2/2 body for two mana with an incredibly cheap Cruel Edict trigger of only ? at any time! screams for mono-black decks, though.
i'm content whether zendikar enables play of some black control decks again...
JosirisDavid
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
My favourite card! One of my most used card in the pre-release event!
Lestat13
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Contender for best card in the set it's just so simply great.
madformedusa
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy is so ace! Way above the curve! Badass all around!
True_Mumin
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(9 votes)
Auto-include in any mono black beatdown from now on. 5/5
masterSDF
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
One of the best mono-black cards in standard! Love it!
Nighthawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the best mono black creatures anywhere. First turn this guy in response beats out first turn Juzam or Hypnotic...the better the opponent's creatures the better he is.
BambooNickel
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(6 votes)
i get vicarious tingles reading all the praise for this guy. im with you guys. gatekeeper is amazing
djpraiseadelik
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Put 4 of these, 4 Royal Assassin, and 4 Vampire Nighthawk in a monoblack control and watch your opponent squirm.
UNBAN_SHAHRAZAD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Guess I'm never going to need any card with Edict in the name again...
The city he mentions must not get alot of visitors
StreamHopper
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not to mention he's a vampire. He gets all the good boosts for vampires that Wizards included in Zendikar. I ordered four of him, along with four Royal A$$a$$in's, four Deathmarks, four Vamp Nighthawks, four Vamp Hexmages, and then throwing two quest for the gravelords in. I couldn't afford Vampire Nocturnus, but this thing is still going to pwn. I love this guy, and for two mana? Black is blazing like an amaterasu in Zendikar. Four and half stars.
Erad1cator
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I have 5-color controldeck, and this one gives me a lot of trouble. That sacrifice makes it so powerful, a lot better than Doomblade-effect would make and It's only 3 mana. My Countersqualls and and Vines of Vastwood won't protect against this one, so only thing I can use against these is Thought Hemorrhage and that slows me a lot. And this works also against other black creatures. Only minus is BBB. Maybe someone could think this as a good thing? Maybe best card in set?
Hmm, also I don't like the thing it's a vampire. Zendikar is filled with vampire's, so you don't need to know how to make a deck, you just throw those "cool" vampires in and there you go. And that deck will definetely work quite a well. For me, that's not an option. I'd like to design an unique deck, something that might not work, but It's not copied somewhere. And that is a great minus in Zendikar. There's landfall and there's vampires, both foredesigned and very well working. Thx
CatsAreCthala
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0)(14 votes)
Most of the best vampires have nothing to do with other vampires.
nineyears
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(5 votes)
5/5 better than Fleshbag Marauder in my opinion. i never play this for two so i am going to say this. BBB mana cost for a 2/2 that makes your opponet sac a creature. the art is awsome.
AXER
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
{B}{B} gets you a 2/2 creature which is an okay deal. But then he basically acts as some kind of sorcery that ONLY COSTS {B} THAT BASICALLY DESTROYS A CREATURE? Too good.
AbyssalManZero
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This guy and Vampire Nighthawk I think are going to make vampires a common sight in all decks using black for some time! Too outragiously awesome to not use!
re4leonkennedy
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(21 votes)
Now all we need is a "Keymaster" card and I can make a Ghostbusters deck.
Mafoo
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(7 votes)
Sh*t's so cash.
daekoaram
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is just totally badass! two black mana and one for the kicker , 3 all in all and you get the opposing player sacrifice one of his or her creature! , my friends always gets annoyed when i drop this card , whenever its my turn they ready their card in the graveyard because they know what's coming hahaha! 5 out of 5 !
GradiustheFox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
1 black mana to kill anything that's alone? Hot dog, sign me up. Any canny, economical necromancer would kill for a deal that good! With this effect, most likely. He looks pretty cool and has chillingly creepy flavor text to boot.
PaladinOfSunhome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just awesome.
4.0
Relix
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy has saved me from great sable stag a few times in my mono black deck. he nearly always kills something....very awesome.
ComradeZhukov
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Just the fact some creature your opponent control dies from paying 3 swamps is amazing in itself, even if the creature sacrificed is a chump blocker. Absolutely perfect in any swamp intensive deck.
Gaussgoat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This guy is insane.... he was devastating when I played against him in a recently. As soon as he hits the table, boom, you lose a guy.
The worst part is that even if unkicked, he manages to be a 2/2 for only 2, and as a vampire he gets lots of boosts from other vamps.
Oh, and outside of standard, you have a perfect Matching creature for Dark Ritual on turn 2.
5/5
achilleselbow
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Of course sacrifice is great because it's not targeted, but outside of standard I might still prefer Nekrataal in a lot of cases. First strike, more splashable, and you get to choose the creature.
Serberus_08
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Nighthawks better :p........not
MDStrawHat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Plain Simple Card Advantage:)
coyotemoon722
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I hate this card more than any card in magic.
Sugga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Mono black in fashion again I see. Running LD-sensitive Emo Green with Tarmogoyfs seems somewhat naive, as you can just control the game with this one and Snuff Outs. Or as far as I'm concerned I'd trade Tarmogoyf to this one in a BG-aggro as well. 'Uuuge! Throw in a Shriekmaw or two and it's game against aggro ;) I guess Tempo is the modern MtG.
WhiteyMcFly
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(7 votes)
Most annoying black card I've ever seen.
"Yay I finally got a big creature out!"
"Gatekeeper"
"..."
Selez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
On constructed: We've seen how awesome this guy is. Any mono-black deck should run him, period.
On limited: The triple black is really hard to support, but if you can, snap this guy up. Late pick first pack, earlier in second and third packs if you're going black.
I find it interesting how much people complain about how bad bad cards are when I find zero complaints about the high power level of cards like this. Is it because you guys recognize that a BBB tradeoff for power level is acceptable (not to mention flavorful), or are yall merely pacified by Gatekeep's awesomeness?
@ Mode: How'd you get those mana symbols?
Pwnsaw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have played him in a mono black deck for a while now. I just added some tectonic edges to the deck, and realized just how mono black this guy requires you to be. You really can't splash much, even colorless ramp, in monoblack. Or else you wont be able to hire gatekeeper to collect his toll.
iSlapTrees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
So if I cascade in to this, I can just pay the 1 black mana for the sac effect? :)
Bursama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
... Seems VERY interesting card. Good in mono-black.
Sironos
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I see you finally cheated your mythic eldrazi out on turn 4 with no other creatures around... well guess what! >:)
I love cards that are 2 in one (removal and creatures), I love cards that reward monoblack in standard (since I cannot afford those pricy fetch lands) and I like cards that can kill progenitus, Emrakul, Ulamog, dark steel colossus and all those fatties getting cheated out with (mass)polymorph or summoning trap or cloning shell or likewise. Love that with monoblack vamps, you don't need expensive fetches, and since that overpowered nocturnus rotated out, you don't even need mythics, makes it possible for those of us who love magic and love standard tournaments, but don't want to spend all our money on it. Every time I kill bankslayer with this, or jace the moneyscalper with hex mage, I always feel kinda sorry for my opponent, him having chosen a deck type (blue/white control) that makes you poor to play. Just hope they don't make any overpowered, overpriced undercosted mono black mythic vamps, in the next sets, keep it rare, keep it fair.
crystalisdraco
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
The only version of him I've ever gotten was foil XD
Gabriel422
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After a year playing with and against this card, I gotta say it's pretty fair deal. He's powerful, but there are ways to circumvent him; he encouraged me to play Khalni Gardens and Nest Invaders, and this pulled Eldrazi Monuments into my deck. Ends up he (alongside Skinrenders) actually still gives mono-black a fighting chance against the Monument! He also caught my Sphinx of Jwar Isle a number of times, something a color like red can never do, making mono-black a different deck to play against.
He's sort of like how Mulldrifter was; like something on Daily Mtg said, I'm almost always happy to see one in my opening hand. Though creature kill offers a bit less than card drawing, and so so far I've found this to be fair. Unlike that other automatic 2-for-1, you know, Bloodbraid Elf.
Superllama12
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(5 votes)
The only time I never paid his kicker was when I was mana screwed and needed a blocker desperately...other than that, I am proud to say that I own a card that was used in numerous tournaments
5/5
Killerkraut
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(6 votes)
I saw this card for the first time today and I am still speechless... A BLACK 2/2 common with BBcmc is already above average and you get a edict for 1 more??? AND it is a vampire... I so need two playsets of this... 5/5
Wynzerman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fantastic card- but does anyone else notice the similarity between this card and the only depiction of Yawgmoth? You know, the mugshot, of the darkeyed guy with streaks of paint on his face, lifting an eyebrow... and is that black oil dripping from his mouth? I think WotC commissioned this with the intention to look like Yawgmoth without being Yawgmoth
Axelle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
So Yawgmoth is now a lowly tollbooth guy?
Avatarless
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I 'Lol' when people send this card back to my hand only so I can re-use the ability before they facepalm ;D
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A late-game Gatekeeper synergizes just fine with a playset of Massacre Wurms.
Revelation666
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Screw running him in mono-black. B/R Vampires with 4 of these in it controls the entire board, and between Blackcleave Cliffs, Dragonskull Summit, and Lavaclaw Reaches, you don't even have to have a single mountain in your deck.
zMrManz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A 2/2 for BB and another B to have opponent sacrifice a creature! Count me in!
divine_exodus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run this guy in a blue/black deck, and i get him out rather frequently. You don't really need a mono black deck to play him, just have a swamp or two, and maybe something like jwar isle refuge or drowned catacomb. His ability works wonders, especially when some green deck vamps out some crazy strong beast on the 3rd or 4th turn. He helps with locking down the board, he can chump block, he can attack, he has good creature types......simply amazing. Always glad to see him in an opening hand.
I just wish I had more than one.
5/5
SAllison87
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
The best removal on a body out there
mattblack04
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In a B/U deck, 4x of these guys plus a few Evacuations could make your opponent too afraid to play anything afterwards, letting you play whatever you wish in the mean time. Though any bounce card is great with them.
Hawko0313
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
must give a 5/5 for playability but one of my most hated cards killed my mirran crusader more times than I can count
me: luckily mrran crusader is protection from black so none of you removal works
opponent: ill play gatekeeper kicked
me: (looks at hand...., then feild, then hand again)
opponent: you have to sacrifice your mirran crusa-
me: I KNOW! Im just wondering how I let this happen again
more annoying when he plays another next turn.
Shard_Fenix
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Wizards should teach themselves what to do with mana costs when combining cards. Diabolic Edict + a 2/2 should cost 4.
Wizards should also teach themselves that kicker is supposed to be a mana sink, not a required cost.
Great card, and very annoying.
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is the stuff that makes deep black sooo... Scary! >= 4.75/5!!!
zenitramleirdag
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
very powerful card..i run 4 in my mid-range mono black control..the gate..
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He was so good, I ran him in a deck with Kor Skyfisher when he was standard.
GoblinGnarlid12
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
"Hey, Griselbrand, I quit." Griselbrand turns his head to face his minion. "WHY?" A giant hand reaches down, puts the gatekeeper on a card, but then kicks it back. "That's why." Griselbrand is sucked into a portal and dies. "HOORAY!"
Lifegainwithbite
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
A Geth's Verdict on a 2/2 for one more mana... Sign me up.
blackaggro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
my friend has a green mana push deck and got a Plated Slagwurm out on turn 3. He had a sad surprise and instantly quit :-). Good day for me.
Ratazana
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card adds to much pressure, because while you gain a creature your opponent loses one.
Pretty similar to Nekrataal, but even better and flexible! So I feel obligated to run the two.
Comments (60)
i'm content whether zendikar enables play of some black control decks again...
Hmm, also I don't like the thing it's a vampire. Zendikar is filled with vampire's, so you don't need to know how to make a deck, you just throw those "cool" vampires in and there you go. And that deck will definetely work quite a well. For me, that's not an option. I'd like to design an unique deck, something that might not work, but It's not copied somewhere. And that is a great minus in Zendikar. There's landfall and there's vampires, both foredesigned and very well working. Thx
He looks pretty cool and has chillingly creepy flavor text to boot.
4.0
The worst part is that even if unkicked, he manages to be a 2/2 for only 2, and as a vampire he gets lots of boosts from other vamps.
Oh, and outside of standard, you have a perfect Matching creature for Dark Ritual on turn 2.
5/5
"Yay I finally got a big creature out!"
"Gatekeeper"
"..."
On limited: The triple black is really hard to support, but if you can, snap this guy up. Late pick first pack, earlier in second and third packs if you're going black.
I find it interesting how much people complain about how bad bad cards are when I find zero complaints about the high power level of cards like this. Is it because you guys recognize that a BBB tradeoff for power level is acceptable (not to mention flavorful), or are yall merely pacified by Gatekeep's awesomeness?
@ Mode: How'd you get those mana symbols?
I love cards that are 2 in one (removal and creatures), I love cards that reward monoblack in standard (since I cannot afford those pricy fetch lands) and I like cards that can kill progenitus, Emrakul, Ulamog, dark steel colossus and all those fatties getting cheated out with (mass)polymorph or summoning trap or cloning shell or likewise. Love that with monoblack vamps, you don't need expensive fetches, and since that overpowered nocturnus rotated out, you don't even need mythics, makes it possible for those of us who love magic and love standard tournaments, but don't want to spend all our money on it. Every time I kill bankslayer with this, or jace the moneyscalper with hex mage, I always feel kinda sorry for my opponent, him having chosen a deck type (blue/white control) that makes you poor to play. Just hope they don't make any overpowered, overpriced undercosted mono black mythic vamps, in the next sets, keep it rare, keep it fair.
He's sort of like how Mulldrifter was; like something on Daily Mtg said, I'm almost always happy to see one in my opening hand. Though creature kill offers a bit less than card drawing, and so so far I've found this to be fair. Unlike that other automatic 2-for-1, you know, Bloodbraid Elf.
5/5
A BLACK 2/2 common with BBcmc is already above average and you get a edict for 1 more??? AND it is a vampire... I so need two playsets of this... 5/5
I just wish I had more than one.
5/5
me: luckily mrran crusader is protection from black so none of you removal works
opponent: ill play gatekeeper kicked
me: (looks at hand...., then feild, then hand again)
opponent: you have to sacrifice your mirran crusa-
me: I KNOW! Im just wondering how I let this happen again
more annoying when he plays another next turn.
Wizards should also teach themselves that kicker is supposed to be a mana sink, not a required cost.
Great card, and very annoying.
Griselbrand turns his head to face his minion.
"WHY?"
A giant hand reaches down, puts the gatekeeper on a card, but then kicks it back.
"That's why."
Griselbrand is sucked into a portal and dies.
"HOORAY!"
Pretty similar to Nekrataal, but even better and flexible! So I feel obligated to run the two.
4/5