Empress Galina MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Merfolk Noble
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Empress Galina’s control of legendary permanents can shift game advantage significantly to the player.
  2. Activating her abilities at instant speed offers a dynamic defensive strategy during gameplay.
  3. Requires heavy mana investment, which could slow momentum in fast-paced matches.

Text of card

o Uo U, oc T: Gain control of target Legend or legendary permanent. (This effect doesn't end at end of turn.)

"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Empress Galina shines by giving you control over legendary permanents from across the battlefield. This strategic aspect can potentially deprive your opponents of their key pieces while enhancing your board presence, leading to a significant shift in advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, utilizing Empress Galina effectively streamlines your field with additional legendary permanents. This can indirectly contribute to your mana base if the creatures or artifacts you gain possess any mana-producing abilities.

Instant Speed: Empress Galina’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, allowing you to be reactive during your opponent’s turn. This ensures you’re always a threat at the table, as you can choose the most opportune moment to disrupt your rivals’ strategies by seizing their legendary icons.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Empress Galina, while possessing a potent ability to take control of legendary permanents, necessitates a dedicated slot in your deck that might otherwise be used for immediate board impact or other strategies that do not rely on the presence of legends to function efficiently.

Specific Mana Cost: Her inclusion in a deck demands a specific mana arrangement to utilize her abilities effectively, requiring both blue mana and a reliably diverse mana base to ensure you can play other spells in your deck alongside her.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic and two blue mana, Empress Galina’s summoning cost is significant, especially when considering that she requires a further investment of mana to activate her ability. In fast-paced games, this can place the player at a disadvantage as it may slow their overall momentum and game plan.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Empress Galina shines in a variety of deck builds, particularly those with a focus on control and theft mechanics. Her ability to take command of legendary permanents offers a unique edge regardless of your opponent’s strategy.

Combo Potential: Empress Galina pairs well with cards that can untap her to utilize her ability multiple times in a single turn. This interaction opens up room for powerful combos that are hard for your opponents to counteract.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where legendary creatures and planeswalkers frequently determine the outcome, Empress Galina maintains relevance by providing a steady answer to these threats, making her a savvy addition to your arsenal in ever-evolving gameplay scenarios.


How to beat

Empress Galina stands out in MTG as a unique commander with the ability to take control of legends, which can overturn the tides of the game rapidly. To strategize against this powerful card, players need to prioritize protective spells like Homeward Path, which can immediately return control of their creatures. In addition to that, running counterspells or instant-speed removal is critical to disrupt Galina’s control ability before it can be activated. Swift action is key, hence why instant-speed responses are advantageous.

Moreover, considering Empress Galina’s clear dependence on the number of untapped islands, land disruption can impair her ability significantly. Cards that limit land untapping or convert islands into other land types can be highly effective. It is also worth noting that Empress Galina requires a substantial resource investment to both play and utilize. Agile decks that focus on speed and efficiency may overwhelm an opponent before they can fully leverage Empress Galina’s potential. Many pathways exist, but the goal remains constant: neutralize her grip over the board swiftly and decisively.

Ultimately, while Empress Galina presents a formidable challenge, the combination of active countermeasures and strategic foresight can serve as the linchpin in claiming victory over her influential presence in a match.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Empress Galina’s strategic prowess on display, any MTG player should consider the tide-turning potential she offers. Her instant speed ability to commandeer legendary permanents can be a game-changer. If you’ve been swayed by Empress Galina’s charm or find yourself pondering innovative ways to enhance your gameplay, delve further into MTG’s depths with us. A wealth of strategies, card synergies, and collection must-haves await. For those ready to make waves across the battlefield with a touch of control mastery, we’re here to guide you through. Dive into the nuances of MTG and discover how a single card can redefine your deck’s capability.


Cards like Empress Galina

Empress Galina is a standout card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its unique ability to take command of other legendary creatures and artifacts. This ability draws parallels to other control cards like Gilded Drake, which swaps control with creatures upon entering the battlefield. While Gilded Drake has a more immediate effect, it doesn’t offer the same repeated control ability that Empress Galina does, and it’s also limited to creatures.

Another card worthy of comparison is Control Magic. Both are enchantments that allow you to seize control of your opponents’ creatures. However, Control Magic lacks the specificity and ongoing control empowered by Empress Galina, which targets the potent subclass of legendary permanents. Conversely, Sower of Temptation presents a creature-based control mechanic and, like Empress Galina, can repeatedly assert dominance over creatures, but it is not limited to legendaries and loses the control if removed.

As we delve into the capabilities of these alternatives, Empress Galina’s unique niche in commandeering legendary permanents becomes apparent. Its continuous control over game-altering legendaries makes it a valuable card, particularly in environments where such permanents are prevalent.

Gilded Drake - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Sower of Temptation - MTG Card versions
Gilded Drake - Urza's Saga (USG)
Control Magic - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Sower of Temptation - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Empress Galina by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
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Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
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Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
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Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Pirate Ship - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Wu Admiral - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Commander Masters (CMM)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)
Adarkar Windform - Coldsnap (CSP)
Infiltrator il-Kor - Future Sight (FUT)
Mulldrifter - The List (PLST)
Chasm Drake - Magic 2012 (M12)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Empress Galina MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Empress Galina and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Empress Galina Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 541997normalblackMatt Cavotta
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 99982015normalblackMatt Stewart
32020-09-26The ListPLST INV-541997normalblackMatt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Empress Galina has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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