Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Released	2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dragon's Maze
Set code	DGM
Power	2
Toughness	4
Number	39
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Key Takeaways

Offers strategic advantage via control of opponent’s creatures, influencing the game’s momentum in your favor.
Demands presence of two red creatures to activate, which can be restrictive but powerful when met.
Key component for decks focused on creature control, with potential to sway creature-heavy match-ups.

Text of card

When Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Gates, gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers offer a strategic benefit when it comes to card advantage, primarily because it has the potential to disrupt your opponent by gaining control of their creature. This not only beefs up your side of the battlefield but diminishes your opponent’s resources, tipping the scale in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers don’t directly offer mana acceleration, they serve as a form of resource acceleration through the creature they potentially commandeer. Gaining control of an opponent’s creature can open up new avenues for mana usage, allowing for more efficient plays and potentially unlocking abilities or synergies not previously available to you.

Instant Speed: While Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers operate at sorcery speed, the impact it has on the board state is immediate and tangible. Bringing it into play when conditions are favorable—specifically when you have two or more red creatures to unleash its ability—can shift the tide of the game unexpectedly, similar to the surprise factor often associated with instant speed spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers call for a specific action to be taken in order to access its benefits. Players need to have two or more other red creatures on the battlefield, which can be a demanding condition to meet, particularly in the early game or in multicolored decks where red creatures might be less prevalent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a casting cost that includes two red mana, tying it closely to red-centric or boros (red-white) decks. Players running other color combinations might find this card difficult to integrate into their strategies without compromising their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana cost—two of which must be red—Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers may arrive on the battlefield later than other creatures with similar abilities. There are lower-cost cards with the potential to impact the game sooner, making the Gatekeepers less competitive in terms of mana efficiency.

Reasons to Include Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers in Your Collection

Versatility: Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers offers a level of adaptability that makes it a solid choice for anyone interested in a deck involving creature control. It’s not just about the damage; it’s the functionality of potentially removing a blocker that makes it versatile.

Combo Potential: With the ability to target and potentially disable an opponent’s creature when played alongside another red or multi-colored card, this card becomes a key piece in orchestrating plays that clear the way for decisive attacks.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies often fluctuate in popularity, having Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers in your arsenal provides an edge in a creature-heavy environment, ensuring your match-ups are that little bit more manageable.

How to beat

Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers can present a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to assert control by capturing an opponent’s creature when you control two or more Gates. Effectively dealing with this card often requires a preemptive approach or informed reaction to its creature control capabilities. One could strategically eliminate the Gatekeepers before the player reaches the necessary Gate threshold, rendering the Gatekeepers’ ability moot. Removal spells such as Murder or Shock are efficient ways to quickly and directly dispose of the Gatekeepers.

Another tactic is to prioritize the destruction or neutralization of Gates themselves. Land destruction options or cards that change land types can undercut the Gatekeepers’ influence, preventing the ability from triggering altogether. An example of disrupting Gate synergies would be through fieldwide control effects, like Cleansing Nova, which can clear both creatures and lands if needed.

Employment of counterspells such as Negate or Essence Scatter when the Gatekeepers are played can also be effective to avoid its entry onto the battlefield. Remember, the best method to handle Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers involves anticipation and interference with your opponent’s board state, preventing the convergence of the Gatekeepers with their gate-reliant power. This level of foresight and disruption will be key to overcoming the strategic advantages presented by Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers.

Cards like Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers

Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers hold a unique position within the realm of creature cards in MTG. They share similarities with other creatures that provide benefits when they enter the battlefield, much like the famous Gatecreeper Vine. In this aspect, both cards offer utility, but Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers require a specific condition of controlling two or more Gates to unlock their potential. Gatecreeper Vine does not have such constraints but offers land fixing instead of board presence.

Another card worth mentioning is Sunspire Gatekeepers. This card also plays well with Gates, offering a defensive angle by providing a 2/4 body along with a 2/2 Knight creature token if you meet the gate condition. While Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers focus on controlling opponents’ creatures, Sunspire Gatekeepers bolster your defensive line. Moreover, looking at the aggressive side, Ogre Gatecrasher is a creature that can destroy a creature with defender on entry, yet this comes without the gate-synergy that Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers offer.

Each of these creatures provide value based on the board state and synergies with the Gates, but Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers stand out for their capability to disrupt the opponent’s battle strategy, presenting a distinct advantage in games where creature control can turn the tide in your favor.

Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers MTG card by a specific set like 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 Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers and other MTG cards: