Vantress Gargoyle MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 71
2019-10-04 - Number 349
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Gargoyle |
| Abilities | Flying,Mill |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Vantress Gargoyle can't attack unless defending player has seven or more cards in their graveyard. Vantress Gargoyle can't block unless you have four or more cards in hand. : Each player mills a card.
Cards like Vantress Gargoyle
Vantress Gargoyle takes a notable seat in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering creatures with an interesting set of abilities and restrictions. One could draw parallels with cards like Jace’s Phantasm which also becomes a powerful flyer based on the number of cards in an opponent’s graveyard. However, the Phantasm does not have the same activation restrictions as the Gargoyle, allowing for more consistent attacks and blocks.
Additionally, consider Steel Wall, a creature with a comparable low casting cost that offers immediate defensive capabilities without the conditional setup. It doesn’t fly, but it similarly serves as an early-game defensive stop. Yet, unlike Vantress Gargoyle, it doesn’t have the potential to become an offensive threat later in the game.
The Gargoyle uniquely combines both disruptive potential, with its ability to force opponents to mill cards each turn, and late-game offensive pressure, granted it can meet its condition to attack or block. It embodies a strategic element for players to manipulate both graveyards to unleash its full capabilities. In comparison to other MTG cards with graveyard interaction, Vantress Gargoyle offers a more complex and potentially rewarding positional play for enthusiasts of this gameplay style.
Cards similar to Vantress Gargoyle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vantress Gargoyle offers strategic hand management by enabling you to mill cards which can fill your graveyard with ammunition for various strategies or disrupt your opponent’s game plan.
Resource Acceleration: As a versatile 2/2 flyer for two mana, the card gives you an aerial blocker early on. It takes flight that thrives in a deck with ample draw capacity, fueling its tap ability and setting the stage for a potent offensive presence as resources grow.
Instant Speed: Vantress Gargoyle’s unique ability to tap and force each player to draw a card can be activated at instant speed, providing the agility to react to an opponent’s strategy or bolster your own position during their end phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Vantress Gargoyle comes with a specific hurdle to be active; it can only attack if an opponent has seven or more cards in their graveyard. This condition not only demands you to track another gameplay aspect but also makes the Gargoyle dependent on your opponent’s playstyle or your own discard strategies, potentially limiting its offensive capabilities.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Vantress Gargoyle isn’t particularly color-intensive, being just a single blue mana. However, the card’s activation abilities do require a blue mana. This could restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana for a stat line of 5/4 seems like an incredible deal, the Gargoyle’s inability to block unless you have four or more cards in hand, coupled with its attack restriction, means that its high power and toughness might not be as effective in practice. In comparison, there might be creatures or other cards at the same cost that offer more immediate impact or less conditional use.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vantress Gargoyle offers flexibility in deck building. It’s an early blocker with a significant toughness that can transition into an aggressive flyer late game, all the while providing card mill abilities that fit multiple strategies, especially in control or mill-themed decks.
Combo Potential: This formidable creature synergizes with strategies revolving around card graveyard interaction. It can serve as a potent enabler for delve, escape, or threshold mechanics, setting up game-changing combos in the right setup.
Meta-Relevance: Given its dual functionality as an early defensive option and later game offensive threat, Vantress Gargoyle holds its own in various metagames. It can act as a roadblock against aggressive decks while pressuring control opponents who revel in drawn-out matches, making it a strategic addition in fluctuating competitive environments.
How to beat
Vantress Gargoyle is a notable card in MTG, demanding particular strategies to overcome its defensive and offensive capabilities. This statue not only presents a substantial flying blocker but also puts pressure on the board with potential for significant damage. To successfully navigate around Vantress Gargoyle, you might want to employ artifact or enchantment removal spells that bypass its defensive stats, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, which can effectively remove it from the battlefield.
Another route is increasing your graveyard volume, making it difficult for the gargoyle to attack or block given its activation condition requiring the opponent to have seven or more cards in their graveyard. Aggressive milling of your own library or casting spells that shuffle your graveyard back into your library can prevent the gargoyle from being a hurdle. Cards like Gaia’s Blessing or Elixir of Immortality could serve this purpose well.
Keep in mind, interaction with your opponent is key. Limiting their card draw or forcing discards helps manage Vantress Gargoyle’s conditions, essentially turning the tides by using the card’s strengths against it. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress become invaluable tools in this approach. By understanding and dismantling Vantress Gargoyle’s advantages, you enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of coming out on top.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vantress Gargoyle MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Throne of Eldraine, 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 Vantress Gargoyle and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Vantress Gargoyle Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2019-10-04. Illustrated by Cristi Balanescu.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu | |
| 2 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 349 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vantress Gargoyle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vantress Gargoyle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | If Vantress Gargoyle attacks a planeswalker, the controller of that planeswalker is the defending player. |
| 2019-10-04 | Vantress Gargoyle's attacking and blocking restrictions are checked only at the moment that you declare it as an attacking or blocking creature. If the defending player loses cards from their graveyard after Vantress Gargoyle attacks, or if you lose cards from your hand after it blocks, it remains in combat. |