Gore-House Chainwalker MTG Card

Gore-House Chainwalker - Return to Ravnica

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities	Unleash
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	96
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Scott

Key Takeaways

Gore-House Chainwalker enhances board presence without extra cost due to its unleash mechanic.
Accelerates aggressive strategies, pressuring opponents early in the game.
Complements decks utilizing instant speed creatures and effects.

Text of card

Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.)

If the pig's blood drips on you, you're next on the chain.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Gore-House Chainwalker might not directly offer extra draws or card filtering, it presents an efficient creature for its mana cost. The card’s unleash ability, where it can enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter if you forgo blocking with it, effectively gives you a stronger creature without having to invest in additional resources, indirectly adding to your on-board advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a traditional ramp tool, Gore-House Chainwalker offers aggressive mana value, enabling a fast-paced strategy. By deploying a considerable threat early in the game, it exerts pressure on opponents, requiring them to deal with it swiftly and sometimes at a higher resource cost than you invested.

Instant Speed: Gore-House Chainwalker operates at sorcery speed, but its relevance comes into play by fitting into decks that leverage creatures at instant speed. Since it can be a 3/2 attacker as early as turn two, it complements strategies that utilize flash creatures and effects to keep opponents off-balance, ensuring your threats are consistent both in timing and impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gore-House Chainwalker does not ask you to discard, it’s worth considering that its Unleash mechanic forces a tough decision. Using Unleash to give it a +1/+1 counter means it won’t be able to block, which can be a significant drawback in games where board control is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Gore-House Chainwalker requires a specific mana investment of one red mana in its cost. This restricts it primarily to red or multicolored decks and can be a drawback for players not running those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though two mana for a 2/1 creature may seem reasonable, considering that other two-mana creatures can offer additional abilities or have less restrictive conditions for blocking, the cost of committing to the Unleash mechanic with no other benefits may be perceived as a detriment when selecting cards for your deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gore-House Chainwalker offers flexibility in aggressive red decks, being able to adapt as either a 2/1 for two mana or a 3/2 by using its Unleash ability. This adaptability makes it a versatile pick for players looking to optimize their mana curve in creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: With its Unleash mechanic, Gore-House Chainwalker can synergize with cards that benefit from creatures with +1/+1 counters, or with mechanics that reward players for attacking with a certain number of creatures. This simple yet efficient creature can be a key component in developing powerful board states that overrun opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In contexts where the game pace is fast and aggressive strategies are favored, Gore-House Chainwalker shines by providing a sizeable threat early in the game. Its relevance in the meta can be attributed to its ability to pressure life totals early on, which is critical against more controlling or combo-oriented decks.

How to beat

Gore-House Chainwalker is a creature card that comes with the unleash ability, allowing it to enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter if you choose to give it up the chance of block that turn. In the context of gameplay, this makes it an aggressive option for players looking to press their advantage quickly. Its role in Red Deck Wins strategies where speed and damage output are crucial is undeniable.

To effectively counter Gore-House Chainwalker, it’s essential to use removal spells to handle it before it can swing in for significant damage. Cards like Fatal Push or Shock are efficient means to this end. Since it cannot block once unleashed, this opens up strategic play options for you to tackle your opponent directly. Another tactic is to utilize higher toughness blockers that can withstand a hit from the Chainwalker, such as Omenspeaker or Augur of Bolas, which not only survive the clash but also offer additional value through their enter the battlefield effects.

Ultimately, overcoming a card like Gore-House Chainwalker boils down to anticipating its arrival and preparing a responsive strategy. Whether through immediate removal or presenting unfavorable trading conditions for your opponent, you can navigate around this aggressive creature and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Gore-House Chainwalker

The Gore-House Chainwalker is a creature card that finds its niche in Red aggressive decks within Magic: The Gathering. At first glance, it may remind players of other two-cost creatures like Ash Zealot. Both offer a strong early game presence, but while Ash Zealot provides first strike and punishes graveyard strategies, the Chainwalker presents the Unleash mechanic, granting it the potential to be a more powerful attacker if you choose to forgo its ability to block.

Comparisons can be drawn with Rakdos Shred-Freak, another creature well-suited for fast-paced strategies. Though it matches the Chainwalker’s power with haste, it lacks the flexibility of the Unleash mechanic. Conversely, Borderland Marauder, a similar two-cost creature, may get stronger when attacking, but it doesn’t offer the same sustained power boost that an unleashed Gore-House Chainwalker does.

Ultimately, the Chainwalker stands out in decks favoring aggressive tactics. Its ability to be a consistent threat makes it a formidable choice in the Red creature lineup. When considering mana efficiency and attack potential, Gore-House Chainwalker is a powerful card for its cost, especially for players looking to quickly pressure their opponents.

Cards similar to Gore-House Chainwalker by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gore-House Chainwalker MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Gore-House Chainwalker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gore-House Chainwalker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	A creature with unleash can’t block if it has any +1/+1 counter on it, not just one put on it by the unleash ability.
2013-04-15	Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block.
2013-04-15	The unleash ability applies no matter where the creature is entering the battlefield from.
2013-04-15	You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example.