Greater Gargadon MTG Card


The suspend feature grants strategic advantage, allowing Greater Gargadon to enter the battlefield unexpectedly. Flexibility in sacrificing permanents gives it defensive and aggressive utility in a changing game state. The requirement of red mana and high cost can limit its integration into various deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost10
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Abilities Suspend
Power 9
Toughness 7

Text of card

Suspend 10— Sacrifice an artifact, creature, or land: Remove a time counter from Greater Gargadon. Play this ability only if Greater Gargadon is suspended.


Cards like Greater Gargadon

Greater Gargadon is a distinctive presence in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful suspended creature. It draws comparisons to other suspended giants like Epochrasite and Deep-Sea Kraken in terms of delayed gratification gameplay. However, Greater Gargadon’s unique sacrifice outlet allows players to manipulate the timing of its arrival, creating strategic advantages in a variety of deck builds.

In a similar context, we have creatures like Pardic Dragon and Ingot Chewer, which also offer a combination of suspension and utility. Pardic Dragon becomes available quicker with each spell cast by your opponent, whereas Ingot Chewer offers creature removal upon entry. Still, neither offers the same level of board control as Greater Gargadon, whose ability to sacrifice any number of creatures at a moment’s notice can dramatically alter the playing field.

The key distinction surrounds the tactical versatility and board impact of Greater Gargadon. Whether it’s clearing the way for a final assault or orchestrating a comeback by sacrificing excess or targeted permanents, Greater Gargadon stands out among its peers for its ability to turn the tide of battle in one’s favor.

Epochrasite - MTG Card versions
Deep-Sea Kraken - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Ingot Chewer - MTG Card versions
Epochrasite - MTG Card versions
Deep-Sea Kraken - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Ingot Chewer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Greater Gargadon by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Infinite Rage - MTG Card versions
Dragon Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Infinite Rage - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Greater Gargadon. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
ElectrobalanceElectrobalance ModernElectrobalanceModern Challenge 32 2024-04-13
Nic FitNic Fit LegacyNic FitLegacy League 2023-11-18
Electro RhinosElectro Rhinos ModernElectro RhinosModern League 2024-02-06
Mono-Red ComboMono-Red Combo ModernSpring Modern Championship
BRGBRG LegacyLegacy Challenge 32 2024-03-17
4-color Loam4-color Loam LegacyMonthly Legacy
Rakdos BurnRakdos Burn LegacyMO78#CS
Titanic DryadTitanic Dryad LegacyWeekly Mont
Jund ComboJund Combo LegacyNic Fit98 / The 98th Legacy at Home
RR LegacyLegacy League 2024-01-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Greater Gargadon offers strategic advantage with its suspend mechanic, effectively by-passing its mana cost and providing a massive creature on board that can sway the game in your favor. The act of sacrificing other permanents can be used to your benefit, interacting with cards that gain value upon leaving the battlefield or being sacrificed.

Resource Acceleration: This beast provides indirect acceleration of board state dynamics. Although it doesn’t create mana or treasures, it accelerates the game’s resources by turning any expendable permanents into a countdown for a 9/7 behemoth. This allows more flexibility in how you manage your permanents and time your threats.

Instant Speed: Its ability to sacrifice permanents at instant speed grants you the ability to respond to removal or benefit from death triggers on the fly. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used both defensively and aggressively, ensuring that you can adapt to changing board states and opponent strategies quickly and effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obligates you to sacrifice permanents to unlock its potential, which can be a setback when you’re trying to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Requires red mana, which may not blend seamlessly into all strategies or multicolor mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demanding a total of ten mana for its full effect can be cumbersome and often slower compared to other creatures or finishers available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Greater Gargadon offers unique strategic flexibility, serving as both a formidable threat and a sacrifice outlet. Its ability to be suspended and evade typical removal methods makes it a powerful inclusion in various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations with cards that benefit from self-imposed sacrifice, such as those that trigger ‘whenever a creature dies’ abilities, or that amass value with every sacrificed permanent.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where control decks and board wipe strategies are prevalent, Greater Gargadon thrives by providing a resilient counter to traditionally devastating effects, often turning the tide of matches in your favor.


How to beat

Greater Gargadon serves as a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its unusual mechanic of suspending and sacrificing permanents to hasten its arrival on the battlefield. Dealing with this powerhouse requires a nuanced approach. The key is to mitigate the damage before it manifests. Counterspells are your first line of defense, negating the Gargadon’s suspend ability before it can even begin its countdown. Control decks shine here, maintaining the balance until the time is right to deploy removals.

Another tactic involves graveyard manipulation, as cards that exile from the graveyard can prevent it from returning via suspend. Graveyard hate, in forms like Rest in Peace, hampers strategies that revolve around biding time for suspended cards. Patience and foresight are crucial when facing a suspended Greater Gargadon. Keep board pressure to a minimum; sacrificing too many assets to speed up its entry could backfire if you lack the resources to handle the aftermath. In essence, continuously manage your permanents wisely and remain ready with a response for when the Gargadon threatens to break free from its temporal chains.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricate layers of MTG is pivotal to outmaneuvering opponents and the Greater Gargadon serves as a prime example of complexity in card functionality. Savvy players know the value of such a versatile powerhouse in their arsenal. Whether you’re leveraging its suspend nature for a surprise comeback or utilizing its sacrifice mechanic for strategic permanents’ management, this card promises to add depth to your gameplay. Let’s expand your MTG knowledge together and harness the full potential of Greater Gargadon in your deck. Dive deeper with us and discover new strategies to dominate the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Greater Gargadon MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Modern Masters, 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 Greater Gargadon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Greater Gargadon Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Rob Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1612003NormalBlackRob Alexander
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1172003NormalBlackRob Alexander
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9682003NormalBlackRob Alexander
42020-09-26The ListPLST MMA-1172003NormalBlackRob Alexander
52021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1672015NormalBlackRob Alexander
62022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7962015NormalBlackRob Alexander
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4532015NormalBlackRob Alexander
82022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1112015NormalBlackRob Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Greater Gargadon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Greater Gargadon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-06-18 A creature cast using suspend will enter the battlefield with haste. It will have haste until another player gains control of it. (In some rare cases, another player may gain control of the creature spell itself. If this happens, the creature won't enter the battlefield with haste.)
2021-06-18 As the second triggered ability resolves, you must cast the card if able. You must do so even if it requires targets and the only legal targets are ones that you really don't want to target. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored.
2021-06-18 Cards exiled with suspend are exiled face up.
2021-06-18 Exiling a card with suspend isn't casting that card. This action doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
2021-06-18 If an effect refers to a “suspended card,” that means a card that (1) has suspend, (2) is in exile, and (3) has one or more time counters on it.
2021-06-18 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2021-06-18 If the first triggered ability of suspend (the one that removes time counters) is countered, no time counter is removed. The ability will trigger again at the beginning of the card's owner's next upkeep.
2021-06-18 If the second triggered ability is countered, the card can't be cast. It remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended.
2021-06-18 If the spell requires any targets, those targets are chosen when the spell is finally cast, not when it's exiled.
2021-06-18 If you can't cast the card, perhaps because there are no legal targets available, it remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended.
2021-06-18 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” such as with suspend, you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those if you want to cast the card.
2021-06-18 Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that allows you to exile the card from your hand with the specified number of time counters (the number before the dash) on it by paying its suspend cost (listed after the dash). The second is a triggered ability that removes a time counter from the suspended card at the beginning of each of your upkeeps. The third is a triggered ability that causes you to cast the card when the last time counter is removed. If you cast a creature spell this way, it gains haste until you lose control of that creature (or, in rare cases, you lose control of the creature spell while it's on the stack).
2021-06-18 The mana value of a spell cast without paying its mana cost is determined by its mana cost, even though that cost wasn't paid.
2021-06-18 When the last time counter is removed, the second triggered ability of suspend (the one that lets you cast the card) triggers. It doesn't matter why the last time counter was removed or what effect removed it.
2021-06-18 You are never forced to activate mana abilities to pay costs, so if there is a mandatory additional mana cost (such as from Thalia, Guardian of Thraben), you can decline to activate mana abilities to pay for it and hence fail to cast the suspended card, leaving it in exile.
2021-06-18 You can exile a card in your hand using suspend any time you could cast that card. Consider its card type, any effects that modify when you could cast it (such as flash) and any other effects that stop you from casting it (such as from Meddling Mage's ability) to determine if and when you can do this. Whether you could actually complete all steps in casting the card is irrelevant. For example, you can exile a card with suspend that has no mana cost or that requires a target even if no legal targets are available at that time.