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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day


Image from Wizards.com

Greater Gargadon
Time Spiral


Reviewed November 6, 2007

Constructed: 3.67
Casual: 3.00
Limited: 3.67

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Greater Gargadon

This makes an excellent turn one play. For the next six or seven turns, your opponent knows that every guy he manages to kill brings a hasty 9/7 one turn closer, and there isn't much he can do about it. The looming threat is often enough to warp opponent's play in your favor, as the psychological edge can increase the likelihood of play errors. And the fact that it can bring a healthy opponent down to 2 in two turns all by itself is nothing to sneeze at. Finally, its exorbitant mana cost that you don't actually have to pay gives it excellent synergy with Clash cards and Riddle of Lightning. If you play red, it's worth consideration.

Constructed- 4
Casual- 4
Limited 3.5

Aethereal

Tuesday - Greater Gargadon

A nice utility card thanks to the suspend cost. You suspend this on turn 1, and then anytime your opponent is about to blow something up, you get to take off a free counter instead. He can also be used as a sacrifice outlet for decks needing one (*cough* goblins). And to top it all off, you get a huge body when he does hit play. All in all, a highly useful constructed card that has seen plenty of play; just never, ever hardcast it.

In limited, it's not as good, because drawing it late is a waste of a draw, and hardcasting it is not worth it at all. Maybe if it had trample, but no.

Constructed - 3.5
Casual - 3
Limited - 2

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Greater Gargadon

They do say the waiting is the hardest part. Ten turns is a long time, but with all the copies of Tendrils of Corruption you'll foil with the Gargadon's activated ability, the time will just fly by. You can even overextend with this guy suspended, and if the opponent Wraths your creatures, all he'll achieve is exchanging several small creatures for one huge, angry creature with haste. The only disadvantage is that people will sometimes save their ineffective Tendrils and Faith's Fetters for the Gargadon - which just means your existing creatures can beat them down. A very solid creature for aggro, and even some non-aggro decks.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5 (he combos with Restore Balance!)
Limited: 4/5

Arcane
Greater Gargadon

Constructed: GG has been a staple of the constructed scene ever since he first dropped in Time Spiral and it’s easy to see why. Cheating out fat creatures has been a favored pastime of Spikes for years harkening back all the way to the Survival of the Fittest/Recurring Nightmare decks. Red aggro decks have always been able to bash right out of the gates and hit for early damage but after the first few turns if your opponent isn’t dead then odds are they’ve started putting a crimp in your plan by blocking or wrathing (among other things). GG is a threat that can power your way through the endgame as a fat monster that does what red does best, damage. Block season was filled with red decks playing Gargs for the sac effect that let them get benefit out of not paying for Mogg War Marshal and the quick vanishing of Keldon Marauders but it’s best use was as an anti-Tendrils card, denying your opponent much needed life. Teferi does put a damper on your fun and your opponent does know he’s coming, but there are lots of times where I’ve seen a tapped out opponent stare blankly as lands are chucked to the bin to bring a 9/7 out to bash face. Just be careful of Pacts.

Casual/Multi: Fat creatures tend to be the ones that dominate the casual game as games with multiple players tend to drag out a bit longer as everyone waits for a Wurm, Dragon or Angel to rescue them. GG is going to let you get some advantage out of wrath situations, ticking you ever closer to beef, and the Haste on something this big should really be illegal. Not having any kind of evasion or protection hurts a card like this though as you can find yourself in a situation where you’re getting chumped every turn to a 1/1 Saproling and shaking your fist at your opponent. This is though one of my favorite cards to combo with Jhoira though as only having to deal with 4 counters > dealing with 10.

Limited: Easily splashed I guess, but the fact is you really want to be able to suspend this guy on turn 1 which isn’t really that feasible for a splash color, and odds are you won’t be paying retail for it anytime soon. If you see a lot of good suspend ards like Rift bolt and Errant Ephemeron then be on the look out for cards like Fury Charm, Jhoira’s timebug or Shivan Sand-Mage as then can help you power out these cards early. And if it works in block, it works here too so jump on those empty the Warrens and Mogg War-Marshals to feed you GG.

Constructed: 3
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3
PsychoAnime

#1 Magic Noob in Canada since 2002
Greater Gargadon

I think this card has lost some power in Standard because Tendrils of Corruption is less popular now and Lowryn is very creature based so sacking your creatures for a 9/7 isn't the best way to win. There's a decent amount of non-damage removal out there in the form of Oblivion Ring, Crib Swap, Slaughter Pact and Shriekmaw making a 9/7 not very threatening at all.

In casual, this gives you a big beat stick if any player decides to Wrath of God the entire creature field away. It doesn't have a big impact on the game though as there's so much stuff to kill it even if it comes out and there's less targeting removal here.

In limited, this is a 9/7. Very good.

Constructed: 2.5/5
Casual: 2.5/5
Limited: 4/5
 
Meb9000 Greater Gargadon

Today we're reviewing one of the early underdogs from Time Spiral that is now a frequently-played BEAST in many different top tier decks. Everybody knew this guy was interesting, but it took the introduction of Tarmogoyf for everyone to realize how nuts it was to be able to fill your graveyard at will while powering out a gigantic threat with haste at the same time. Gargadon works to minimize damage from any X for 1 spells and can do crazy things with damage on the stack. The fact that Gargadon also has haste when he pops into play just makes him the nuts. Look for this guy to be played alongside Mr. Goyf for quite some time.

Constructed: 4/5

Limited: 4.5/5

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