Guardian of the Great Conduit MTG Card

Guardian of the Great Conduit - Kaladesh

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Reach
Released	2016-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Kaladesh
Set code	KLD
Power	2
Toughness	4
Number	271
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christine Choi

Key Takeaways

Improves draw consistency with scrying, leading to more strategic play and control over game progression.
Mana acceleration from tapping opens opportunities for an earlier and more formidable board presence.
Instant-speed capability allows players to adapt swiftly, responding to threats and strategies as they arise.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) As long as you control a Nissa planeswalker, Guardian of the Great Conduit gets +2/+0 and has vigilance. (Attacking doesn't cause it to tap.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Guardian of the Great Conduit shines by letting players dig through their deck with its scrying ability. This leads to better draw quality and can tilt the scales in your favor by ensuring the right cards come at the right time. Efficiently sifting through your deck is a key tactic in maintaining card superiority on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: If resource management is your game, Guardian of the Great Conduit has got you covered. It taps for mana, which, when used strategically, can significantly speed up your game by enabling faster deployment of high-cost creatures and spells. Getting ahead in the mana curve isn’t just an advantage; it’s often the gateway to victory.

Instant Speed: The true magic of MTG often happens on the fly, and Guardian of the Great Conduit delivers by operating at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to react in real-time to unfolding threats or opportunities, ultimately granting you the upper hand. Being able to respond to your opponent’s moves with a creature that’s both robust and reactive can be a game-changer.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Guardian of the Great Conduit might offer beneficial effects, players must be aware of the discard requirement which can compel you to lose a potentially valuable card from your hand. This is particularly challenging when your hand is already depleted, and the loss of an extra card can signify a significant setback.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for a precise combination of mana to cast Guardian of the Great Conduit can restrict its inclusion to specific deck archetypes, limiting its versatility. Decks that do not support this specific mana requirement may find incorporating this card challenging without adjusting their mana base which could affect the deck’s consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of MTG, the cost to summon Guardian of the Great Conduit is considered high when compared to other creatures in its class. Players need to weigh the benefits of its abilities against the resource investment required, as there might be other creatures or spells that provide a more efficient use of mana and advance your board position more rapidly.

Reasons to Include Guardian of the Great Conduit in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardian of the Great Conduit brings flexibility to your deck-building. This creature offers powerful mana filtering abilities, making it an excellent inclusion in multicolored decks or those looking to splurge on high-cost spells.

Combo Potential: For players who enjoy intricacies, Guardian of the Great Conduit can be a linchpin in various combo strategies. Use its ability to untap significant lands or pair with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or activating abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where mana efficiency could mean the difference between victory and defeat, this card’s potential to accelerate your plays while providing a defensive body can be a game-changer against a landscape of ever-shifting competitive decks.

How to beat

The Guardian of the Great Conduit stands as a resilient fixture in many MTG decks, with its ability to interface with enchantments and other permanents enhancing its potency. To outplay this card, consider pinpointing and dismantling the enchantments that bolster its strength. Enchantment removal spells can effectively diminish the Guardian’s defenses, leaving it susceptible to assault.

It’s also worth noting that the Guardian depends on a thriving board state to truly shine. Hence, countering or bypassing its condition-based abilities with exile or bounce effects should put you in an advantageous position. Cards with capabilities to exile not only provide a direct method to remove the Guardian but also bypass any indestructibility it may have acquired.

Integrating instant-speed removals can catch your opponent off-guard, especially during combat or in response to them casting spells intended to synergize with the Guardian. By strategically planning and tapping into your deck’s responsive measures, you ensure that the Guardian of the Great Conduit’s potential impact is effectively nullified.

Cards like Guardian of the Great Conduit

In the intricate tapestry of Magic: The Gathering creatures, Guardian of the Great Conduit emerges with its distinctive abilities. One may notice echoes of its utility in cards like Sylvan Advocate, which also supports land creatures with its own set of buffs. Guardian of the Great Conduit provides a similar nod to the land-based strategies but with an energy-centric approach, utilizing the energy mechanic to become a formidable force.

Another card that shares a kinship is Tireless Tracker, a creature that thrives on clue tokens for card advantage and size increment. It lacks the direct land synergy but offers a parallel in leveraging the game environment. Guardian of the Great Conduit takes a more direct approach to enhance your land creatures, but Tireless Tracker provides broader benefits over time with potentially more card draw.

Such analogues underline the diverse strategic avenues within MTG, revealing Guardian of the Great Conduit as a pivotal option for those favoring energy-driven and land-focused builds. Choosing between these related cards often comes down to the specific texture and scheme of one’s deck, highlighting the richness of strategic selections in the game.

Cards similar to Guardian of the Great Conduit by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guardian of the Great Conduit MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh, 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 Guardian of the Great Conduit and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian of the Great Conduit has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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