Marble Gargoyle MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Gargoyle
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. The card’s ability to block multiple attacks can help maintain card parity and stabilize the board.
  2. Fitting specific mana types for casting Marble Gargoyle could limit deck-building options.
  3. Its versatile flying trait and toughness adjustment make it a valued piece for strategic plays.

Text of card

Flying : Marble Gargoyle gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

"Once past the stony exterior, the meat is exquisite and can be stuffed with thallids or simmered in a broth of manticore venom." —Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar *The Underworld Cookbook*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With its intrinsic ability to block numerous threats, Marble Gargoyle can be a keystone in stabilizing the board, potentially deterring multiple attackers and preserving your life total. This, in the long run, can maintain your card parity by not having to replace fallen creatures as often.

Resource Acceleration: While Marble Gargoyle itself doesn’t directly provide mana or acceleration, its resilience allows you to invest resources into other areas of the game. Its mere presence can save resources you might have spent on removal or other defensive measures, indirectly accelerating your resource deployment.

Instant Speed: Although this winged statue doesn’t boast instant speed, its ability to be a vigilant defender means it’s always ready to spring into action, offering a standing threat or a surprise blocker without the need to commit mana each turn, allowing for instant speed responses elsewhere in your strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Marble Gargoyle is that it might call for a card to be discarded from your hand. This can be particularly straining when your hand is already running on empty, potentially costing you valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting expense of the Gargoyle includes both generic and specific mana types. Having to allocate the exact mana can limit deck-building flexibility, confining it to decks that can reliably produce the right colors, especially in multi-colored formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that might eclipse those of other creatures with similar stats or abilities, the Gargoyle may seem less appealing. Savvy players often look for the most efficient use of mana in their creature selections, and the Gargoyle’s cost needs careful consideration against the backdrop of other available options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Marble Gargoyle presents itself as a flexible inclusion in decks, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities. Its flying trait allows it to effectively block or bypass ground units, making it a solid pick in various situations.

Combo Potential: With its ability to adjust its defense stat, Marble Gargoyle can be a critical component in defensive strategies. It seamlessly integrates into decks that capitalize on creatures with tough endurance or those that utilize toughness-related synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where flying creatures reign supreme or where games often pivot on strategic blocks, Marble Gargoyle could become an under-the-radar asset securing crucial board presence or safeguarding life totals against aggressive strategies.


How to beat

The Marble Gargoyle poses a unique challenge in the grand tapestry of Magic the Gathering. Sporting both flying and the option to bolster its defense, this creature can become a thorn in your strategic path. However, there are numerous tactics to tackle this stony adversary. One such approach is to employ removal spells that specifically target flyers, such as plummet, ensuring the gargoyle’s swift descent from the battlefield.

Alternatively, you can overwhelm it with a barrage of ground assaults. Since the Marble Gargoyle requires mana to increase its defense, it’s more vulnerable during the opponent’s end-step if they’re tapped out. This paves the way for you to use instant-speed removal or deploy creatures that can bypass or punish blockers, easing your path to victory. Additionally, control decks are capable of recurring counterspells or other disruption methods to never let the gargoyle establish its presence.

In essence, understanding the nuances of your deck and conjuring the right response to flying threats, like the Marble Gargoyle, can significantly enhance your command of the game and lead you to success in your Magic the Gathering exploits.


Cards like Marble Gargoyle

Marble Gargoyle stands out in MTG as a unique creature with a flying ability. Reminiscent of other flying creatures such as Serra Angel, the Gargoyle differs primarily by being able to pump its defense rather than its offense. Serra Angel’s vigilance allows it to act as both an attacker and a defender without tapping, whereas Marble Gargoyle is solely a strong defensive unit with its potential to boost toughness.

Another comparable card might be Wall of Air, which also offers a defense-oriented flying creature at a similar mana cost. However, Wall of Air, unlike Marble Gargoyle, does not have the ability to modify its stats for tactical advantage. Then there’s Roc Egg, which brings a unique mechanic to the game by creating a powerful bird creature token upon death. While Roc Egg also carries the flying trait, Marble Gargoyle’s continuous presence and defensive adaptability can be more advantageous in certain game scenarios.

It’s important to rate these cards not just in isolation but in context with the overall deck strategy. Although each card may serve a similar role, the nuanced differences, like Marble Gargoyle’s toughness boost, could be the pivot point for MTG enthusiasts crafting a deck with a solid defensive posture.

Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Roc Egg - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Wall of Air - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Roc Egg - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Marble Gargoyle by color, type and mana cost

Idol of Endurance - MTG Card versions
Urza's Sylex - MTG Card versions
Thopter Shop - MTG Card versions
Cloudsteel Kirin - MTG Card versions
The Book of Exalted Deeds - MTG Card versions
Halo Fountain - MTG Card versions
Maul of the Skyclaves - MTG Card versions
Pearl Shard - MTG Card versions
Soldier Replica - MTG Card versions
Thunder Totem - MTG Card versions
Marble Chalice - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Auriok Replica - MTG Card versions
Blinding Souleater - MTG Card versions
Godsend - MTG Card versions
Peacewalker Colossus - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Widget - MTG Card versions
Riveting Rigger - MTG Card versions
Mace of the Valiant - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer's Map - MTG Card versions
Idol of Endurance - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Urza's Sylex - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Thopter Shop - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Cloudsteel Kirin - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
The Book of Exalted Deeds - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Halo Fountain - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)
Maul of the Skyclaves - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Pearl Shard - Mirrodin (MRD)
Soldier Replica - Mirrodin (MRD)
Thunder Totem - Time Spiral (TSP)
Marble Chalice - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Scepter of Dominance - Conflux (CON)
Auriok Replica - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Blinding Souleater - The List (PLST)
Godsend - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Peacewalker Colossus - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Knight of the Widget - Unstable (UST)
Riveting Rigger - Unstable (UST)
Mace of the Valiant - Commander Masters (CMM)
Archaeomancer's Map - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marble Gargoyle MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Marble Gargoyle and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Marble Gargoyle Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3821997normalblackDrew Tucker
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 212015normalblackDrew Tucker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marble Gargoyle has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks