Open the Gates MTG Card


Grants immediate card advantage by fetching land or Gates to ensure consistent land drops. Critical for mana base streamlining, especially in multicolored decks, enabling quicker spell deployment. Although a sorcery, sets up for powerful instant-speed plays with flexible land or Gate choices.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Search your library for a basic land card or Gate card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.

"If you don't have a destination in mind, the route is all that matters." —Tamina, district guide


Cards like Open the Gates

Open the Gates is a notable utility card for deck builders in Magic: The Gathering, enabling the search for Gate cards or basic lands from one’s library. Its common parallels include Rampant Growth, which allows the placement of a basic land directly onto the battlefield, thus accelerating mana availability. However, Rampant Growth limits the search to just basics, while Open the Gates broadens options with the inclusion of Gates.

Another card worth mentioning is District Guide. Like Open the Gates, District Guide can search for a Gate card, but it can also put it onto the battlefield tapped. In addition to its utility, District Guide offers a creature body that can influence the board state. Conversely, nature’s Lore, similar in its ability to fetch a Forest card o the battlefield, unlocks more land types, not just basic Forests, but doesn’t provide the versatility of fetching the unique Gate cards.

Amidst this landscape, Open the Gates posits itself as a versatile and cost-effective option for players who want to not just perfect their mana base but also to trigger abilities that rely on Gates, laying a strategic foundation for the game ahead.

Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
District Guide - MTG Card versions
Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
District Guide - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Open the Gates. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Caw-GatesCaw-Gates PauperCaw-GatesPauper Qualifier 2023-10-28
Five-color ControlFive-color Control PioneerMaze's EndSuper Pioneer - 3 Torneio da Liga de Volta Redonda
4c Ephemerate4c Ephemerate Pauper4c EphemeratePauper Challenge 32 2024-01-27
Bant GatesBant Gates PauperCaw-GatesLega Pauper Ferrara: Road To Pisageddon 2024: 1a Tappa

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Open the Gates is a strategic tool in hand replenishment, offering players the immediate benefit of fetching a land or Gate card directly into their hand. This not only thins the deck, increasing the chances of drawing non-land cards later on but also ensures land drops to keep your plays consistent.

Resource Acceleration: By securing the right land or Gate, you effectively streamline your mana base, leading to quicker deployment of heavy-hitting spells and creatures. For multicolored decks, this can be essential in fixing your colors early, making your plays more efficient and keeping you a step ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: Although Open the Gates is a sorcery, it plays a crucial role in setting up future turns where your instant-speed spells can shine. With the appropriate land or Gate in hand, you remain flexible and ready to adapt, which is a tactical advantage often leading to victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card demands that you drop another permanent upon resolution, potentially reducing your board presence or future options.

Specific Mana Cost: Open the Gates necessitates a precise mana payment which can present challenges in multi-colored decks that might be mana-hungry or color constrained.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The requirement of paying more mana than some alternative ramp or land-fetching cards can be seen as a significant drawback, particularly in faster-paced games where efficiency is vital.


Reasons to Include Open the Gates in Your Collection

Versatility: Open the Gates provides a unique utility in seamlessly slotting into various decks that necessitate specific land tutoring or that operate with a multicolored mana base. This card can significantly smoothen your mana curve.

Combo Potential: As a deck-thinning tool, Open the Gates can be crucial in setting up combos by fetching the necessary dual lands or Gates. Furthermore, it works well within Gate-centric decks to activate powerful synergies with cards like Gatebreaker Ram or Guild Summit.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where mana efficiency and color fixing are key, such as in Limited formats or multicolored Commander decks, the consistency Open the Gates offers can make it a vital inclusion for an optimized and functional mana base.


How to beat

Overcoming Open the Gates in MTG requires an understanding of its role within a deck’s architecture. Primarily a tool for mana fixing, it allows players to search their library for a basic land card or a Gate card and put it into their hand. Denying the opponent access to the right mana can cripple their strategy, so having land destruction or countering spells can efficiently halt Open the Gates. Cards like Ghost Quarter force your opponent to search his or her library for a basic land card as a replacement, potentially removing a vital Gate card before it can be fetched.

Another effective method is to utilize permission spells to simply negate Open the Gates itself. Cards like Negate or Essence Scatter don’t just counter creature spells but can counter Open the Gates as well. This prevents the opponent from ever benefiting from the mana-fixing opportunity and slows down their progress.

Strategic deck planning and the use of counters or land disruption are keys to outplaying cards like Open the Gates. Fortress of the Legion is an example of a deck that effectively incorporates these tools, always ready to counter such maneuvers and maintain the upper hand in mana control.


BurnMana Recommendations

Strengthening your MTG arsenal with cards like Open the Gates can be a game-changer, particularly for those running multicolored or Gate-centric decks. Understanding its strengths and potential drawbacks is just the beginning. If you’re looking to optimize your land drops or enhance your mana base, this card offers flexibility and strategic depth. It’s not solely about individual card choices but how they synergize within your deck’s framework. We encourage players to continue enhancing their collection and strategies. Discover more insights, optimize your gameplay, and navigate the evolving MTG landscape with expert guidance. Enhance your deck and master the battlefield today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Open the Gates MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica 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 Open the Gates and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Open the Gates Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by John Thacker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1332015NormalBlackJohn Thacker
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1512015NormalBlackJohn Thacker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Open the Gates has restrictions

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