I think that this is just an ability with legs, they gave us the ol' block any number of creatures on a soldier and that's great. That is always a useful ability, great in countless combos.
if u don`t have anything that`ll give it indestructibility than i would advise you to use these cards with the palace guard. Pariah`s Shield and Blinding Powder. That means u can block any amount of creatures and take no damage at all.
MarkBGH
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
It's not an amazing combo, but you could slap a Basilisk Collar on this thing and take out multiple attackers at once.
altimis
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Add a Luminous Wake to this Palace Guard and you gain four life each time it blocks.
same with Prized Unicorn...which is better because they HAVE to block with ALL creatures.
Gorgon Flail is still just about the easiest to use, but it only allows for 2 kills. A big umbra would bump that up a long way...if they were stupid enough to attack you.
crystalisdraco
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I combined this with Sword of Vengeance and an Armored Ascension in my mono white deck and cleared my opponents board when he foolishly decided to attack with all his creatures.
Combos well with many other cards: indestructibility as mentioned, also gorgon flail to take out 2 creatures. I have it in my Doran, the Siege Tower deck. Decent common.
SoulShatterer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A real cheap early-game defence basis is this guy combined with an Accorders Shield. Go to hell, Red Zerg Tactics. GO TO HELL!
Halaphax
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Anyone else seeing Spirit Mantle being useful on this guy?
fissionessence
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Andrew's Occasional Random Card of the Day #21 - 7/18/2011 - Palace Guard
This ability has always intrigued me, though I don't know that I've ever played with a card that had it. I've never really heard people talk about Palace Guard, and Avatar of Hope was never the Avatar people were discussing either. I wondered if the ability had ever been on a creature that was actually respectable, and my search turned up Thoughtweft Trio. The champion ability is rough, but he's a guy I could get behind.
Whenever I see Palace Guard, I get an impulse to stack a bunch of Auras on top of him with things like regenerate and deathtouch to make a one-man impenetrable force. By himself, though, with only one power, he's more just like a three-mana fog against any kind of army other the other side.
I imagine, though, that just as he appeals to me on some level, he appeals to casual or newer players as well.
"He can block any number of creatures!"
"Yeah, but then he just dies."
"Yeah, but he can block any number of creatures!"
You just can't argue with that logic.
Dr_Fletchers
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy can literally stop entire armies.....
with various enchantments and equipments like a kite shield or even Righteousness .
Khurse
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Fairly useful in the early game; provides protection from pesky 1/1s!
For each creature he blocks, he gets +1/+1 for each attacking creature.
If he attacks with 4 4/4s, he strikes for 16, and your palace guard will get +16/+16. If he attacks with 3 4/4s, your palace guard will only get +9/+9, and he'll strike for 12. Attacks with 2 4/4s? Palace Guard will get +4/+4 and he'll strike for 8. Attacks with 1 4/4? Palace Guard will get +1/+1 and he'll strike for 4.
Veteran's Armaments and "blocks any number" is one of the few examples of mathematical squares in MTG.
tankthebest
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ghostly Possession. Pseudo-Indestructibility with built in reach at the cost of not being able to damage the creatures you block.
Edit: @MacBizzle
If you equip Palace Guard with Veteran's Armaments and assign him to block, he only gets +1/+1 for each attacking creature once.
Example: Your opponent attacks with 4 4/4s. You assign Palace Guard to block all of them. Palace Guard blocks, Veteran's Armaments triggers and Palace Guard gets +4/+4 because there are four attacking creatures. Veteran's Armaments only triggers once because it only triggers when Palace Guard is declared a blocker.
Relavent rules:
509.4a An ability that reads “Whenever blocks, . . .” generally triggers only once each combat for that creature, even if it blocks multiple creatures. It triggers if the creature is declared as a blocker. It will also trigger if that creature becomes a blocker as the result of an effect, but only if it wasn’t a blocking creature at that time. (See rule 509.1g.) It won’t trigger if the creature is put onto the battlefield blocking.
Can you imagine rampage, bu in the opposite direction? Also better than he looks because o soldier tribal.
Earthdawn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great with Defensive Formation in play so you can assign damage how you wish. This lets you block creatures with trample all day and not worry about damage getting past him :)
Give this guy reach, indestructibility, and deathtouch and you basically cant lose.
Divoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
From the Art-- "Im gonna block everything with this guy." Expression on opponent's face-"What?..."
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@TheMagicFanatic - until they exile, bounce it, or force you to sacrifice it. Or they kill you via some noncombat means like mill or damage to the face.
Palace Guard isn't the worst card ever printed, but it's not exactly great either. It needs help to do anything of real value. And if you're looking for walls, every color has better walls for this cost (or less).
Comments (36)
I really like this guy, a more elegant version of Ironfist Crusher. Plus his flavor text is pure white.
Oh my.
same with Prized Unicorn...which is better because they HAVE to block with ALL creatures.
Gorgon Flail is still just about the easiest to use, but it only allows for 2 kills. A big umbra would bump that up a long way...if they were stupid enough to attack you.
This ability has always intrigued me, though I don't know that I've ever played with a card that had it. I've never really heard people talk about Palace Guard, and Avatar of Hope was never the Avatar people were discussing either. I wondered if the ability had ever been on a creature that was actually respectable, and my search turned up Thoughtweft Trio. The champion ability is rough, but he's a guy I could get behind.
Whenever I see Palace Guard, I get an impulse to stack a bunch of Auras on top of him with things like regenerate and deathtouch to make a one-man impenetrable force. By himself, though, with only one power, he's more just like a three-mana fog against any kind of army other the other side.
I imagine, though, that just as he appeals to me on some level, he appeals to casual or newer players as well.
"He can block any number of creatures!"
"Yeah, but then he just dies."
"Yeah, but he can block any number of creatures!"
You just can't argue with that logic.
with various enchantments and equipments like a kite shield or even Righteousness .
Hey guys
Darksteel Plate + Dead-Iron Sledge
Everything dies (Except the guards!)
Turn 2: Plains, Ballyrush Banneret for 1W.
Turn 3: Plains, Veteran's Armaments for 1, Palace Guard for 1W, auto equip Veteran's Armaments to Palace Guard.
For each creature he blocks, he gets +1/+1 for each attacking creature.
If he attacks with 4 4/4s, he strikes for 16, and your palace guard will get +16/+16.
If he attacks with 3 4/4s, your palace guard will only get +9/+9, and he'll strike for 12.
Attacks with 2 4/4s? Palace Guard will get +4/+4 and he'll strike for 8.
Attacks with 1 4/4? Palace Guard will get +1/+1 and he'll strike for 4.
Veteran's Armaments and "blocks any number" is one of the few examples of mathematical squares in MTG.
Edit:
@MacBizzle
If you equip Palace Guard with Veteran's Armaments and assign him to block, he only gets +1/+1 for each attacking creature once.
Example: Your opponent attacks with 4 4/4s. You assign Palace Guard to block all of them. Palace Guard blocks, Veteran's Armaments triggers and Palace Guard gets +4/+4 because there are four attacking creatures. Veteran's Armaments only triggers once because it only triggers when Palace Guard is declared a blocker.
Relavent rules:
509.4a An ability that reads “Whenever blocks, . . .” generally triggers only once
each combat for that creature, even if it blocks multiple creatures. It triggers if the creature is
declared as a blocker. It will also trigger if that creature becomes a blocker as the result of an
effect, but only if it wasn’t a blocking creature at that time. (See rule 509.1g.) It won’t trigger if
the creature is put onto the battlefield blocking.
Guardian of the Gateless
Palace Guard isn't the worst card ever printed, but it's not exactly great either. It needs help to do anything of real value. And if you're looking for walls, every color has better walls for this cost (or less).