Tethered Griffin MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Griffin |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 1999-06-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Destiny |
| Set code | UDS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 21 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Matthew D. Wilson |
Key Takeaways
- Efficiency personified, Tethered Griffin offers a strong early board presence without heavy resource commitment.
- Stringent upkeep and white mana requirements make strategic deck integration crucial for maximizing this card’s potential.
- Competitive players value Tethered Griffin for its aerial advantage and the tactical edge it accords in various formats.
Text of card
Flying When you control no enchantments, sacrifice Tethered Griffin.
Poorly trained griffins sometimes attack the noble audiences that gather to watch their progress.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tethered Griffin doesn’t directly generate card advantage but its low casting cost alongside its powerful stats makes it a cost-efficient addition to your battlefield. Deploying it early gives you a favorable board presence, potentially forcing opponents to spend additional resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: Although Tethered Griffin isn’t a source of mana or resource acceleration itself, its low cost-to-effectiveness ratio enables you to commit fewer resources to establish a threatening flyer while preserving your mana for other strategies.
Instant Speed: Tethered Griffin enters the battlefield as a creature and is not cast at instant speed; however, its efficiency as a defensive blocker or aggressive attacker makes it a highly responsive card within the pace of a match. It can swiftly become a key part of your battlefield tactics, especially when facing off against decks that are ill-equipped to deal with flying creatures promptly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Tethered Griffin does not require a card to be discarded, this creature has a unique upkeep cost. Failing to pay it results in sacrificing the Griffin, which can be a steep price for continuous aerial defense.
Specific Mana Cost: Tethered Griffin demands a strict white mana cost for casting. This precise requirement can prove challenging in multicolor decks that might struggle to generate enough white mana at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging three mana for a 2/3 flier can be considered a heavy investment, especially when compared to other creatures in the game. For decks aiming for efficiency, there might be alternatives that provide similar flying prowess at a lower cost or with additional beneficial abilities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tethered Griffin offers a unique mix of defense and aggression. As a creature with flying, it can be an effective blocker against other flying creatures, which are prevalent in various formats. Its stats are respectable for its mana cost, allowing it to fit into strategies that focus on tempo or aerial dominance.
Combo Potential: With enchantment synergies in play, Tethered Griffin can become a pivotal part of combo decks. It works particularly well with cards that can negate its upkeep cost or utilize it as a sacrificial asset. Its low-cost nature also means it can be easily replayed or retrieved from the graveyard for repeated use.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current emphasis on efficient creatures and aero tactics in competitive play, Tethered Griffin can hold its own. It offers a significant presence on the board early in the game, and its evasion makes it a consistent threat that can sway the course of a match in your favor.
How to beat
The Tethered Griffin is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that comes with a distinct advantage – it’s a low-cost flier with respectable stats. This white card, however, revolves around its upkeep cost which involves maintaining another permanent, specifically an enchantment, to keep it in play. Without an enchantment to tether it down, it is automatically sacrificed.
To effectively combat Tethered Griffin, consider strategies that target the player’s enchantments. Enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or more sweeping options like Back to Nature remove the Griffin’s necessary anchor, thereby taking care of the creature without having to directly confront it. Additionally, you can capitalize on the timing of the upkeep cost by playing instant-speed removals during your opponent’s upkeep before they pay it, ensuring that they lose both their enchantment and their Griffin. It’s also worth noting that because Tethered Griffin is a creature with flying, cards designed to ground or neutralize fliers can be particularly effective. Playing creatures with reach or abilities that negate flying can also help turn the tide in your favor.
Remember, understanding the distinct requirements of cards like Tethered Griffin gives savvy players the opportunity to exploit their weaknesses and maintain strategic advantage during gameplay.
Cards like Tethered Griffin
Tethered Griffin is a unique creature with a presence in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in the expansive world of flying creatures include cards like Suntail Hawk and Judge’s Familiar. Suntail Hawk, like Tethered Griffin, is a one-mana creature with flying, offering players a quick aerial advantage. However, it doesn’t match the Tethered Griffin’s strength as it lacks the robust 2/3 stats that the Griffin boasts.
On the other hand, Judge’s Familiar also shares the sky with Tethered Griffin, being a one-mana flyer, but it adds utility with its ability to counter spells unless the opponent pays one more mana. This creates a strategic advantage that goes beyond simple combat abilities. Furthermore, other similar cards such as Healer’s Hawk provide lifelink aside from flying, lending a survivability aspect but falling short in stat comparison without the impressive 2/3 body of Tethered Griffin.
Ultimately, Tethered Griffin stands out with its blend of affordable cost, combat readiness, and significant stats, making it a notable card amongst its flying counterparts in the game’s ecosystem.
Cards similar to Tethered Griffin by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tethered Griffin MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Tethered Griffin 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tethered Griffin 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 Tethered Griffin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Only checks if you control no enchantments at the time it triggers. It does not check again on resolution. Gaining control of an enchantment before then will not save the Griffin. |
| 2004-10-04 | The ability will trigger if you don’t control an enchantment, even for a brief moment during the resolution of another spell or ability. |
