Card versions
Horizon Canopy - MTG Card versions
Graypelt Refuge - MTG Card versions
Sunpetal Grove - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Sands - MTG Card versions
Stirring Wildwood - MTG Card versions
Canopy Vista - MTG Card versions
Saltcrusted Steppe - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Expanse - MTG Card versions
Savannah - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brushland - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Vec Townships - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Elfhame Palace - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Nantuko Monastery - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Riftstone Portal - Judgment (JUD)
Temple Garden - Unfinity (UNF)
Overgrown Farmland - Doctor Who (WHO)
Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway - The List (PLST)
Temple of Plenty - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Horizon Canopy - Doctor Who (WHO)
Graypelt Refuge - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Sunpetal Grove - Fallout (PIP)
Selesnya Sanctuary - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Blossoming Sands - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Stirring Wildwood - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Canopy Vista - Fallout (PIP)
Saltcrusted Steppe - Commander 2017 (C17)
Tranquil Expanse - Commander 2018 (C18)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selesnya Guildgate MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Dragon's Maze, 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 Selesnya Guildgate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Selesnya Guildgate Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2462003normalblackHoward Lyon
22013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 1552003normalblackHoward Lyon
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 3212003normalblackHoward Lyon
42017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2462015normalblackHoward Lyon
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 2722015normalblackHoward Lyon
62017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2792015normalblackHoward Lyon
72018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2552015normalblackDimitar Marinski
82018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2562015normalblackDimitar Marinski
92020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1392015normalblackHoward Lyon
102024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4101997normalblackDimitar Marinski
112024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2862015normalblackDimitar Marinski
122024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 2452015normalblackHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Selesnya Guildgate has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Gate is not a basic land type.
2013-04-15 The subtype Gate has no special rules significance, but other spells and abilities may refer to it.

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