Keeper of the Nine Gales MTG Card
2003-02-03 - Number 42
2020-09-26 - Number LGN-42
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Bird Wizard |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying , Tap two untapped Birds you control: Return target permanent to its owner's hand.
"You cannot fight the storm."
Cards like Keeper of the Nine Gales
Keeper of the Nine Gales holds a unique position within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card bears resemblance to other creatures with tap abilities, such as Galepowder Mage. Both creatures offer the utility of reusing or removing creatures from the battlefield. However, Keeper of the Nine Gales requires leverage in the form of other birds on the field to activate its ability, making it especially synergistic in bird-themed decks.
Comparing this card to Aven Fogbringer, which also has a built-in mechanism for manipulating the battlefield, Keeper of the Nine Gales offers repeatable utility, whereas Aven Fogbringer’s effect is a one-time deal upon entering the battlefield. Furthermore, Stormscape Familiar is another bird with cost-reduction benefits, yet it lacks the direct interaction with the battlefield that Keeper of the Nine Gales provides.
The flexibility and repeated use of Keeper of the Nine Gales’ ability to bounce creatures or artifacts can be a game changer, demonstrating its value when it comes to controlling the flow of the game. While there are other similar cards, the specific combination of attributes found in Keeper of the Nine Gales distinguishes it as a card of choice for players who enjoy strategic manipulation of the game state.
Cards similar to Keeper of the Nine Gales by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Keeper of the Nine Gales allows you to bounce creatures back to their owner’s hand, disrupting your opponent’s board and potentially gaining card advantage as they lose tempo.
Resource Acceleration: By returning tapped creatures to your hand, you can effectively untap lands or creatures used for convoke, enabling a form of resource acceleration that can be leveraged in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Keeper of the Nine Gales’ effect at instant speed offers great flexibility, allowing you to wait until the most strategic moment during the game to maximize its impact, such as in response to an opponent’s attack or spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Including the Keeper of the Nine Gales in your deck demands a strategic hand management as it necessitates the discard of a bird card to utilize its ability. This requirement can be a substantial setback during gameplay, especially if your hand is already sparse or if you need to maintain a diverse array of other cards for situational usage.
Specific Mana Cost: The Keeper of the Nine Gales has a specific mana cost that requires both generic and blue mana. While this aligns with its affinity to the blue color’s control aspect, it also means that the card is predominantly suitable for blue or blue-inclusive decks, which might not mesh well with every player’s deck-building strategy or preference.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana alongside the additional operational costs, some players might find the Keeper of the Nine Gales to be a somewhat resource-heavy investment when considering its board impact. In environments where mana efficiency is paramount, its overall cost could deter players from including it in competitive decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Keeper of the Nine Gales provides a toolset for those who enjoy tactical gameplay. It can be seamlessly integrated into bird tribal or control decks, enabling you to bounce opponents’ threats back to their hands.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that trigger upon creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. Utilizing its ability can repeatedly exploit such synergies, making it a linchpin in intricate combo chains.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to disrupt opponent’s board setups, Keeper of the Nine Gales holds its own in metagames rich with creature-based strategies, maintaining relevance with its control-oriented abilities.
How to Beat Keeper of the Nine Gales
Overcoming Keeper of the Nine Gales is a tactical challenge many face in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This bird wizard makes its presence known on the battlefield with the ability to return two target creatures to their owner’s hand, assuming the cost is paid, which includes tapping three untapped Birds you control. This disruptive ability constrains opponents, making strategic gameplay essential when confronting this feathered foe.
One efficient method to deal with Keeper of the Nine Gales is by limiting its ability to activate. Sweepers like Wrath of God can reset the board, removing the trio of Birds needed for its ability. Meanwhile, pinpoint removal spells like Path to Exile offer an immediate solution to remove Keeper of the Nine Gales directly from the battlefield. Additionally, employing creature-based strategies that function better singularly rather than in combination with others can naturally mitigate the effectiveness of this bird’s bouncing ability.
Understanding the dynamics of the game and anticipating your opponent’s moves plays a critical part in laying the groundwork for victory. With the right approach, tackling the pesky Keeper of the Nine Gales is just another step in your strategic journey through Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Keeper of the Nine Gales MTG card by a specific set like Legions 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 Keeper of the Nine Gales 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
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Printings
The Keeper of the Nine Gales Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2003-02-03. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Keeper of the Nine Gales has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |