Guard Gomazoa MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Jellyfish
Abilities Defender,Flying
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Guard Gomazoa acts as a defensive bulwark in MTG, deterring attacks and preserving player life totals.
  2. With the right combos, Guard Gomazoa’s defensive utility can switch to an unexpected offensive role.
  3. It remains meta-relevant by countering aggressive decks, buying control players critical setup time.

Text of card

Defender, flying Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to Guard Gomazoa.

It lingers near the outposts of the Makindi Trenches, inadvertently granting another layer of defense.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Guard Gomazoa offers a strategic advantage by effectively serving as a deterrent against incoming attacks. Its presence can force opponents to reconsider their strategies, potentially leading to better card economy for the player as the game goes on.

Resource Acceleration: While Guard Gomazoa does not directly accelerate resources, it indirectly preserves your life total. This allows players more time to build up their mana base and deploy game-changing spells without the pressure of sustaining heavy damage early on.

Instant Speed: Although Guard Gomazoa operates at sorcery speed, its notable ability to negate combat damage with its unique prevention mechanic provides a similar benefit to playing an instant. It can surprise attackers during combat by nullifying damage they expect to inflict, effectively disrupting the combat math at crucial times.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When building a deck around cards like Guard Gomazoa, you must be prepared for the possibility that it can be a liability if it’s the only creature you can play. Discarding cards to make room for this Jellyfish can pinch your hand, leaving you with fewer options later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Guard Gomazoa requires a precise mana alignment—two generic and one blue mana to cast. This specific mana cost can be restrictive for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing to meet the color requirements efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a 1/3 defender with flying and the ability to prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to it is sturdy, its three-mana cost is significant for its effects. Other creatures at similar or lower mana costs might offer additional abilities or greater offensive capabilities, providing more flexibility to your strategies.


Reasons to Include Guard Gomazoa in Your Collection

Versatility: Guard Gomazoa serves as an excellent defensive option across various deck archetypes. Its ability to negate combat damage with its jellyfish-like prevention ability makes it a solid inclusion in any deck looking for reliable board protection.

Combo Potential: In combinations with cards that switch power and toughness, or alter combat outcomes, Guard Gomazoa can become part of an unexpected offensive strategy, while normally being a key piece in fortifying your defenses against aggressive opponents.

Meta-Relevance: With its cost-effective presence on the field, Guard Gomazoa can deter attackers in a meta loaded with aggressive creatures. It has the potential to shift the pace of the game, providing control players with the necessary time to stabilize and deploy their late-game strategies.


How to Beat

Guard Gomazoa serves as a resilient defender in the realm of Magic the Gathering, often stalling aggressive strategies with its jellyfish tendrils. Its immunity to combat damage makes it a frustrating obstacle, causing players to rethink their attack plans. To navigate around this stony barrier, consider employing removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage. Think along the lines of cards like Path to Exile or Terminate, which can unceremoniously dispatch the Guard without triggering its damage prevention ability.

Another effective strategy is bypassing the Guard altogether. Spells that grant your creatures the ability to fly over or get unblockable status can render Guard Gomazoa irrelevant, as it cannot block creatures with flying or with unblockable prowess. Cards such as Aqueous Form or Levitation will elevate your forces, ensuring an unimpeded assault on the opponent’s life total. Moreover, effects that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures also outmaneuver Guard Gomazoa, as its damage prevention becomes null in the face of a sacrifice mechanic.

Adaptability is key in outplaying cards like Guard Gomazoa. By having the right mix of removal, evasion, and sacrifice effects, you can neutralize this tenacious defender and clear the path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the world of MTG with Guard Gomazoa, a card that exemplifies defense and resilience. Whether you’re looking to foil aggressive adversaries or establish a formidable board presence, understanding the nuances of such strategic cards can significantly enhance your gameplay. Guard Gomazoa stands out as a particular piece in control decks, inviting creative combos and metagame adaptations. Don’t let your matches be mundane—challenge yourself to innovate and outmaneuver your opponents. Explore the myriad ways this jellyfish ally can defend your life total and add a tactical layer to your deck. Enhance your collection and broaden your understanding with us. Discover more strategic insights and elevate your MTG experience.


Cards like Guard Gomazoa

Guard Gomazoa stands as a unique defender with its ability to prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to it, a trait shared with few other creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This jellyfish compares to cards like Fog Bank, another defender with the power to dodge damage, yet Guard Gomazoa has a slightly higher toughness, granting it more survivability against effects that deal damage to all creatures.

Wall of Denial is another formidable barrier, boasting both a high toughness and shroud, meaning it can’t be the target of spells or abilities. However, unlike Guard Gomazoa, it doesn’t inherently negate combat damage, relying instead on its sheer defense capabilities. Then there is Hover Barrier, a defender with a significant toughness and the ability to fly, offering a robust defense particularly against ground forces, yet it lacks the all-combat-damage immunity that makes Guard Gomazoa such an outstanding guard.

While examining the range of defender creatures, Guard Gomazoa offers a reliable means of stalling aggressive opponents, its resilience to combat damage uniquely situating it as a staple defensive creature for control-oriented decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Fog Bank - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions
Hover Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fog Bank - Urza's Saga (USG)
Wall of Denial - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Hover Barrier - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guard Gomazoa MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Commander 2011, 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 Guard Gomazoa and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Guard Gomazoa Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Rob Alexander.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 702003normalblackRob Alexander
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 492003normalblackRob Alexander
32012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 172003normalblackRob Alexander
42013-11-01Commander 2013C13 452003normalblackRob Alexander
52016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 172015normalblackRob Alexander
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3952015normalblackRob Alexander
72020-09-26The ListPLST PCA-172015normalblackRob Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guard Gomazoa has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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