Dimir Guildgate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
RarityCommon
TypeLand — Gate

Key Takeaways

  1. Dimir Guildgate aids in mana consistency and supports a strong tactical spell suite in blue and black decks.
  2. Its dual land nature allows for smoother mana curves, albeit at the cost of entering the battlefield tapped.
  3. Despite lacking instant speed, its presence is vital to instant-speed strategies once established on the field.

Text of card

Dimir Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.

Enter and become a mastermind of spies, lies, and deception.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dimir Guildgate enables players to access a two-color mana base without the high cost associated with many multi-color lands. This proficiency helps in curating a strong hand with a broader range of tactical spells from the Dimir color palette.

Resource Acceleration: As a dual land, Dimir Guildgate may not provide an immediate speed-up in resources inherently, but it does set the stage for a smoother mana curve. By ensuring land drops are more color consistent, it supports a stable development enabling you to cast spells swiftly without getting color locked.

Instant Speed: While the Dimir Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped and isn’t an instant, it complements a deck strategy that operates at instant speed. Possessing this land in play assures that you have the necessary mana combination to react to your opponent’s moves effectively with your instant-speed spells when it’s your turn again.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dimir Guildgate doesn’t come with an immediate discard drawback, but since it enters the battlefield tapped, it equates to a temporary discard in tempo. Missing a vital turn can sometimes feel as if you’re down a card, especially during the early game phases where speed is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This lands’ ability to provide either blue or black mana is specific to the Dimir colors, which could restrict deck-building options. Without the flexibility of producing colorless mana, it can’t seamlessly fit into any deck that might need its mana-fixing abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Dimir Guildgate doesn’t have a mana cost itself, its nature of entering the battlefield tapped is a sort of “invisible” cost. In a format where untapped dual lands are available, using a Guildgate could mean losing out on critical speed and efficiency, potentially allowing opponents to gain an advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dimir Guildgate offers a reliable mana fix for any deck that operates within the blue and black color scheme. This land card is a staple in multicolored decks seeking to balance their mana base without a high investment cost.

Combo Potential: Its status as a Gate makes it synergize with cards that specify or interact with this subtype, potentially unlocking powerful combinations and interactions in decks designed to capitalize on them.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, so does the need for effective mana management. Dimir Guildgate maintains relevance in various metagames, especially where slowing the pace and setting up for late-game control are part of the winning strategy.


How to beat

Dimir Guildgate stands as a gateway to two-colored mana utility in MTG, offering blue and black mana access without the cost of spending precious life points. Its entrance on the battlefield tapped is the cost you pay for such versatility. While it may seem like a minor setback, timing is pivotal, and this delay can be leveraged.

To overthrow a strategy that relies on Dimir Guildgate, swift plays and aggressive tactics can be employed. Ramp your mana quickly with untapped lands or mana artifacts to gain a speed advantage. Deploy creatures that can apply pressure early on in the game, forcing opponents to defend rather than building their mana base. This can derail their strategy before they stabilize their mana situation with the help of Dimir Guildgate.

And don’t forget the power of land destruction or effects that negate the capabilities of non-basic lands. While not commonly favored in most casual formats due to their disruptive nature, they are undeniable tools to consider when strategizing against lands like Dimir Guildgate that form the bedrock of many two-color decks in MTG.


Cards like Dimir Guildgate

Dimir Guildgate stands as a basic entry point in the vast array of dual lands present in Magic: The Gathering. When exploring cards with similar functionality, one can’t overlook cards like Submerged Boneyard and Dismal Backwater, both providing access to blue and black mana. What sets Dimir Guildgate apart from Dismal Backwater is that Dismal Backwater offers an additional life point upon entry, a subtle yet potentially significant advantage in the long game.

Moreover, the Guildgate lacks the “comes into play tapped” condition found in stronger lands such as Watery Grave, which can also be brought onto the battlefield untapped at the expense of 2 life. This presents a trade to consider based on the tempo of the deck it’s utilized in. In contrast, evolving lands like Choked Estuary offer a potentially untapped alternative if the conditions involving basic lands are met.

Overall, while Dimir Guildgate may have counterparts that offer slight beneficial quirks, it remains a reliable, though unflashy, land choice for decks that run on a tight mana base and require consistent access to both blue and black mana without incurring extra costs to the player’s life total or deck complexity.

Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Dismal Backwater - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Watery Grave - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Choked Estuary - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Cards similar to Dimir Guildgate by color, type and mana cost

Underground Sea - MTG Card versions
River Delta - MTG Card versions
Underground River - MTG Card versions
Salt Marsh - MTG Card versions
Dimir Aqueduct - MTG Card versions
Temple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Watery Grave - MTG Card versions
Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway - MTG Card versions
Darkwater Catacombs - MTG Card versions
Dreadship Reef - MTG Card versions
Secluded Glen - MTG Card versions
Jwar Isle Refuge - MTG Card versions
Drowned Catacomb - MTG Card versions
Darkslick Shores - MTG Card versions
Tainted Isle - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Depths - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hollow - MTG Card versions
Submerged Boneyard - MTG Card versions
Dismal Backwater - MTG Card versions
Choked Estuary - MTG Card versions
Underground Sea - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
River Delta - Ice Age (ICE)
Underground River - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Salt Marsh - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Dimir Aqueduct - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Temple of Deceit - Doctor Who (WHO)
Watery Grave - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Darkwater Catacombs - Fallout (PIP)
Dreadship Reef - The List (PLST)
Secluded Glen - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Jwar Isle Refuge - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Drowned Catacomb - Fallout (PIP)
Darkslick Shores - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos (PONE)
Tainted Isle - Fallout (PIP)
Rootwater Depths - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Sunken Hollow - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Submerged Boneyard - Commander 2018 (C18)
Dismal Backwater - March of the Machine (MOM)
Choked Estuary - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dimir Guildgate MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Dragon's Maze, 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 Dimir Guildgate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dimir Guildgate Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Cliff Childs.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 2412003normalblackCliff Childs
22013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 1482003normalblackCliff Childs
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2842003normalblackCliff Childs
42017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2342015normalblackCliff Childs
52018-08-09Commander 2018C18 2432015normalblackCliff Childs
62018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2462015normalblackCliff Childs
72018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2452015normalblackCliff Childs
82020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1272015normalblackCliff Childs
92024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2762015normalblackCliff Childs
102024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4001997normalblackCliff Childs
112024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 2342015normalblackCliff Childs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dimir Guildgate has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Gate is not a basic land type.
2013-04-15 The subtype Gate has no special rules significance, but other spells and abilities may refer to it.

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