Goldenglow Moth MTG Card


Goldenglow Moth excels in card economy by making opponents waste resources while serving as a capable aerial defender. Lifelink ability aids in maintaining life totals, indirectly supporting strategies focused on aggressive plays. Presence on the battlefield deters attacks and subtly supports the smart usage of instant-speed spells and interactions.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect
Abilities Flying
Power 0
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying Whenever Goldenglow Moth blocks, you may gain 4 life.

Ordinary moths follow it, drawn to its light.


Cards like Goldenglow Moth

Goldenglow Moth earns its wings in the realm of low-cost creatures within the Magic: The Gathering universe. It echoes traits found in cards like Lagonna-Band Trailblazer, which also boasts a life-gain ability on blocking. However, the trailblazer lacks the Moth’s flying attribute, which adds a strategic layer to gameplay when fending off airborne threats.

Healer’s Hawk soars into a comparison, sharing the flying trait and a knack for life-gain through its lifelink ability. Although it can gain life on both attack and block, it doesn’t share the Moth’s feature of directing life gain towards other creatures or players upon blocking. Then there’s Cathedral Sanctifier, offering life gain upon entering the battlefield. A key difference is that the Sanctifier’s ability triggers once, contrasting with the repeatable nature of Goldenglow Moth’s effect during each block.

Considering the varied dynamics of these creatures, Goldenglow Moth has a unique position in MTG. Its blend of defense and life gain can tip the scales in enduring the early onslaughts of aggressive decks, showcasing its value in specific decks designed for prolonged matches and tactical defenses.

Lagonna-Band Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Cathedral Sanctifier - MTG Card versions
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Cathedral Sanctifier - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Goldenglow Moth by color, type and mana cost

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Bushi Tenderfoot // Kenzo the Hardhearted - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Bushi Tenderfoot // Kenzo the Hardhearted - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goldenglow Moth’s ability to potentially draw out an opponent’s card – such as a removal spell or a combat trick – without losing your own creature gives you a subtle edge in card economy. Its flying ability also makes it a decent blocker against other flying creatures, potentially saving more valuable creatures in your lineup.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct resource accelerator, the lifelink ability on the Goldenglow Moth can help you maintain a healthy life total, indirectly allowing you to concentrate your resources on more offensive strategies without the immediate worry of your life count.

Instant Speed: Even though Goldenglow Moth itself is not an instant, its presence on the battlefield provides a deterrent to opponents considering an attack, as they have to account for the possibility of you gaining life during the combat phase. This can create openings for you to capitalize on your instant speed spells, making the Moth a subtle enabler of your instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Goldenglow Moth MTG card doesn’t directly require discarding, however in some deck builds, the space it occupies could force a player to opt out more impactful cards, indirectly acting as a discard requirement.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is entirely in white, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored or non-white decks. Players focusing on a wider color palette may find its specific mana cost restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost for a single white mana, Goldenglow Moth might seem inexpensive, yet for its sheer defensive purpose and relatively low impact, other cards might offer better value or versatility for a similar investment.


Reasons to Include Goldenglow Moth in Your Collection

Versatility: Goldenglow Moth can seamlessly fit into a variety of decks, particularly those emphasizing life-gain and defense. It can act as an early blocker with the benefit of gaining you life, making it a multifaceted card for early game strategies.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that capitalize on life-gain or creatures dying, this humble insect offers significant combo potential. It can be the linchpin in decks that trigger effects each time you gain life or when creatures are put into the graveyard from the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive, creature-based strategies prevail, Goldenglow Moth can provide an unexpected edge. It can stifle early attacks and support life-centric strategies that may disrupt the typical tempo of your opponents.


How to beat

Goldenglow Moth is a unique creature card with a low mana cost that can impact the battlefield in subtle, but significant ways. With its ability to gain you life whenever it blocks, it can be a thorn in the side for aggressive decks looking to push through damage quickly. However, there are effective strategies to mitigate the impact of this fluttering defense.

One of the most straightforward methods is using removal spells that can target creatures with low toughness, as the Moth has only a single point of toughness. Subsequently, spells that deal even a small amount of damage, or ones that can target multiple creatures simultaneously, such as Electrickery or Pyroclasm, can easily remove Goldenglow Moth from the board without much investment.

Another tactic is to avoid attacking with creatures that the Moth could potentially block. This will render its life-gaining ability moot. Instead, direct damage spells or creatures with abilities that can target players or planeswalkers directly could be more advantageous in such a scenario, bypassing the Moth altogether.

Finally, consider the Moth’s impact on your game plan and whether it’s necessary to address it immediately. Sometimes, focusing on building a stronger board presence may naturally outpace the incremental life gain the Moth provides. By evaluating your priorities and adapting your playstyle, you can ensure that Goldenglow Moth doesn’t hinder your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goldenglow Moth MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Magic 2011, 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 Goldenglow Moth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goldenglow Moth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2010-07-16. Illustrated by Howard Lyon.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 62003NormalBlackHoward Lyon
22010-07-16Magic 2011M11 152003NormalBlackHoward Lyon
32020-09-26The ListPLST SHM-62003NormalBlackHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goldenglow Moth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal