Elder Gargaroth MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Beast
Abilities Reach,Trample, Vigilance
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Elder Gargaroth’s triggered abilities offer card draw, token generation, or life gain on each combat.
  2. Its versatility makes it a formidable threat in various MTG deck archetypes and competitive play.
  3. Effective strategies involve quick removal or countering to handle Elder Gargaroth in MTG.
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

Vigilance, reach, trample Whenever Elder Gargaroth attacks or blocks, choose one — • Create a 3/3 green Beast creature token. • You gain 3 life. • Draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elder Gargaroth offers varied card advantage through its multiple triggered abilities. Every attack or block can either draw you a card, create a 3/3 Beast token, or gain you 3 life, keeping your hand, board presence, and life total robust.

Resource Acceleration: Besides providing a significant creature on the board, the option to generate 3/3 Beast tokens with each combat interaction can rapidly escalate your board state, effectively accelerating your resource presence against your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Elder Gargaroth is not an instant itself, its reach attribute allows it to engage creatures with flying at instant speed, essentially turning it into a surprise blocker that can dominate the aerial battlefield, swing life totals, or accumulate additional cards or creatures for the player.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Elder Gargaroth requires a specific mana combination to cast, needing both green and generic mana, which could restrict its inclusion to decks that can consistently produce the right colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, it’s a significant investment of resources, especially when facing decks that aim to win quickly.

Discard Requirement: While Elder Gargaroth itself does not necessitate discarding cards, it may force players to make tough decisions regarding hand management to ensure they can meet its mana cost without losing key cards.


Reasons to Include Elder Gargaroth in Your Collection

Versatility: Elder Gargaroth stands out as a multifaceted creature card that excels in various deck archetypes. Its ability to provide card draw, life gain, or create 3/3 beast tokens makes it a flexible addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with numerous strategies that capitalize on entering the battlefield effects, token generation, or life gain triggers, offering a range of combo applications.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies and midrange battles are prominent, Elder Gargaroth’s sturdy presence can turn the tide of the game and offers immediate board impact against opponents.


How to beat

Elder Gargaroth is a formidable creature that can quickly take over a game in MTG. With abilities that offer card draw, life gain, and creature generation, it’s crucial to have a plan to handle this beast. Removing it before it can generate value is key. Cards like Heartless Act or Murderous Rider can eliminate the Gargaroth efficiently and are accessible in black. Additionally, countering it upon casting with blue spells like Cancel or Neutralize can prevent it from hitting the board in the first place.

Alternatively, red players might rely on damage-based removal such as Scorching Dragonfire to dispatch the Gargaroth before its multiple abilities can take effect. In the event it does enter the battlefield, enchantments like Frogify can neutralize it by stripping away its daunting abilities. Play also revolves around timing—engaging it while the opponent is tapped out limits their options to counter your removal spells.

Overall, fast reaction, strategic planning, and utilizing a variety of tools to either negate the casting or quickly deal with Elder Gargaroth once it’s in play can shift the balance back into your favor, securing control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Elder Gargaroth is a powerhouse of versatility in MTG, providing players with an array of tactical advantages that can define the game’s pace. Whether you’re amplifying your board presence or responding to an aerial threat, this card’s range of abilities makes it a notable contender in your deck. Its potential for generating card advantage, life gain, and token creatures should not be overlooked. As we’ve explored strategies for utilization and potential cards for comparison, remember that MTG is a sphere of constant evolution and adaptation. Curious about optimizing Elder Gargaroth in your deck or seeking alternatives to strengthen your game plan? Swing by our platform for in-depth insights and recommendations to bolster your MTG lineup and ensure your creature play is unmatched.


Cards like Elder Gargaroth

Elder Gargaroth stands out as a powerful creature card within Magic: The Gathering, boasting versatility and strength. When compared to other creatures of its caliber, such as Thragtusk, one notices similarities in life gain and creature generation. Thragtusk provides immediate life gain and leaves behind a creature when it leaves the battlefield, yet it lacks Elder Gargaroth’s options for card draw and versatile combat abilities.

Questing Beast is another formidable card with parallels to Elder Gargaroth, offering a potent array of abilities including haste and damage that can’t be blocked by smaller creatures. Even so, it lacks the diverse choice of triggered abilities that Elder Gargaroth presents, such as drawing a card or creating a 3/3 green Beast creature token. Furthermore, Elder Gargaroth’s ability to block flying creatures gives it an edge in defensive scenarios compared to Questing Beast.

Assessing Elder Gargaroth against these similar cards, it’s clear that its capability to adapt to various game states by providing multiple triggered abilities whenever it attacks or blocks, makes it a unique asset to MTG decks. It’s this adaptability that makes Elder Gargaroth not just a creature, but a multifaceted tool in any player’s arsenal.

Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Questing Beast - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Questing Beast - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elder Gargaroth MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Core Set 2021, 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 Elder Gargaroth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elder Gargaroth Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 819942015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1792015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
32020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 3732015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elder Gargaroth has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-06-23 If you create a Beast token, that token can't attack or block during the same combat, even if it gains haste.
2020-06-23 Players can cast spells after Elder Gargaroth's triggered ability has resolved but before blockers are declared (if it's attacking) or before combat damage is dealt (if it's blocking).

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