Masked Gorgon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Gorgon
Abilities	Threshold
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	69
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Key Takeaways

Masked Gorgon can control matches by dictating creature play, offering superior board management.
Its discard requirement and specific mana colors can be restrictive, potentially hampering deck versatility.
Despite some drawbacks, its unique abilities provide combo potentials and meta-game relevance.

Text of card

Green creatures and white creatures have protection from Gorgons. Threshold Masked Gorgon has protection from green and from white. (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite Masked Gorgon’s specific deck requirements, its potential to lock down an opponent’s creature strategies is significant. Drawing it means you’re more likely to control the board, keeping your hand armed with impactful plays.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly provide mana or resources, deploying Masked Gorgon can be seen as a form of tempo acceleration. It forces opponents to deal with it or find themselves at a disadvantage, possibly buying you time to deploy your resources more effectively.

Instant Speed: In the landscape of MTG, speed is king. The ability to play spells at instant speed grants flexibility and strategic depth. Masked Gorgon, while not an instant itself, encourages a deck build that leverages instant-speed interaction to protect it and disrupt your adversaries during crucial moments of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The card asks you to discard another card as part of its activation, which can set you back if your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: It demands a precise combination of mana, including black and green, to play, making it restrictive in decks that aren’t tailored to these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for the Masked Gorgon is considerable, which could potentially slow your game play, especially when there are alternative creatures with lower casting costs and comparable abilities.

Reasons to Include Masked Gorgon in Your Collection

Versatility: Masked Gorgon can be a critical addition to green-based decks, particularly those seeking to leverage creature types. Capable of fulfilling multiple roles, it can serve as both a defender with substantial toughness and an offensive deterrent against creatures without green mana symbols.

Combo Potential: This card holds significant potential in combo-centric decks. Utilizing its ability to restrict certain creatures from attacking can be paired with other cards that manipulate or benefit from the colors of creatures on the board.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where multicolored creatures are prevalent, Masked Gorgon gains relevance by limiting opponents’ options. It can become especially potent against decks heavily reliant on multicolored creature strategies.

How to beat Masked Gorgon

Confronting the Masked Gorgon within the realms of MTG requires a clear strategy due to its unique abilities that prevent non-Gorgon creatures from attacking. This card can dominate the battle field, but it’s far from unbeatable. Utilizing removal spells like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares is a straightforward method to remove the Gorgon from play, thereby allowing your creatures to attack once again.

Players can also bypass the Gorgon’s restrictions through effects that neutralize or bypass creature abilities. Utilizing creatures with hexproof or shroud helps prevent them from becoming targets of its ability. Moreover, implementing board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear the field regardless of creature types present. A more subtle approach involves the use of abilities like flying or trample to overcome its defensive stature, by either soaring over or crushing through defenses.

At its essence, beating the Masked Gorgon in MTG boils down to being creative with card selection and timing. The right combination of removals, protection, and evasion will turn the tides, presenting openings for attacks to press ahead towards victory.

Cards like Masked Gorgon

Masked Gorgon is a unique creature that brings a specific tactical edge to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It compares to cards like Hundred-Handed One in the realm of monsters with conditional restrictions. While Hundred-Handed One limits opponents by controlling combat through its monstrous ability, Masked Gorgon restricts players directly through its block stipulation, allowing only creatures with defender to block it.

Another card to consider is Beloved Chaplain, which shares the concept of selective blocking, granting itself protection from creatures. However, unlike Masked Gorgon, which simply can’t be blocked by creatures without defender, Beloved Chaplain’s ability applies to all creatures, making it a more universally evasive creature. Then there’s Nemesis Mask, an equipment that forces all creatures to block the equipped creature if able, shifting the dynamic of combat but in a more controlled manner than the Gorgon’s inherent ability.

Evaluating their use in gameplay, Masked Gorgon might not be as widely versatile as others. Still, it’s an interesting choice for decks that capitalize on the defender mechanic or that require a challenging-to-block creature as a potential game finisher.

Cards similar to Masked Gorgon by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)

Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)

Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Shriekmaw - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Masked Gorgon MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Masked Gorgon and other MTG cards: