Quest for the Gemblades MTG Card

Instant speed allows for surprise combat enhancements, turning the tide in battles. Mana specific to green decks may limit versatility across varied deck types. Strategic removal or counterplay is key to mitigating Quest for the Gemblades’ impact.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Number	177
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a creature, you may put a quest counter on Quest for the Gemblades. Remove a quest counter from Quest for the Gemblades and sacrifice it: Put four +1/+1 counters on target creature.

Cards like Quest for the Gemblades

Quest for the Gemblades stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile enhancer for creature-based strategies. Its comparability can be seen in cards like Bolster, which also focuses on beefing up creatures. However, Quest for the Gemblades moves beyond with its repeatable quest counter mechanism. Bolster, while instant, lacks the potential cumulative effect offered by the quest.

Another relative card is Strength of the Tajuru, which lets you distribute a number of +1/+1 counters among creatures you control. While Strength of the Tajuru can make a larger immediate impact, its once-off nature and higher cost contrasts with the Quest’s prolonged battlefield presence and potential for growth over time.

In function and form, the design of Quest for the Gemblades is akin to the enchantment category that rewards the player for meeting specific conditions. It provides a strategic depth and a growth mechanic that can turn games around if left unchecked, showing its clear value within the counter-adding spell slot for decks in Magic: The Gathering.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Quest for the Gemblades can potentially boost card efficiency by allowing multiple creatures to benefit from the +1/+1 counters it provides, essentially augmenting several cards with a single cast.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to mana resources, Quest for the Gemblades can expedite your win condition by strengthening your creatures more rapidly than traditional casting could achieve, thereby accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Quest for the Gemblades at instant speed gives players the flexibility to surprise opponents during combat, potentially disrupting their strategies and swinging the game’s momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Quest for the Gemblades demands a prior creature combat engagement to acquire quest counters, potentially causing a setback if you’re unable to reliably engage in battle or must wait for summoning sickness to dissipate.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both green mana and generic mana, making it less flexible for decks that are not focused on green or have a diversified mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana to cast and the additional requirement of quest counters, Quest for the Gemblades may be less appealing compared to other equipment or auras that are cheaper or do not require specific board states to be effective.

Reasons to Include Quest for the Gemblades in Your Collection

Versatility: Quest for the Gemblades can be seamlessly integrated into various decks, especially those looking to amplify their creatures’ power. It’s not just limited to combat-focused strategies but also supports decks that interact with +1/+1 counters in creative ways.

Combo Potential: This card offers abundant opportunities to synergize with other cards that proliferate or double counters, maximizing its effectiveness. For decks centered around buffing creatures, Quest for the Gemblades unleashes powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are frequently prominent, Quest for the Gemblades holds significant value. It thrives in environments where strengthening creatures swiftly can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

How to beat

Quest for the Gemblades is a versatile enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tides by bolstering creatures in the midst of combat. Its ability to place +1/+1 counters on creatures when a quest counter is added can quickly escalate the threat level on the board. To counteract this, direct removal spells are highly effective. Cards such as Murder or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the bolstered creature, neutralizing the imminent threat before it grows out of control.

Another strategy is to limit the number of quest counters added to Quest for the Gemblades. This can be achieved through counter spells aimed at preventing the casting of key spells that trigger the enchantment’s ability or by using enchantment removal like Disenchant to remove the Quest itself from the game. Additionally, cards like Solemnity can prevent counters from being placed on permanents altogether, which directly inhibits the Quest for the Gemblades’ functionality.

In essence, the key to beating Quest for the Gemblades lies in prompt and decisive action, whether it’s by eradicating the enhanced threats, hindering the enchantment’s activation, or removing the enchantment from the battlefield entirely. Early control is essential, as once the quest counters accumulate, it can become increasingly challenging to manage the augmented creatures.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Quest for the Gemblades MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Quest for the Gemblades and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Quest for the Gemblades has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Quest for the Gemblades card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	If there are no counters on Quest for the Gemblades yet, and simultaneously a creature you control deals combat damage to a creature and a creature you control is dealt lethal combat damage, the first ability will trigger too late for you to be able to activate the second ability and save your creature.
2009-10-01	The first ability will trigger multiple times if a creature you control deals combat damage to multiple creatures, and/or if multiple creatures you control each deal combat damage to a single creature.
2009-10-01	When the first ability resolves, you may put just one quest counter on Quest for the Gemblades. It doesn’t matter how much damage the source dealt.