Defender coming back as a central mechanic is interesting, but I doubt either it or the Gates will ever be utilized well enough without becoming insular and irritating (*coughArcanecough*)
LordOfTheFlies87
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Is it just me, or is there waaaay too little support for the Gate sub-theme. I thought it was interesting. Why the heck is it on, like, three cards?
majinara
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Even with enough gates, this guy is not that awesome.
Pros like me are aware of this card's potential to be an in-game powerhouse but we are a little confused about the flavor. How would a gate allow him to jailbreak?
StreamHopper
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
@LordoftheFlies The Gates are meant to be a common source of mana fixing so that limited isn't too difficult to play. They decided to make a few cards that play with them, because, y'know, why not. We might see some more cards that play on the gates in Gatecrash, and the set that follows it.
Eternal_Blue
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
A card like this could probably have costed 3B on it's own without the further hindrance of Defender. I mean, at this point in Magic's power creep, I think a 4/4 for 3B isn't going to be at the top of anyone's list anyhow.
Purplerooster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think gates would be a very interesting deck theme, but it seems all the creatures that interact with them are scattered in the color pie.
IncoherentEssay
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Don't think of it as a 4/4 with a drawback (which it admittedly is, in a vacuum). It's a defender that can attack without losing defender. That already makes it useful to both Axebane Druids and Doorkeepers as a "Plan B: break faces".
Fluff-wise, it's not so much the Gate helping him jailbreak (he seems to manage that just fine already) but it's essential for staying free (to break more faces). All the gatelands have a recruitment theme in their flavor text, so the ogre joins up for protection.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For this card to work best, you'd need to get a bunch of Gatecreeper Vine's and play at least in Golgari colours.
However, if you get a gate out, a 4/4 for is pretty good in limited. Otherwise, you'be just got a meaty wall.
chrome_dome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4/5. With any gate you get a 4/4 for 4. Worth splashing for Black in limited if this is in your pool.
Earthdawn
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
He has defender because he's in jail... until he finds the door (Gate) and breaks free!
Comments (12)
The Gates are meant to be a common source of mana fixing so that limited isn't too difficult to play. They decided to make a few cards that play with them, because, y'know, why not. We might see some more cards that play on the gates in Gatecrash, and the set that follows it.
Fluff-wise, it's not so much the Gate helping him jailbreak (he seems to manage that just fine already) but it's essential for staying free (to break more faces). All the gatelands have a recruitment theme in their flavor text, so the ogre joins up for protection.
However, if you get a gate out, a 4/4 for