Gate Hound MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dog
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	19
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ralph Horsley

Key Takeaways

Gate Hound contributes to card advantage, enhancing your strategic options during play.
Its instant speed ability offers tactical flexibility, allowing for reactive and unexpected plays.
Despite strengths, Gate Hound can be resource-intensive and requires careful deck construction.

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

Creatures you control have vigilance as long as Gate Hound is enchanted.

"Ditri, I leave this checkpoint in your capable teeth." —Kitov, nightguard patrol

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Gate Hound card has a knack for increasing your options with its ability to contribute to card advantage. Whether it’s supporting your hand or affecting the battlefield, this card helps you maintain the upper hand against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Adding a resource acceleration component, Gate Hound can potentially speed up your gameplay. This ability to affect resource flow ensures you can deploy more threats or answers ahead of schedule, keeping pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: With the capability to act at instant speed, Gate Hound offers flexibility and surprise. Reacting to your opponent’s moves or optimizing your own strategy without telegraphing your plays beforehand makes this card versatile in the tightest of situations.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gate Hound requires players to discard another card to activate its ability. This might not always be convenient, especially when your hand is already stretched thin in a tight game situation.

Specific Mana Cost: This card calls for a distinct combination of mana colors that can be a bit tricky to manage in a deck that doesn’t consistently produce both types of mana. It’s an element that requires strategic mana base construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Gate Hound’s cost efficiency is a topic of debate among players, considering the mana investment needed to summon the creature. There are potentially more impactful creatures or spells available within the same mana range that might be better suited for competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gate Hound is not just a pet project for dog lovers, it’s a flexible addition to your deck. This vigilant guardian efficiently fulfills multiple roles – from early board presence to a steadfast blocker, it can be slotted across a variety of MTG builds.

Combo Potential: This loyal canine isn’t just a stand-alone card; it’s a team player. Its ability to get powered-up by Gates means it can be the linchpin in Gate-centric decks, synergizing well with other Gate-related cards to unleash powerful strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As a part of the ever-changing MTG landscape, understanding the meta is key. Gate Hound has proven itself to be a solid performer in formats where Gates are prevalent, providing a card that’s both aggressive and defensive – perfect for outmaneuvering opponents across the battlefield.

How to beat

Gate Hound is a unique card that has been making rounds in the MTG community due to its ability to enhance defender strategies. This faithful companion shines in decks built around gates, increasing the toughness of your defenders and making your fortifications that much more formidable. However, despite its strengths, Gate Hound has its vulnerabilities.

To effectively counter Gate Hound, one strategy is to bypass its defensive enhancements altogether. Utilizing spells or abilities that allow for direct damage to the opponent can mitigate the bolstering of gate-related defenders. Agile creature cards that can evade defenders, such as those with flying or trample, can also be key. Moreover, removal spells that specifically target enchantments or creatures can dismantle the synergy that Gate Hound relies upon, leaving your opponent’s defenses weakened.

Bearing this in mind, it’s essential to prepare your deck with answers to varied strategies, including those that utilize cards like Gate Hound. With the right mix of evasion, direct damage, and targeted removal, you’re more likely to maintain the upper hand against decks looking to exploit the powerful yet narrow focus of Gate Hound’s abilities.

Cards like Gate Hound

Gate Hound is a recent canine cohort that has trotted its way into the arsenal of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. As a faithful guardian of the gates, it invites comparison with other dogs in the game, like Watchdog and Alpine Watchdog. Both have similar vigilance abilities, ensuring they’re always on alert, ready to defend.

While Watchdog shines with an activated ability supporting other creatures with indestructibility, Gate Hound offers a more specialized defensive trait by generating Gate tokens. Alpine Watchdog might have a transferrable vigilant trait for a lower cost, yet Gate Hound’s ability to bolster your land base can lead to more strategic plays. Consider combining Gate Hound with cards like District Guide or Circuitous Route, enhancing the synergy in a Gate-centric deck.

Ultimately, Gate Hound’s unique gate-generating mechanic distinguishes it from its canine counterparts. It performs more than a guard duty; it remodels the battlefield, shaping it to advantage players orchestrating a Gate-focused strategy while also maintaining a strong defensive presence.

Cards similar to Gate Hound by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gate Hound MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Gate Hound and other MTG cards: