Cryptic Gateway MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 306
2023-01-13 - Number 218
2023-01-13 - Number 376
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Cryptic Gateway enables swift creature deployment, potentially overwhelming opponents with unexpected board states.
- The artifact’s five mana cost requires strategic planning to maximize its game-changing potential effectively.
- Cryptic Gateway’s utility shines in tribal decks, allowing for powerful combos and synergy plays.
Text of card
Tap two untapped creatures you control: You may put a creature card from your hand into play that shares a creature type with each creature tapped this way.
Its lock changes to fit each key.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cryptic Gateway offers a unique pathway to deploy creatures without paying their mana costs. This can lead to significant card advantage as you utilize creatures from your hand without committing precious mana resources, keeping your hand full and diversified.
Resource Acceleration: By tapping two untapped creatures you control, Cryptic Gateway bypasses traditional casting methods. This can effectively accelerate the resource advantage by allowing you to put high-cost creatures into play early, setting a pace your opponent may struggle to match.
Instant Speed: While Cryptic Gateway itself does not operate at instant speed, it allows you to place creatures onto the battlefield at any time you could activate an ability. This capacity to surprise opponents during their turn mirrors the flexibility that instant speed spells provide, offering strategic depth and unexpected swings in board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Cryptic Gateway, it involves tapping two untapped creatures you control to play another creature from your hand. If your hand is empty or lacking creatures that synergize well with those on the board, this requirement can become more of a hindrance than an asset, reducing its practical usability in many game scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: Cryptic Gateway demands a very particular setup cost of five mana of any color. While this does offer flexibility in mana type, it locks you into a considerable upfront investment which can be a setback in fast-paced games or those where mana conservation is pivotal.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana to cast Cryptic Gateway is no small fee, especially when considering that the activation of its ability is also gated by having appropriate creatures to tap. In environments where tempo plays a critical role, its relatively high cost and setup requirement to utilize its ability can make it less appealing compared to low-cost alternatives or those that provide immediate value upon hitting the field.
Reasons to Include Cryptic Gateway in Your Collection
Versatility: Cryptic Gateway offers utility across various deck archetypes by allowing players to cheat creatures on the battlefield. It’s a game-changer for decks that revolve around high-cost creatures, enabling a faster and more efficient play strategy.
Combo Potential: The artifact provides opportunities for powerful synergies and combos, particularly in tribal decks where you can easily tap two creatures sharing a kind to summon another, potentially unlocking an instant board presence that can overwhelm your opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values fast plays and surprise elements, Cryptic Gateway can be a key card. It aligns with strategies designed to bypass mana costs and summon creatures with potent abilities that can turn the tide of the game at a moment’s notice.
How to Beat Cryptic Gateway
Cryptic Gateway offers players a powerful tool for cheating large creatures onto the battlefield without paying their mana costs. It’s a card that enables explosive plays, especially in decks with a tribal focus. Understanding its mechanics is key to forming a strategy to counteract this potential game-changer.
To overcome the advantage Cryptic Gateway provides, it’s wise to include instant-speed removal or counterspells in your arsenal. By disrupting the tapping synergy, you prevent your opponent from utilizing the Gateway’s ability effectively. Artifact destruction spells like Shatter or Naturalize can be invaluable, offering a direct way to remove the Gateway from play before its ability can be used. Additionally, employing control elements such as board wipes can reset the playing field, even if your opponent has already put large threats into play.
Tapping into well-timed disruption ensures that even the most cryptic paths to victory can be sealed off. As with any strategic card interaction in Magic: The Gathering, it’s about anticipation and timely reaction to the threats posed by powerful cards like Cryptic Gateway.
Cards like Cryptic Gateway
Cryptic Gateway extends its unique qualities within the Magic: The Gathering artifact landscape. Sharing the concept of creature deployment with cards like Quicksilver Amulet, Cryptic Gateway offers a distinct advantage by allowing the player to put any creature onto the battlefield at the mere cost of tapping two creatures that share a type. In contrast, Quicksilver Amulet requires four mana for each activation, but is less restrictive on creature types.
Belbe’s Portal is another artifact providing a pathway for creatures, albeit with a focus on a single creature type chosen upon entry. The Portal’s fixed trait approach contrasts with Cryptic Gateway’s dynamic tap-to-play ability applicable each turn. Then there’s the Aether Vial, which offers a free creature play each turn without tapping other creatures, albeit limited by the creature’s converted mana cost. This cost-scale limitation gives Cryptic Gateway an edge, permitting even the most mana-intensive creatures to bypass traditional casting restrictions.
Assessing these nuances, Cryptic Gateway stands out for its versatility and synergy with tribal decks, emphasizing its capacity to accelerate board presence significantly in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Cryptic Gateway by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cryptic Gateway MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Dominaria Remastered, 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 Cryptic Gateway and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Cryptic Gateway Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by David Martin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 306 | 1997 | Normal | Black | David Martin | |
| 2 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 218 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Martin | |
| 3 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 376 | 1997 | Normal | Black | David Martin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cryptic Gateway has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cryptic Gateway card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-12-08 | The two creatures you tap to activate the ability don’t necessarily have to share a creature type, but the creature card you put onto the battlefield must share a creature type with each of them. For example, you could tap an Elf Wizard and a Human Warrior to put an Elf Warrior card onto the battlefield. |
| 2022-12-08 | You can tap any untapped creatures you control to activate Cryptic Gateway’s ability, even ones you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. |
