Voidstone Gargoyle MTG Card

The card offers strong disruption, potentially granting card advantage by limiting opponents’ strategic options. Demands specific mana and may strain multicolored mana bases, reducing its deck-building flexibility. With proper planning and diverse removal, decks can navigate around Voidstone Gargoyle’s constraints.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Gargoyle
Abilities	Flying
Released	2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set name	Planar Chaos
Set code	PLC
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	21
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Text of card

Flying As Voidstone Gargoyle comes into play, name a nonland card. The named card can't be played. Activated abilities of permanents with that name can't be played. Activated abilities of cards with that name that aren't in play can't be played.

Cards like Voidstone Gargoyle

Voidstone Gargoyle presents a unique puzzle in the arena of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Pithing Needle, as both allow players to shut down the use of certain cards or abilities. Whereas the Voidstone Gargoyle adds a body to the battlefield and proactively denies a specific card in hand or library, Pithing Needle must be more reactive, only preventing cards already on the field from activating abilities.

Similar to the legendary Meddling Mage, the gargoyle not only prevents the named card from being played but also offers the additional utility of nullifying activated abilities of cards with that name, making it a dual threat. However, the advantages come at a higher casting cost compared to the more mana-efficient mage. Phyrexian Revoker also mirrors this preemptive strategy, giving players the ability to restrict their opponents’ options, but unlike our gargoyle, it is not able to neutralize cards in hand or library.

These strategic elements place Voidstone Gargoyle in a distinctive position within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to disrupt an opponent’s plan, coupled with being a formidable flying creature, makes it a versatile choice for many deck types seeking to preemptively control the game.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Voidstone Gargoyle can hinder opponents by nullifying their strategic cards, indirectly leading to a potential card advantage as they lose access to key components of their game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana, this card can indirectly accelerate your resource management by removing the necessity to answer an opponent’s threat, thereby preserving your resources for other plays.

Instant Speed: While Voidstone Gargoyle itself does not act at instant speed, its ability to preemptively shut down an opponent’s instant-speed threats means you can more safely pass turns without needing to hold up as much mana for reactive plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Voidstone Gargoyle, players don’t have to worry about discarding as this is not part of its casting conditions. This aspect often deemed a drawback in other cards, is not a concern here, allowing you to maintain hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Voidstone Gargoyle demands a precise mana alignment with its somewhat rigid casting cost—requiring one white and three generic mana. This requirement can potentially strain mana bases that are not heavily weighted towards white, making it less flexible in multicolored decks that don’t prioritize this hue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Voidstone Gargoyle’s abilities may justify its cost for some players, others may find the four total mana—a sizable investment for a 3/3 flyer—a bit steep given the availability of other creatures with similar or lower casting costs that offer comparable or even superior abilities.

Reasons to Include Voidstone Gargoyle in Your Collection

Versatility: Voidstone Gargoyle offers a unique mix of abilities, making it a solid choice for decks aiming to disrupt opponents by locking out key cards. Its presence can shift the tide of the game by hindering common strategies or specific threats.

Combo Potential: This card can serve as a cornerstone in combos that aim to prevent the opponent from playing their crucial spells. It synergizes with strategies that capitalize on shutting down options for your adversary, ensuring your victory through control.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where powerful non-land cards dictate the outcome, Voidstone Gargoyle can be pivotal. Its capacity to nullify a chosen card’s abilities across the game can significantly weaken decks reliant on certain triggers or effects, making it a strategic asset in shifting metas.

How to beat

Voidstone Gargoyle presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield. This formidable card not only has the ability to neutralize a chosen nonland card’s name and its associated abilities but also sets a significant defense at four toughness. Overcoming this gargoyle often requires a strategy that does not rely on the abilities of the named card.

To successfully navigate around this obstacle, consider employing removal spells that do not target, such as board wipes. Spells like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict can clear Voidstone Gargoyle without having to directly target it. Another method is to use cards with triggered abilities upon entering the battlefield, such as Reclamation Sage, that can destroy artifacts or enchantments, bypassing the targeting restrictions.

A versatile deck that can adapt to the gargoyle’s suppressive nature is key. Integrating a range of removal options can ensure that your strategy remains unaffected by a single powerful card. By diversifying your tactics and anticipating such threats, you can maintain an upper hand, even in the presence of Voidstone Gargoyle’s imposing presence on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Voidstone Gargoyle MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Voidstone Gargoyle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Voidstone Gargoyle has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2007-02-01	The named card can be cast face down.
2007-02-01	Voidstone Gargoyle stops activated abilities that are mana abilities from being activated, unlike Pithing Needle.
2007-02-01	You can name either half of a split card, but not both. If you do so, that half (and both halves, if the split card has fuse) can’t be cast. The other half is unaffected.
2007-07-15	Activated abilities of copies of a spell with that name (such as Lightning Storm) cannot be activated.
2016-06-08	Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.