Gideon, Ally of Zendikar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Gideon
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Gideon creates 2/2 Knight tokens for board presence, increasing offensive and defensive strategies.
  2. His zero-ability transforms him into a 5/5 indestructible creature, maintaining card economy.
  3. Gideon’s presence influences opponents’ tactics, with his versatile abilities enabling strategic plays.

Text of card


+1: Until end of turn, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar becomes a 5/5 Human Soldier Ally creature with indestructible that's still a planeswalker. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to him this turn.
0: Create a 2/2 white Knight Ally creature token.
-4: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +1/+1."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gideon Ally of Zendikar offers a consistent way to generate advantage through his ability to create 2/2 Knight Ally creature tokens. These tokens can quickly fill the board, providing both offensive and defensive options that outpace your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: This powerful planeswalker can also accelerate your resources in a different manner. By using his zero-ability, you’re able to put a loyalty counter on Gideon and transform him into a 5/5 Human Soldier ally with indestructible that allows you to press the attack or defend without losing card economy.

Instant Speed: While Gideon himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, his mere presence on the battlefield can influence your opponents’ actions. Knowing he can become an indestructible creature at a moment’s notice or that he can ‘ultimate’ swiftly, opponents must play around his versatile abilities, often conserving resources or halting attacks they would otherwise commit to.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gideon Ally of Zendikar does not have a direct discard requirement but his emblem ability, while powerful, requires a significant investment by discarding his presence on the battlefield, which could set you back if you’re unable to capitalize on the emblem’s advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Gideon’s casting cost of one colorless and three white mana can be restrictive for multicolored decks, necessitating a stable white mana base to cast consistently, potentially limiting deck diversity and forcing deck builders to skew their mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana cost, this planeswalker may not hit the board as early as you need him, especially in formats where speed is key. Other planeswalkers or creature spells might provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Gideon Ally of Zendikar in Your Collection

Versatility: Gideon Ally of Zendikar is a multi-functional planeswalker capable of fitting seamlessly into a wide variety of decks. His ability to generate a 2/2 Knight Ally creature token, become an indestructible attacker, or provide an emblem with a permanent power and toughness buff to creatures makes him adaptable to numerous strategies and board states.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes exceedingly well with strategies that capitalize on token generation or benefit from a robust planeswalker presence. With his third ability, Gideon can immediately affect the board by bolstering other creatures, making him a catalyst for powerful combos and synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given his capability to create a quick impact on the game and provide lasting advantages, Gideon Ally of Zendikar remains a relevant force in formats where planeswalkers and creature strategies are prevalent. His resilience against removal and versatility in various matchups keep him perpetually pertinent in competitive play.


How to beat

Gideon Ally of Zendikar is a powerful planeswalker card that can quickly become a thorn in the side of many MTG players. With the ability to produce 2/2 Knight Ally creature tokens, enforce a formidable game presence, or become an indestructible attacker himself, overcoming this versatile card requires strategy and foresight.

To counter Gideon’s dominance on the battlefield, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can target him while he is a creature during the opponent’s turn, such as “Murderous Rider” or “Hero’s Downfall”. If Gideon has not yet transformed into a creature, employing direct damage spells like “Lightning Bolt” or “Dreadbore” when his loyalty is low could effectively send him to the graveyard. In terms of board presence, board wipes such as “Damnation” or “Wrath of God” can clear the tokens he generates, mitigating the immediate threats and leaving your opponent with fewer defenses.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead when Gideon hits the board and having removal at the ready will significantly increase your chances of maintaining control and ultimately achieving victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you’ve seen, Gideon Ally of Zendikar can be a substantial asset to your MTG gameplay. His ability to create tokens, become an indestructible being, and offer that crucial emblem makes him a versatile staple for multiple strategies. With the rise of creature-centric decks and planeswalker synergies, he continues to hold a valuable position in the competitive scene. We encourage you to leverage his strengths and integrate him into your decks for an edge in battles. Yearning to further refine your play style or find the perfect synergy with Gideon? Explore our resources for insights on deck building, strategy enhancement, and the latest trends to keep you ahead of the game. Your path to ultimate plane-walking mastery awaits.


Cards like Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is a versatile planeswalker card in MTG that has made a significant impact on the game. It can be paralleled with other influential planeswalkers like Elspeth, Sun’s Champion. Both create multiple creature tokens, boosting your army’s size. Elspeth’s ability to create three tokens can be seen as more robust in some scenarios, yet Gideon’s ability to do so without using loyalty counters offers a consistent threat on the board.

Another comparable card is Ajani Steadfast. While Ajani doesn’t produce tokens, it bolsters your creatures and can also provide a similar emblem benefit that Gideon does, which gives your creatures an overarching advantage. The quick ability to become an indestructible creature that Gideon offers is unique, setting him apart from other planeswalkers who tend to stay in the background.

In essence, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar stands out with his flexibility to affect the board immediately, whether it’s creating tokens, becoming an attacker, or providing a lasting emblem. This adaptability has cemented his place as a favorite among players looking for dynamic gameplay and strategic versatility.

Elspeth, Sun's Champion - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Champion - Theros (THS)
Ajani Steadfast - San Diego Comic-Con 2014 (PS14)

Cards similar to Gideon, Ally of Zendikar by color, type and mana cost

The Wanderer - MTG Card versions
Grand Master of Flowers - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
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The Wanderer - Commander Masters (CMM)
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Ajani Goldmane - Magic 2011 (M11)
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Ajani Steadfast - Commander Masters (CMM)
Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants - Core Set 2019 Promos (PM19)
Serra the Benevolent - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Ajani Goldmane // Ajani Goldmane - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Teyo, Aegis Adept - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Archangel Elspeth - March of the Machine Promos (PMOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gideon, Ally of Zendikar MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar Promos and Battle for 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 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gideon, Ally of Zendikar Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2022-10-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 29s2015normalblackEric Deschamps
22015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 292015normalblackEric Deschamps
32016-10-01San Diego Comic-Con 2016PS16 292015normalblackEric Deschamps
42020-09-26The ListPLST BFZ-292015normalblackEric Deschamps
52022-10-01Regional Championship Qualifiers 2022PRCQ 12015normalborderlessAlexis Ziritt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gideon, Ally of Zendikar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-08-25 Gideon’s first ability causes him to become a creature with the creature types Human, Soldier, and Ally. He remains a planeswalker with the planeswalker type Gideon. (He also retains any other card types or subtypes he may have had.) Each subtype is correlated to the proper card type: planeswalker is only a type (not a creature type), and Human, Soldier, and Ally are just creature types (not planeswalker types).
2015-08-25 Gideon’s first ability doesn’t count as a creature entering the battlefield. Gideon was already on the battlefield; he only changed his types. Specifically, your rally abilities won’t trigger. (Of course, Gideon’s second ability will cause rally abilities to trigger.)
2015-08-25 If Gideon becomes a creature the same turn he enters the battlefield, you can’t attack with him or use any of his abilities (if he gains any).
2015-08-25 If damage that can’t be prevented is dealt to Gideon after his first ability has resolved, that damage will have all applicable results: specifically, the damage is marked on Gideon (since he’s a creature) and that damage causes that many loyalty counters to be removed from him (since he’s a planeswalker). Even though he has indestructible, if Gideon has no loyalty counters on him, he’s put into his owner’s graveyard.

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