Loyal Gryff MTG Card
Text of card
Flash Flying When Loyal Gryff enters the battlefield, you may return another creature you control to its owner's hand.
Silverstreak had lost her rider, but not her instinct to help humankind.
Cards like Loyal Gryff
In the captivating world of MTG, the Loyal Gryff can often be found soaring above other options in its niche. Like the well-known Squadron Hawk, Loyal Gryff offers a flying creature with the potential to impact board presence. But Loyal Gryff boasts an additional edge with its “Evoke” ability, allowing you to benefit from its “When you cast this spell” effect without fully committing it to the battlefield — something Squadron Hawk can’t match.
Then, consider Healer’s Hawk, another card that shares the flying attribute with Loyal Gryff. Healer’s Hawk also features lifelink, providing incremental health gains with each attack. However, it doesn’t present the same versatility as Loyal Gryff, which can double as a spell effect through its Evoke mechanic. The Loyal Gryff’s ability to offer utility in various gameplay sequences sets it apart from the standard creature play offered by Healer’s Hawk.
Evaluating Loyal Gryff amidst its peers, it stands out for its flexibility and strategic depth. Its unique blend of evasion and utility via the Evoke feature not only makes it a reliable creature on the field but also a tool for triggering enter-the-battlefield or cast effects strategically, confirming its value in MTG decks that favor tactical creature plays.
Cards similar to Loyal Gryff by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Loyal Gryff’s ability to draw a card upon entering the battlefield makes it a solid option for keeping your hand stocked with options. This advantage can tip the scales in your favor as each drawn card represents additional resources and strategies.
Resource Acceleration: Not only does Loyal Gryff offer card draw, but it also plays into strategies that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. This can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by synergizing with permanents or spells that trigger upon creature entries.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Loyal Gryff at instant speed due to its flash attribute adds versatility to your gameplay. You can react to your opponent’s moves during their turn, surprising them with a blocker or by simply taking advantage of the card draw at the most opportune moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Loyal Gryff necessitates discarding a card as part of its Evoke mechanic. This might set you back if your hand is already dwindling and you can’t afford to lose additional cards.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast this creature, you’re looking at a specific hybrid mana cost, which might not seamlessly fit into every deck’s mana base, potentially restricting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an effect that provides a flying body and allows you to draw a card, Loyal Gryff’s mana cost could be considered steep. Some players may find alternate cards at lower costs fulfilling a similar role with less of a mana investment.
Reasons to Include Loyal Gryff in Your Collection
Versatility: Loyal Gryff offers flexibility in a range of decks, particularly those needing a flying creature for both offensive and defensive strategies. Its ability to bounce another creature back to its owner’s hand also allows for reusing enter-the-battlefield effects.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as an enabler in flicker decks or with creatures that have valuable enter-the-battlefield abilities, making it a pivotal piece in combo setups that seek to exploit such interactions for maximum benefit.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s disruptive potential against opponents’ strategies and its capacity to protect key creatures from removal, it holds a spot in the current meta which often values creatures with versatile and defensive capabilities.
How to beat
Loyal Gryff is a card that brings a mix of aerial defense and utility to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As part of your strategy to outmaneuver an opponent using Loyal Gryff, consider including more removal spells or creatures that can block flying creatures effectively. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder are straightforward solutions to remove Loyal Gryff, ensuring it doesn’t get the chance to capitalize on its defensive power.
Counterspells also work wonders against Loyal Gryff, stopping it from entering the battlefield in the first place. Negate or Essence Scatter can serve as perfect counters to preserve your game plan. For those leaning toward a red deck, using damage spells like Lightning Bolt can quickly take down Loyal Gryff before it has an opportunity to become a stumbling block.
Lastly, it’s advantageous to use cards that negate flying abilities, like Earthbind or Clip Wings, minimizing the aerial superiority Loyal Gryff provides. Through proper planning and a balanced inclusion of these tactics, the challenge posed by Loyal Gryff can be effectively mitigated, keeping you one step ahead in the skies and ultimately in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Loyal Gryff MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Loyal Gryff 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 Loyal Gryff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Ilse Gort.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 26 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ilse Gort | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 26 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ilse Gort |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Loyal Gryff has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Loyal Gryff card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | You choose whether to return a creature to your hand and which creature to return as Loyal Gryff's triggered ability resolves. |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.