Predator's Gambit MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Number	117
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Predator’s Gambit provides card advantage, accelerating resource and creature play at the cost of discard risks.
Being an instant, it allows for surprise buffs, yet specific mana and costs may limit deck inclusion.
Its versatility and meta-relevance in creature strategies make it a potent addition to your collection.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+1. Enchanted creature has intimidate as long as its controller controls no other creatures. (It can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Predator’s Gambit adds to your hand by drawing you into potentially game-changing creatures, giving you a strong advantage over your opponent if used strategically.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially lowering the cost of creature spells, Predator’s Gambit can ramp up your ability to deploy threats faster, overwhelming adversaries before they can establish their own board presence.

Instant Speed: The utility of being an instant cannot be overstated. Predator’s Gambit offers the flexibility to react dynamically to the shifting landscape of the battlefield, providing a powerful surprise element that could tilt the balance of a match in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Predator’s Gambit necessitates the relinquishment of a card from your hand, which might deplete your vital resources, especially when you’re already struggling with card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a particular blend of mana to cast, including black mana. This requirement may restrict its integration into decks that do not run black or multicolored mana bases efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a payment of three mana, this card’s impact on the game might be outweighed by alternative spells that present greater value or versatility for a similar or lesser investment.

Reasons to Include Predator’s Gambit in Your Collection

Versatility: Predator’s Gambit is a multifaceted card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck themes. It works well in decks focused on aggressive strategies, taking full advantage of its ability to augment a creature’s power and give it an edge in combat.

Combo Potential: This card opens up avenues for combos by potentially protecting an important creature with evasion while also enhancing its attack power. Its enchant creature feature makes it ideal for synergizing with abilities triggered upon dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: With the ongoing shift in the gaming meta, Predator’s Gambit retains relevance by offering an efficient way to strengthen weaker creatures. This feature could turn the tide in games that are heavily contingent on creature-based combat or voltron strategies.

How to beat

Predator’s Gambit is a unique enchantment that boosts the offensive capabilities of a single creature in a player’s arsenal in Magic: The Gathering. It’s an aura that not only increases the creature’s power with a notable +3/+3 bonus, but also grants it menace, ensuring that it cannot be blocked except by two or more creatures. This can turn even the most unassuming creature into a formidable threat that must be answered swiftly.

To effectively counter this card, controlling the board state is key. Removal spells that can target either the creature or the enchantment itself are invaluable, allowing players to bypass the menace condition altogether. Board wipes that clear multiple threats at once can also be a strategic response, dealing with Predator’s Gambit along with any other creatures on the opponent’s battlefield. Cards with hexproof or protection from colors can also prove to be a stumbling block for Predator’s Gambit, as it relies on targeting a creature controlled by the user.

Players should plan their removal and defensive strategies with Predator’s Gambit in mind if it’s a common card in their meta. Staying ahead of the curve by keeping mana open for instant-speed interactions ensures that the threat is neutralized before it can cause significant damage.

Cards like Predator's Gambit

Within the strategy of combat tricks, Predator’s Gambit is an intriguing card to consider in MTG. Comparable to cards such as Unnatural Predation, which offers a creature +1/+1 and trample until end of turn, Predator’s Gambit goes a step beyond by not only giving a creature +2/+1 but also making it unblockable by human creatures as long as its controller has no human creatures. This unique aspect of conditional unblockability provides a nuanced edge in games characterized by creature-type dynamics.

Invigorated Rampage is another card that echoes the buffing theme, providing a similar pump with a choice of either splitting +4/+0 between two creatures or giving one creature +4/+0 and trample. But it lacks the tactical advantage of conditional unblockability found in Predator’s Gambit. Considering all aspects, Predator’s Gambit carves a niche for itself with its potential for unexpected plays, especially in matchups where the tribal element can be manipulated to the player’s advantage.

Analyzing the capabilities of combat enhancement spells in MTG, we can appreciate Predator’s Gambit for what it brings to the table – a twist that can catch an opponent off guard and swing the tide of battle in the player’s favor.

Cards similar to Predator's Gambit by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predator's Gambit MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Predator's Gambit and other MTG cards: