Makindi Griffin MTG Card

Makindi Griffin excels in survival, potentially conserving resources and deterring opponent attacks. The Griffin indirectly aids resource management, complementing its moderate mana cost. While cast at sorcery speed, its flying ability provides tactical adaptability.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Griffin
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying

As the hedrons began to coalesce into colossal Eldrazi superstructures, the griffins were forced to seek new territory lest their aeries be crushed between the massive stone monoliths.

Cards like Makindi Griffin

Makindi Griffin joins the ranks of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering, bringing with it a respectable presence in the sky. It draws a parallel to cards like Stormfront Pegasus, which also boasts the flying ability at a lower mana cost. The Makindi Griffin, however, offers more durability with its 4 toughness over the Pegasus’s 1, allowing it to better survive common damage-based removal spells.

Comparatively, Sunspire Griffin is another creature that flutters into consideration. While sharing the same casting cost and stats as Makindi Griffin, the Sunspire has an additional white mana requirement which can limit its inclusion in multicolor decks. In contrast, Makindi Griffin demands only one white mana, providing more flexibility in deck building.

When examining these avian allies, each one brings unique advantages to a deck. Makindi Griffin may not be the pinnacle of efficiency when it comes to mana cost, but its versatility in tougher board states and its solid body make it a reliable option for decks needing stable fliers without stringent color demands.

Stormfront Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Griffin - MTG Card versions
Stormfront Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Griffin - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One undeniable strength of the Makindi Griffin lies in its ability to survive through battles that would defeat smaller creatures, which can indirectly preserve your hand by deterring opponents from attacking and forcing you to trade off other creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While the Makindi Griffin itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, its presence on the battlefield for a relatively moderate mana cost can free up your other resources to be used elsewhere, thus indirectly aiding in your overall resource management.

Instant Speed: Though the Griffin is a creature that must be cast during one of your main phases, its flying ability grants it some level of tactical flexibility, not unlike instant speed spells. It can quickly become an aerial blocker or attacker that can adapt to the evolving demands of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Makindi Griffin doesn’t specifically ask you to discard cards, it does not provide any advantage or mechanic to mitigate the loss of cards from your hand during play. This could be a detriment as it offers no direct card advantage or resource replenishment.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes two white mana, the Makindi Griffin may be less flexible in multicolored decks which require a well-balanced mana base. This can sometimes be a hurdle if the deck is strained on producing the exact mana needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its stats and abilities, the mana investment for the Makindi Griffin can be seen as steep. There are alternative creatures that come with more impactful abilities or better stats for the same, or sometimes lower, mana cost, potentially offering a higher value for your deck’s strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Makindi Griffin’s role in MTG is multilayered. It can serve as an aerial blocker or a reliable attacker in decks that need a sturdy flier. Its balanced stats make it a flexible inclusion in various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: While not inherently a combo enabler, this creature’s flying ability allows it to synergize with strategies that reward control of creatures with flying or benefit from consistent air-based attacks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where flying creatures are advantageous, Makindi Griffin can play a pivotal role. It fits into sideboards as a hedge against decks lacking sufficient reach or flying blockers.

How to beat

Makindi Griffin is a winged creature card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its flying ability. This characteristic allows it to avoid ground creatures when on the attack, offering a strategic advantage. To counter this card effectively, it’s essential to have flying blockers or cards with reach to defend against aerial threats. Another reliable strategy is to remove it before it can impact the game using spells such as Murder or Path to Exile that can target and eliminate creatures on the spot.

Evasion abilities such as flying make creatures like Makindi Griffin formidable, but they can also be handled using board wipes like Day of Judgment or global debuffs like Shrivel that reduce power and toughness. Additionally, enchantments that ground flying creatures or deny them the ability to attack, like Pacifism, can neutralize the threat they pose without requiring you to remove them from the battlefield. When facing cards like Makindi Griffin, it pays to have a versatile removal toolkit to adapt to airborne challenges quickly.

Overall, understand that while Makindi Griffin offers tactical advantages through its flight, it has vulnerabilities that can be exploited with the right mix of MTG cards and strategies, ensuring your deck is equipped to handle such threats is part of building a successful game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Makindi Griffin MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Makindi Griffin and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Makindi Griffin Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2015-08-28. Illustrated by Izzy.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 362003NormalBlackIzzy
22015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 62015NormalBlackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Makindi Griffin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal