Hold the Gates MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2013-02-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Gatecrash |
| Set code | GTC |
| Number | 16 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Zoltan Boros |
Text of card
Creatures you control get +0/+1 for each Gate you control and have vigilance.
"We grew up on these streets. We know them better than any Boros grunt from Zelzo."
Understanding Hold the Gates
Hold the Gates is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering with an ability that bolsters your defenses by giving your creatures vigilance as long as you control a Gate. It adds an interesting dynamic to decks built around Gate lands, providing not only an added tactical advantage on the defense but also enabling continued pressure during your turn without sacrificing guard.
Cards like Hold the Gates
In the realm of creature support enchantments, Hold the Gates has relatives that grant similar benefits. One can look at cards like Always Watching, which not only gives non-token creatures vigilance but also buffs them with a +1/+1. But, Hold the Gates offers a unique flavor, directly interacting with the Gate subtype, a trait not seen in cards like Always Watching. Another parallel can be drawn with High Alert, which affects untapping creatures and can also bypass toughness to deal damage. However, it lacks the synergy that Hold the Gates has with a Gate-based land strategy.
For those who enjoy a solid defense that transitions into aggressive plays, Brave the Sands is another enchantment to consider. Despite it not being tied to land types, it lets creatures block an additional attacker and naturally grants vigilance. But again, Hold the Gates shines with its Gate-centric gameplay, providing a unique approach to fortifying your battlefield position.
As we sift through similar supporting enchantments, Hold the Gates stands out as a specialized tool that not only empowers your board but enriches Gate-focused decks with its distinct utility and flavor in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Hold the Gates by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hold the Gates is a unique card that provides long-term card advantage by bolstering your defensive capabilities. This effect indirectly conserves the cards in your hand as you’ll likely need to cast fewer creatures to maintain a solid defense.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting your resources, Hold the Gates can effectively accelerate your game plan by allowing you to commit fewer resources to the board for defense, freeing them up for offensive or support roles instead.
Instant Speed: While Hold the Gates itself isn’t an instant, it interacts favorably with creatures that have flash. This synergy enables you to surprise opponents by boosting your gate-enhanced creatures at instant speed during combat or at the end of their turn, maintaining momentum and adaptability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This enchantment can turn into a liability if you are pressured into discarding cards, unfavorably impacting your hand and strategy
Specific Mana Cost: Hold the Gates requires a specific mix of mana that might not seamlessly fit into multi-color decks, potentially hindering its playability
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at three, there are alternative cards that might provide similar or better defensive benefits without as much investment
Reasons to Include Hold the Gates in Your Collection
Versatility: Hold the Gates offers valuable flexibility for any deck that focuses on maintaining a strong defensive position. Its ability to bolster every creature’s toughness ensures your creatures are tougher to take down, making it a strong pick across various defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: By providing vigilance to all your creatures as long as you control a Gate, this enchantment pairs exceptionally well with mechanics and cards that benefit from creatures not becoming tapped, enabling you to create a fortress-like board state that can both attack and defend efficiently.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are common, Hold the Gates shines by turning your board into an impenetrable wall. It increases the survivability of your creatures and counters strategies that rely on whittling down your defenses with repeated attacks.
How to beat
Hold the Gates is an often under-estimated enchantment in the arena of Magic: The Gathering that gains traction in defender-based decks. This card gives each creature you control the vigilance ability as long as it’s a defender, and for each Gate you control, those creatures get a +1/+1 boost. This can turn even the most benign board of defenders into a formidable fortress.
To effectively dismantle this strategy, prioritize removing the card itself, as it is the linchpin of the deck’s synergy. Spell removals like Disenchant can quickly eliminate the enchantment and significantly weaken the opponent’s defense. Additionally, focus on limiting the number of Gates in play. Land destruction or land bounce spells can disrupt this combo, making it difficult for the opponent to capitalize on Hold the Gates’ cumulative buff effect. Efficient use of board wipes also can reset the field, neutralizing the advantage bestowed by this enchantment. In essence, direct enchantment removal or disruption of the land base are two of the most reliable methods to counter a Hold the Gates based strategy.
Remember, MTG is about adaptation and disruption, and tackling Hold the Gates relies on the same principles. Make sure to have answers in your deck and plan your sideboard to increase resilience against these types of synergistic guard strategies.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hold the Gates MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Hold the Gates 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hold the Gates has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hold the Gates card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-01-24 | Creatures you control will have vigilance even if you control no Gates. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.