Gishath, Sun's Avatar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Dinosaur Avatar
Abilities Haste,Trample, Vigilance
Power 7
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Gishath provides a card advantage by summoning dinosaurs directly from the library, bolstering your board presence swiftly.
  2. Mana cost and color specificity can limit Gishath’s playability, requiring careful mana base planning in decks.
  3. Despite a high casting cost, Gishath’s power on the battlefield can dictate the pace of the game.
Vigilance card art

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.

Text of card

Trample, vigilance, haste Whenever Gishath, Sun's Avatar deals combat damage to a player, reveal that many cards from the top of your library. Put any number of Dinosaur creature cards from among them onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gishath Sun’s Avatar’s imposing presence on the battlefield goes beyond its massive stats; it shines in granting you card advantage. Every time it deals combat damage to a player, you get to reveal that many cards from the top of your library, potentially putting any number of Dinosaur creatures from among them onto the battlefield. This ability can quickly overwhelm opponents with a barrage of prehistoric might without depleting the cards in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: The intrinsic power of Gishath lies in its synergistic relationship with other Dinosaurs, contributing to resource acceleration in your deck. By cheating massive Dinosaur creatures directly onto the battlefield, you skirt traditional casting costs. This surge of board presence achieved without spending additional mana can lead to a significant advantage, as it frees up your resources to control the game or further develop your board state.

Instant Speed: Whereas Gishath Sun’s Avatar itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the card enables a strategy that can take advantage of instant-speed interactions. The creatures it puts on the board may have flash or abilities that can be used at instant speed, allowing you to react to opponents’ actions while maintaining pressure with an ever-growing army of Dinosaurs.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Gishath, Sun’s Avatar demands a mix of red, green, and white mana, which may restrict its inclusion in decks that cannot reliably produce all three colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of eight mana, including three of which are colored, Gishath can be challenging to play early in the game, which can be a significant setback in fast-paced matches.

Discard Requirement: While Gishath does not have a discard requirement, its high mana cost implies a substantial commitment of resources that could leave players unable to respond to opponents’ actions promptly.


Reasons to Include Gishath Sun’s Avatar in Your Collection

Versatility: Gishath Sun’s Avatar thrives as the centrepiece in dinosaur-themed decks while also fitting seamlessly into commander decks craving a powerful late-game finisher. Its ability to summon dinosaurs straight from the library to the battlefield can dramatically alter the game’s momentum.

Combo Potential: Gishath Sun’s Avatar’s ability triggers not only allow for immediate board presence but also synergizes with enrage mechanics. This card can single-handedly populate the battlefield and activate numerous abilities in one fell swoop.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with slower, control-oriented decks, Gishath offers a formidable threat that must be answered. With a keen strategy, this card can easily overwhelm opponents unprepared for a dinosaur deluge, making it a smart inclusion for any meta aiming to outpace control decks.


How to Beat

Gishath, Sun’s Avatar is a powerhouse in the dinosaur tribal deck archetype, bringing formidability to the battlefield with its impressive stats and abilities. An effective strategy for overcoming this imposing force involves disrupting ramp, which fuels Gishath’s early arrival. Counteracting it requires targeted removal or counterspells before it hits the field. Once on board, its trample, vigilance, and haste demand immediate response with either board wipes or high toughness creatures to absorb the impact.

Playing around Gishath also includes edging out dinosaurs with exile effects or utilizing instant-speed removal in response to the trigger of its ability to prevent additional dinos from flooding the board. Smart deck building incorporating cards like Settle the Wreckage or Swords to Plowshares can be crucial. A strong defensive line with creatures that can endure Gishath’s onslaught or deathtouch creatures to neutralize it through combat will slow down your opponent’s momentum. Staying ahead of your opponent’s game plan is key—prioritizing land destruction or hand disruption can delay Gishath’s appearance or eliminate it as a threat before it declares an attack.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the depths of MTG strategy brings to light the myriad of ways to enhance your gameplay, and Gishath, Sun’s Avatar stands out as a titan among options. This card’s ability to command an army of dinosaurs can decisively turn the tides of battle in your favor. For those looking to wield this prehistoric power and optimize their decks, understanding the dynamics of ramping, resource management, and board presence is paramount. We encourage players to explore beyond the battlefield and dive into the knowledge pool that BurnMana offers. For insights on deck-building, strategy, and effective gameplay involving Gishath, embark on this journey with us and evolve your plays to roar to victory.


Cards like Gishath, Sun's Avatar

Gishath, Sun’s Avatar, is a powerhouse dinosaur that dominates the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Cards like Zacama, Primal Calamity share the spotlight in the realm of imposing dinosaur creatures. Zacama stands out with its untap lands ability when it enters the battlefield, yet it lacks the direct card advantage provided by Gishath’s ability to put dinosaurs from the library directly onto the battlefield.

Another notable comparison would be with Atla Palani, Nest Tender. While Atla herself isn’t a powerhouse, her ability to cheat dinosaurs and other creatures into play by cracking eggs can be equally game-changing. Though she plays a more behind-the-scenes role compared to Gishath’s straightforward attack trigger. Then there’s Etali, Primal Storm, which offers a different form of card advantage by letting players cast spells from the top of opponents’ libraries. While it doesn’t specifically cater to dinosaur synergy, it still presents a form of disruption and advantage that some players might find preferable.

Each of these cards carves out its niche while maintaining strong appeal amongst MTG players looking for impactful, tribe-focused commanders. Despite the differences, Gishath’s unique blend of tribal support, direct card advantage, and raw power certainly earns it a revered place in dinosaur-centric decks.

Gishath, Sun's Avatar - MTG Card versions
Zacama, Primal Calamity - MTG Card versions
Atla Palani, Nest Tender - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Gishath, Sun's Avatar - Ixalan (XLN)
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Atla Palani, Nest Tender - Commander 2019 (C19)
Etali, Primal Storm - Resale Promos (PRES)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gishath, Sun's Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Ixalan Promos, 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 Gishath, Sun's Avatar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gishath, Sun's Avatar Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 2222015normalblackZack Stella
22017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 222s2015normalblackZack Stella
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3202015normalborderlessTimba Smits
42023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 2292015normalblackZack Stella
52023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 3302015normalborderlessSidharth Chaturvedi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gishath, Sun's Avatar has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-09-29 If you have fewer cards in your library than the amount of damage Gishath deals, you reveal the cards you have. Because you're not drawing cards, you don't lose the game.

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