Sea Gate Colossus MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Golem Warrior
Released	2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar Rising
Set code	ZNR
Power	7
Toughness	5
Number	251
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daniel Ljunggren

Key Takeaways

Cost reduction is valuable in party mechanic decks, allowing earlier plays and synergy with instant spells.
High base mana cost can be restrictive, especially if not utilizing a party-focused strategy.
Its versatility and combo potential make it a strategic asset in varied MTG deck builds.

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast for each creature in your party. (Your party consists of up to one each of Cleric, Rogue, Warrior, and Wizard.)

"When you are battered and exhausted, look up and be inspired by its resolve." —Tazri

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sea Gate Colossus can effectively reduce its casting cost under the right conditions, transforming it from a high mana cost asset into a powerhouse that can be played much earlier than expected. This ability to enter the battlefield sooner can translate to gaining card advantage by having a potent creature in play while freeing up your hand and mana for other strategies.

Resource Acceleration: If you’re using a deck with a party mechanic, where you control a Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, and Warrior, the cost of deploying Sea Gate Colossus can be significantly decreased. This synergizes incredibly well with strategies aiming to ramp up resources, as the reduced cost lets you maintain mana efficiency and establish a strong board presence faster.

Instant Speed: While Sea Gate Colossus doesn’t have an instant speed itself, its synergy with decks that include instant speed spells is notable. The cost reduction from having a full party allows players to keep mana open for instant speed interactions and still deploy a large threat without needing a specific timing window, which can shift the pace and control of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players considering Sea Gate Colossus, it’s important to note that, unlike other creatures that might provide immediate value upon hitting the board, this card provides no such immediate benefit. This means that if you’re forced to discard to make room for it, you may be at a net loss, as the Colossus does not compensate for the discard.

Specific Mana Cost: While the Colossus can benefit from a cost reduction mechanic, it initially requires seven mana which includes a colorless commitment. This cost can be somewhat restrictive, especially in early turns or in mana-curved decks where every land drop counts. Additionally, unless you’re playing a party mechanic-focused deck, the cost reduction can be negligible, rendering this card less than ideal for non-party builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a default cost of seven mana, even potential reductions considered, Sea Gate Colossus is still a higher investment compared to other creatures that occupy the same mana slot. In many cases, such a steep investment must come with impactful, game-changing abilities—something that the Sea Gate Colossus doesn’t necessarily offer. Consequently, there are more mana-efficient options that might provide additional utility or immediate board presence.

Reasons to Include Sea Gate Colossus in Your Collection

Versatility: Sea Gate Colossus is a robust addition to any deck that leverages the Party mechanic, reducing its mana cost as you assemble a diverse group of adventurers. Its adaptability makes it a superb fit for a wide array of archetypes, from aggressive strategies to more synergistic tribal builds.

Combo Potential: With the right combination of creatures on the battlefield, Sea Gate Colossus’s cost can greatly diminish, enabling you to bring a hefty creature into play early. This can synergize with effects that trigger on casting large spells or deploying sizable creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, having cost-effective large creatures can be a game-changer, especially in a meta that favors ramp and big-payoff strategies. The Colossus can hold its own against other formidable threats and serve as both an efficient blocker and a powerful attacker.

How to beat

Sea Gate Colossus is known for its cost-reducing ability in a party-based deck within the world of Magic: The Gathering. Players facing this formidable creature often need a solid strategy due to its 10/10 stats when you have a full party. To overcome this challenge, removal spells are your best friend. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can dispatch it before it becomes a major threat. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God will clear the Colossus along with any other creatures on the battlefield.

Control decks that limit your opponent’s ability to build a full party are also effective. Counter spells like Cancel or mana-leak effects can prevent the Colossus from ever hitting the field. Remember, the Colossus’s cost reduction is only as good as the party’s size. Keeping your opponent’s board clear will leave Sea Gate Colossus with a prohibitive casting cost. If the Colossus does make it onto the board, having creatures with deathtouch or enough power and toughness to withstand a hit can also turn the tide in your favor.

Ultimately, preparation and prompt answers to party mechanics are key in maintaining the upper hand against Sea Gate Colossus in Magic: The Gathering. A diverse deck capable of removing or controlling creatures will minimize the threat posed by this giant.

Cards like Sea Gate Colossus

Sea Gate Colossus is a formidable creature card from Magic: The Gathering that resembles other high-impact options available to players. Its noticeable characteristic is its cost reduction mechanic, which echoes the nature of spells such as Golem Artisan. Golem Artisan provides a multitude of abilities to enhance creatures, but lacks the inherent cost reduction that makes Sea Gate Colossus more accessible as the game advances.

Another card that comes to mind is Adaptive Automaton, offering a universal creature type buff. While the Automaton fits seamlessly into tribal decks, it doesn’t possess the sheer size that Sea Gate Colossus can quickly become on the battlefield. Additionally, cards like Stonework Packbeast share the set theme and tribal flexibility but are smaller in stature compared to the Colossus that stands as a significant late-game presence.

Whether evaluating for size, tribal synergy, or economic viability, Sea Gate Colossus stands as a strategic piece in numerous MTG builds. Its ability to become cheaper with each ally or party member you control adds a layer of strategic depth to deck construction, rewarding thoughtful assembly and synergistic play. In the realm of cost-effective giants, Sea Gate Colossus carves its niche admirably within the game.

Cards similar to Sea Gate Colossus by color, type and mana cost

Mishra's War Machine - MTG Card versions

Death-Mask Duplicant - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sea Gate Colossus MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Sea Gate Colossus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sea Gate Colossus has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-09-25	An ability referring to the number of creatures in your party gets a number from zero to four. Such abilities never ask which creatures are in your party, and you never have to designate specific creatures as being in your party. You can’t choose to exclude creatures from this count to lower the number.
2020-09-25	If a creature has more than one party creature type, and there are multiple ways to count that creature that could result in a different number of creatures in your party, the highest such number is used. For example, if you control a Cleric and a Cleric Wizard, the number of creatures in your party is two. You can’t choose to have it be just one by counting the Cleric Wizard first as a Cleric.
2020-09-25	If a spell has a cost reduction based on the number of creatures in your party, no player may attempt to change that number after you begin to cast the spell but before you pay the cost.
2020-09-25	Several cards have a cost reduction based on the number of creatures in your party. To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2020-09-25	To determine “the number of creatures in your party,” check whether you control a Cleric, whether you control a Rogue, whether you control a Warrior, and whether you control a Wizard. The number is the total number of those checks to which you answered yes. Each creature you control can be counted for only one of those checks.