Minas Tirith Garrison MTG Card


Balances defense with utility, ramping up resources and creating Soldier tokens to enhance board state. Flexibility is key, offering combos with landfall triggers and soldier synergies to build a robust strategy. In a creature-heavy meta, it’s a bulwark, consistently generating blockers to stabilize against aggression.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power *
Toughness 5

Text of card

Minas Tirith Garrison's power is equal to the number of cards in your hand. Whenever Minas Tirith Garrison attacks, you may tap any number of untapped Humans you control. Draw a card for each Human tapped this way.


Cards like Minas Tirith Garrison

Minas Tirith Garrison offers a unique role in Magic: The Gathering as a creature card with a vigilant defensive capability. Its traits echo those found in other defender cards, such as Wall of Omens. However, Minas Tirith Garrison presents a versatile option, capable of not only blocking incoming threats but also generating creature tokens to bolster your forces on the battlefield. This added value of token creation sets it apart from the simple card draw offered by Wall of Omens.

Considering other parallels, cards like Loxodon Gatekeeper resonate with Minas Tirith Garrison’s defensive soul. Both cards focus on fortifying your defensive lines, yet Minas Tirith Garrison takes a step further by actively contributing to your army’s numbers. Additionally, Guardian of the Gateless bears similarity in terms of defense but doesn’t share the token-producing functionality that makes Minas Tirith Garrison a multi-functional asset.

Overall, Minas Tirith Garrison aligns well among Magic: The Gathering cards that prioritize defense and strategic depth. Its ability to generate creature tokens while being a reliable blocker gives it an edge among cards designed for protecting players and creating an expansive presence on the board.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Minas Tirith Garrison by color, type and mana cost

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Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Minas Tirith Garrison aids in bolstering your hand by enabling the recruitment of additional Soldier tokens. Each token can be considered a card on its own, effectively contributing to your on-board presence and providing you with more options over the course of the game.

Resource Acceleration: The Garrison’s ability to put a land onto the battlefield tapped not only increases your land count but also potentially ramps up your resources, allowing you to cast higher-cost spells earlier than usual. Its synergistic relationship with decks that benefit from landfall triggers or soldier tokens enhances your strategy significantly.

Instant Speed: Although Minas Tirith Garrison operates at sorcery speed, its versatility in creating tokens and land ramp provides a strong foundation during your main phases. This sets you up for future plays where you can take advantage of instant-speed interactions with a more substantial board state and resources at your disposal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Minas Tirith Garrison can often require you to discard another card to fully capitalize on its abilities. This trade-off can be unfavorable, particularly if your hand is already depleted and you’re in need of all your resources to maintain a presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for deploying Minas Tirith Garrison is specific and can be challenging to muster, especially early in the game. It needs a precise combination of mana types that may not always align with your deck’s mana base, possibly leading to a delay in playing this card when you most need it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the investment versus return of Minas Tirith Garrison, the mana cost is comparatively steep. With a multitude of options available for securing board control, this card might lag behind others that offer similar benefits for less mana, potentially optimizing your deck’s efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Minas Tirith Garrison brings flexibility to decks that aim for a staunch defense while also progressing their board state. Its ability to put a soldier into play taps into various strategies that rely on creature presence.

Combo Potential: The card’s soldier-creating ability combines well with effects that trigger on creature summons or those that buff soldiers, potentially catalyzing a variety of powerful synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to consistently generate blockers, Minas Tirith Garrison could have significant standing in a meta where aggressive creature strategies dominate, offering a reliable way to stabilize the board.


How to beat

Minas Tirith Garrison presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield with its defensive capabilities, often fortifying positions and overseeing the protection of vital resources in Magic: The Gathering. Yet, for every sturdy wall, there is a strategy to overcome it. Dealing effectively with such tenacious cards can be a matter of tactical deployment rather than brute force. One key is to employ cards that can manipulate the flow of combat, such as those with the “Tap another target creature” effect, diverting its defensive focus and leaving the opponent’s flanks exposed. Additionally, spells that bypass the traditional combat phase like direct damage, or “Burn spells,” can whittle away at the opponent’s life total without having to confront Minas Tirith Garrison head-on.

Evasion tactics are also helpful when facing down sturdy defenders; creatures with the flying ability can soar over such ground-based obstructions, applying pressure where Minas Tirith Garrison cannot reach. Enchantment removal spells can nullify enhancements that bolster the garrison’s defenses, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Understanding and assembling a collection of such strategic counters will prepare players to disassemble the defenses of Minas Tirith Garrison and pave their way to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Minas Tirith Garrison MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Minas Tirith Garrison and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Minas Tirith Garrison Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Irina Nordsol.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 8302015NormalBlackIrina Nordsol
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 8252015NormalBlackIrina Nordsol

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Minas Tirith Garrison has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
TimelessLegal