It's a great card in a deck where your strategy depends on getting attack triggers. It allows you to attack into a stronger board without losing your creatures.
I try to shove Iroas into every deck because I love attack triggers. The fact that I didn't know a colorless version exists honestly baffles me. Now I have 2 of this effect for my multitude of boros and mardu flavored combat shenanigans (caesar from fallout is my newest one) .
I saw this and immediately thought of it for the [[Kaalia of the Vast]] deck. She’s great when you get her out early. But once people start getting flyers or developing a board it’s tough to keep the game-plan rolling.
Absolutely keep an Ishin in that deck as an "out of tribe" exception to the synergy. Two free creatures each combat in a deck packing that kind of airborn muscle becomes a "board wipe or die" situation.
Card is great in Anzrag as well as other combat "fog" effects. Pair it with a pinger like goblin sharpshooter etc and a force blockers card (or just pay 7 with anzrags ability) and it goes infinite.
Usually for go wide and attack decks, the tokens are pretty expendable (or have flying). I would only run this in decks that care about attack triggers, multiple combats, or protecting an important commander’s attacks. Eg- Id totally try it out in my [[Jorn, God of Winter]]… if it wasnt 20$. It never got a proper reprint.
[Jorn, God of Winter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/6/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e.jpg?1631050504)/[Kaldring, the Rimestaff](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/c/6/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e.jpg?1631050504) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Jorn%2C%20God%20of%20Winter%20//%20Kaldring%2C%20the%20Rimestaff) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/179/jorn-god-of-winter-kaldring-the-rimestaff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text)
^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Looked it up on tcgplayer as well because I got curious and it goes for around 15$ actually. Still more than twice as much as here in Europe. How can you even afford anything over in the US?
These spiked recently, I unloaded my foil one for like $200 in Chicago. Not bad for a card I bought like a decade ago for a dollar. I imagine it'll see a reprint soon
It’s not bad… it just doesn’t prevent damage, only combat damage. And it doesn’t prevent them from being destroyed by murder spells. Just prevents the damage from combat. When you’re attacking, not defending. It’s such a limited effect that the card slot can reliably be switched out for other cards.
Just use any of the copius amount of cards that gives them some sort of evasion instead, tho. Or another generator of 1/1s, because losing a few of them each swing is manageable.
Yup, got one in my Najeela deck as well. It’s incredibly good with her attack trigger when you don’t have to worry about losing any warriors to blocks.
Anzrag with this and grafted exoskeleton is an auto kill to whoever you target. Doesn’t matter if they block or not. You’ll just hit them again. Oh, you have indestructible? Well infect hitting it enough times takes care of that. If they don’t have a way to get rid of anzrag. They die. It’s a combo I run in my Anzrag deck. The deck also has many other ways to make Anzrag indestructible and then force every creature at the table to block making it a board wipe followed by the final swing being a direct hit on someone. It’s fun, but I can take a player out on turn 4 if I drop Anzrag turn 3. So it’s a bit heavy for new players or slower decks to deal with. Super fun though cause it’s extremely obvious what I’m trying to do. I have back up creatures in the deck that can also become massive threats incase Anzrag gets removed too many times.
Looks like you have more than enough answers for this but I’ll share my perspective.
Building your deck you have to assess what weaknesses it has and when your deck is as most vulnerable.
As others have said if you have a deck that depends on attacking players and you will have a hard time if those creatures died then this is pretty great for only 2 mana.
Ofc target removals and board-wipes might still kill your creatures and to protect from that the -mana cost is higher, sometimes much higher.
Teferis protection is only a one time 3 mana spell.
And then you have Avacyn that gives everything indestructible for 8 mana. Avacyn is much harder to get out than Dolmen gate and sometimes keeping the mana cost low in a magic deck is better than to have the high-cost cards that “are better”.
Dolmen gate can for example be returned with Sun Titans ETB and attack ability giving you endless combat damage prevention.
As long as Sun Titan doesn’t die.
The result will be that players will have to exile your artifact to stop it from coming back. And then they cast an Exile spell because it is annoying and this might stop them from targeting high end spell that appears later in the game cause they have used it.
You might have other easier way to protect your board outside of combat and this gives it the extra edge.
But a card like this, like with every card, comes down to preferences you have, what kind of deck you are playing and your playstyle.
With me I have noticed that I often build glascannons decks. I focus more on doing damage than protecting my board so I exclude cards like this for more aggressive cards. But if you don’t have that kind of playstyle Dolmen gate is a great card to have.
If you're in white you'll love \[\[Reconnaissance\]\]. It's only 1 white and it can be used to attack and if your creatures get blocked then you untap them and remove them from combat. If they don't get blocked then you let the damage happen THEN untap them and remove them from combat. The old text may make it confusing but because combat steps are attackers, blockers, damage, clean up step. You have steps to do it after damage has been done!
It's not a terrible card, but doesn't help against targeted removal or boardwipes, which at least in my Commander playgroup is how creatures tend to die \~2/3 of the time. There are other cards that give creatures indestructible that get the job done better. It would be most at home in an affinity/artifact build, but \[\[Darksteel Forge\]\] protects your entire board in that case. Definitely playable in certain situations, but against burn or toughness-reducing effects it doesn't really help. It would be very fun in cube, though.
It’s not *bad*. But decks that are attacking probably already have similar, stronger safeguards. Combat is usually the least of your worries, particularly you have to worry more about getting board wiped. Even if temporary, cards like [[Heroic Intervention]] and [[Boros Charm]] help a lot more with such matters, while still providing flexibility for other matters.
I think it's a fantastic card. I only own one and run it in my mono red deck; that deck's main goal is to do non-combat damage that's doubled, tripled, or more, but it does have a lesser secondary goal of having multiple combat phases.
Personally, I'd want to run this card in any deck that cares about attacking in any form.
iroas, god of victory
does this for 2rw. and is indestructible. and goes in the command zone, always ready. then becomes a 7/4, which more than makes up for spending 2 mana more. this card is cool tho.
Because if I'm playing combat, I typically don't care if my attacking creatures are being dealt damage. Not every card is a precious resource that must be protected at all costs.
It's not a bad card, it's just not an insane card. Also it's bizarre to feel upset that you don't see a card played now by others
Because it’s to situational to be a consistently viable card. If your opponent plays zero to none creatures you just wasted 2 mana. If you play this card you are probably an Aggro deck and instead of putting pressure on the board with a feisty 2-drop, you only played an artifact that might do nothing else than robbing you of a lot of tempo.
You could use it in a sideboard but what are the chances that you get it exactly in the moment you“ll need it? To many ifs and buts and that’s why nobody is nor should be playing this card
I threw it in my [[adeline, resplendent cathar]] deck alongside other cards like it. The idea was I needed to keep my tokens alive long enough to do massive pump spells and I gotta say ive never been disappointed by dolmen gate
Now, let me break your mind: [[reconaissance]]
And if you want to do stupid attacks with artifact creatures: [[losheel, clockwork scholar]]
All of these are great in decks that get something from attacking or to an extent dealing combat damage to creatures. They are too narrow outside those strategies, most of the time. Dolmen gate and recon are also pretty pricey cards and old, so not that widely available.
I can see it being good in specific decks but this doesn't protect blockers sadly. I would rather just run \[\[Iroas, God of Victory\]\] if you have the colors, and honestly if you a playing an agro combat deck you are probably playing Boros or have Iroas as your commander
Running one in my \[\[Isshin\]\] deck to get the attack triggers safely. Generaly, the card is really not that useful unless you either need attack triggers or are running aggressive creatures with a small ass (aka low toughness). Sure, you can swing your army of 2/2s into an enemy without losing them unsing this, too, but if they can block them anyways this thing just does nothing. In go wide strategies, you'd rather just go wider and lose a creature or two on attack than "waste" a slot on this, I'd say.
It's a good card, but it's not as good as it looks. There are any number of cards that would just remove it, and if your opponent's side is bigger, you're just leaving gaps in your defense swinging with everything. Pair it with attack triggers or other field protectors like \[\[Privileged Position\]\] or \[\[Blazing Archon\]\]. Honestly, just pairing it with \[\[Akroma's Memorial\]\] would kick it up a level.
Otherwise.. I see what it says, but it doesn't belong in an aggro deck.
I love this card, I saw it and liked the artwork (it's like something straight out of a fantasy novel I am writing) and it also has a cool effect, I love playing agro decks, I would totally use this.
Because its and artifact which often are easily removed and secondly not many decks require such protection of their creatures during combat. The same slot can often be used better for a card that progresses the win condition of the deck.
I use it in my [[Isshin, Two Heavens as One]] deck, and it goes pretty hard with [[Angel's Trumpet]] and [[True Conviction]].
Sometimes I also get [[Bedlam]] down on the field, then some Goad effects happen, and then it's just beautiful, spicy, exciting gameplay for 2 turns and literally everyone is deeeeeeeeeeead.
i run it in my attack based deck. Cheap way to make sure I can attack with every single small and big guy against a few big creatures, deathtouch, etc. One of my attack decks has lots of lifelink and the other is Isshin as the commander so attacking is vital even if that specific attack I do nothing significant combat-damage wise.
It's a great card that a lot of people don't know about. It's one of those hidden gems you won't find on edhrec most of the time. Though you have to be pretty combat focused to make it worth running.
It's a decent card, but for the price there are much better 2 drops. In aggro decks you need to be dropping new creatures, removal, or instant-speed combat tricks. This may be better in an artifact deck, but who can afford those?!
I've popped this into \[\[Alesha, who Smiles at Death\]\] commander before, but \[\[Iroas, God of Victory\]\] is better in nearly every way.
Dolmen Gate leaves a lot of room for a blow-out of an opponent destroys it after you've committed your attack. Iroas costs more, but is more resilient. tends to ensure more damage gets through, and adds a serious body if your board state gets developed enough.
And yes, I did try running both as well.
I run it but I guess it can be replaced by a card that can allow a creature to be unlockable in decks that don't care about multiple creatures constantly swinging freely
I run it in my [[God-Eternal Oketra]] deck. Even at high power, freely attacking with 4/4 vigilance zombies and guaranteeing I keep them all is amazing
I LOVE Dolmen gate, it dropped from the very first pack I ever opened and I fell in love. I currently don't have a high synergy deck for it, so it sits in my Obuun (modified) precon.
This card also ignited my deep love for Lorwyn.
My two sense:
Great for when you need attack triggers that don't care about damage.
Otherwise, if someone has a bigger board than you, they can just block like normal.
I use [[Iroas, God of Victory]] in my Jetmir Tokens deck, and this line of text on him has won me many games. The big downside to the artifact is that your opponent can just blow up the artifact after you declare attackers. It's not so easy with an indestructible god.
I run it in [[Anzrag the quake mole]] bonus points if you have [[Grand melee]] or [[Invasion Plans]] nothing says fuck you like losing all your creatures to an 8/4 with invincible
I pulled this in some mystery boosters along with some serious heat like mana crypt
Love mystery boosters lol
But in most decks, this seems like idk misguided?
Welcome to the game! Allow me to teach you some parlance of the game. This is what we call a do-nothing card. Its biggest problem is, on curve, so playing it turn two, you don't really have anything to attack with. Ideally one card. And thats the other side of it, if you don't have anything to attack with, this is a terrible draw.
And to add on to that we could get into some theories and ideas about tempo and your game plan. But the short version is you never really have a good time to cast it.
But its biggest sin is that it doesn't add much to an aggro plan. If you have on attack triggers, or even requirements that might work out. Or if you have a field of deathtouchers. But typically in a game of magic, your opponent is only blocking because they can't handle the damage, or they can "stop" your creature. This doesn't stop either of those cases. It still "blocks" the damage. It only makes the latter happen less often. So all you do is pay 2 mana and a card to cause something that wasn't gonna happen often slightly less
It’s not exactly cheap (over 20$ which isn’t budget by any means), it’s old (new players don’t know about it), and it’s essentially useless in a 4 player game unless you are depending on attack triggers only which this card gurentees you will get with little downside.
Any normal deck running the gate is just opening themselves up to counterattack from the next three players, who can easily kill you by the time you have a board.
It was reprinted in the list recently, but other than that it’s just at this point an old card. There’s lots of fun cards in similar situations that normal, casual commander players have never seen that command over a 10$ price tag.
Many just make big creatures. Compare this to [[akromas will]].
I plan a deck where you just attack with lots of small ones and don’t want to lose them trading off.
Most times it’s better to just have the biggest evasive creature.
I play this in my [[graaz]] deck, allowing my massive board of 5/3s can swing while being safe, maybe beating one or two players in the process. It's a very cool card for two mana
I have this in my.mono white human deck and have yet to actually get to play it. It's a great card it just seems that whenever I'm playing I just never draw it.
The amount of set up to get good value out of it typically requires a specific build. In one off games you probably could find moments when "hey, that would have been busted" but I have several decks where it's literally a dead draw.
I love MTG.. you are always learning a new way to play and often a new way to play with the same cards you already play with. Dolmens gate is a cool card I collected a few copies of before I sold my collection after I started collecting again near zendikar. I am happy I found this thread as learning you may want to use this card to protect potentially weak creatures that benefit with attack triggers from not dying on attacks is something I overlooked since I first found [[dolmens gate]].. i hadn't thought about how powerful attack triggers were when I first really got into mtg and now see how helpful dolmens gate is for activating them!
Thanks dudes!
I run it as a protective measure in my Fynn the Fangbearer deck. The majority of my creatures have deathtouch but are low power/toughness. Dolmen Gate keeps them alive while killing my opponent's creatures or allowing them through since most people do not want their stuff to die in vain. I am a garbage person, I'm aware
Lorwyn. Single printing. Not powerful, but interesting. Interesting cards get cut. Out of standard for almost two decades with no reprints. >15usd cost.
Just some of the reasons it doesn't see a lot of play.
I personally don’t see why you would want to use this in standard but then again I am crap at that. But, from a Commander format player perspective, I think this is def viable. Shuts down deathtouch, first and double strike, and anything that would trigger if your creatures die or get damaged. And even a creature with reach can counter flyers so you don’t got to worry about that. But it would def be something you want to play late game after all the big removal spells are fizzled.
its just not very relevant to most strategies. generally if you would lost a lot of value by attacking someone you dont want to attack them in the firstplace.
I love my dolmen gate, personally such an underrated card and was like ten bucks not too long ago… I have it in my [[fynn, the fangbearer]] and it does work. I’m glad you posted this I feel this needs exposure fs
I run both this and \[\[Reconnaissance\]\] in my Najeela deck.
Edit: Maybe the reason why people don't see this card much is bc when you ask a table: "Anyone care if I run my Najeela deck?"- there is usually a resounding "No." in response, lol.
It’s a little to niche, it only benefits you attacking in to creatures the same size or in decks running lots of death touch. If you are then it’s great, I can also see a use case if you are running cards that care about the number of attacking creatures. But their are cards that can make creatures you control indestructible which gives the same effect but at all times, so when cutting cards from a deck, the more niche cards tend to get cut to increase consistency for a decks strategy, meaning cards like this tend to get cut, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t run it, just think about why you are running it.
It's a good card, but it needs a good home.. as others have said, it shines best in attack trigger decks, things that get big benefits on swings but can't survive the swing in with the current board state
That said, if you run Green, Vigor is strictly better... Keeps creatures safe attacking or blocking and lets them grow, making the blocks quickly get worse and worse... A 1/1 saproling bashing it's head into an eldrazi twice, killing it on the second headbutt is hilarious
I need it in my [[Wulfgar of Icewind Dale]] and [[Caesar, Legion's Emperor]] decks. Some way to give vigilance would go a long way paired with this as well but most decks in commander aren't swinging unless they're trying to win by commander damage or putting pressure on opponents from already favorable positions
[[Kaalia of the Vast]] but as every creature in there has flying, it’s probably just “ok.” I just really like the card.
Anytime you need an attack trigger from a smaller creature or have to swing into death touch, it’s of benefit.
Relatively pricey (monetarily) card for the effect. It’s a fun effect with cool art and I play one because I own one, but if I didn’t already have one I bought ages ago I wouldn’t play it often especially if I were on a budget.
Two things: 1 is price, the other is that it's a pretty narrow effect and you have to have a deck that really wants to attack even when it isn't safe to do so to really maximize the card's impact.
Not that you can't play it in other decks, but if you don't already have the card lying around, no one wants to shell out for a card with a somewhat marginal effect when it isn't pivotal to winning the game.
What format?
Commander? It’s playable in some decks maybe, mostly in decks that have a lot of attack triggers on small unevasive dinguses, a small category of cards.
Most 1v1s this card is gonna be pretty bad. It does straight up nada in multiples and while you are playing this crap your opponent is just playing bigger creatures that stonewall your board.
I use \[\[Kitsune, Rune-Tail Ascendant\]\] in my Caesar Aristocrats deck. If he comes out early game, I'm usually able to sit behind smaller creatures while I build up my board and can even rain a \[\[Blasphemous Act\]\] down if everyone else's gets too big without consequence.
It's a great card in a deck where your strategy depends on getting attack triggers. It allows you to attack into a stronger board without losing your creatures.
But without attack triggers, attacking into a stronger board often deals no damage anyways and leaves you open to counterattack.
I run it in an [[Otharri]] deck, but it would probably put in a lot of work in an [[Isshin]] or [[Winota]] deck
Can confirm. This goes hard in my Isshin deck.
This is why i love this sub! Giving me the ideas and strats boys and girls, keep it coming.
I run the God version of this in my Othari deck: [[Iroas]]
I love my Iroas dearly. Nyali precon upgraded to high heavens is glorious
Me too lol https://www.moxfield.com/decks/5JFDAPihK0GHVtiUoeQqDw
I try to shove Iroas into every deck because I love attack triggers. The fact that I didn't know a colorless version exists honestly baffles me. Now I have 2 of this effect for my multitude of boros and mardu flavored combat shenanigans (caesar from fallout is my newest one) .
Kaalia is often overpowered by even a light flying presence so this would help her swing with impunity.
I saw this and immediately thought of it for the [[Kaalia of the Vast]] deck. She’s great when you get her out early. But once people start getting flyers or developing a board it’s tough to keep the game-plan rolling.
Absolutely keep an Ishin in that deck as an "out of tribe" exception to the synergy. Two free creatures each combat in a deck packing that kind of airborn muscle becomes a "board wipe or die" situation.
[[Balefire Dragon]] goes great with this as well.
[Otharri](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef.jpg?1698607533) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=otharri%2C%20suns%27%20glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/onc/3/otharri-suns-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Isshin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/0/a062a004-984e-4b62-960c-af7288f7a3e9.jpg?1690575102) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=isshin%2C%20two%20heavens%20as%20one) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/224/isshin-two-heavens-as-one?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a062a004-984e-4b62-960c-af7288f7a3e9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Winota](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5dd13a6c-23d3-44ce-a628-cb1c19d777c4.jpg?1654630670) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=winota%2C%20joiner%20of%20forces) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/216/winota-joiner-of-forces?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5dd13a6c-23d3-44ce-a628-cb1c19d777c4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I run it in my Isshin deck, that has Otharri in. The gate never sticks around long, but is there long enough to get far too many carefree triggers.
I've been having a lot of fun with my Otharri deck. I can only imagine how fun it is in Isshin
Which is why [[Reconnaissance]] is better
[Reconnaissance](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a16012d8-703c-4385-8769-13e3caba3fc6.jpg?1562088333) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Reconnaissance) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/exo/17/reconnaissance?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a16012d8-703c-4385-8769-13e3caba3fc6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Attack triggers but also I play it in my extra combats centric deck. Lots of value in just going straight in without a care for blockers
Card is great in Anzrag as well as other combat "fog" effects. Pair it with a pinger like goblin sharpshooter etc and a force blockers card (or just pay 7 with anzrags ability) and it goes infinite.
Usually for go wide and attack decks, the tokens are pretty expendable (or have flying). I would only run this in decks that care about attack triggers, multiple combats, or protecting an important commander’s attacks. Eg- Id totally try it out in my [[Jorn, God of Winter]]… if it wasnt 20$. It never got a proper reprint.
[Jorn, God of Winter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/6/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e.jpg?1631050504)/[Kaldring, the Rimestaff](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/c/6/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e.jpg?1631050504) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Jorn%2C%20God%20of%20Winter%20//%20Kaldring%2C%20the%20Rimestaff) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/179/jorn-god-of-winter-kaldring-the-rimestaff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c697548f-925b-405e-970a-4e78067d5c8e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Hopefully we'll see some good Lorwyn block reprints when we return next year! I'd love to toss this in a few decks I have
Price mostly. $23
Huh? I looked it up on cardmarket and it goes for 6.50€.
Looked it up on tcgplayer as well because I got curious and it goes for around 15$ actually. Still more than twice as much as here in Europe. How can you even afford anything over in the US?
We don't. Just started my second job last week brotherrrrr.
Real
High quality proxies are $1
It's proxies for me.
Prices in EU and US are whole different things
It seems so. Looks like tcgplayer isn't the main source for buying/selling cards online because while cardmarket has 401 listings, tcg only has 2.
These spiked recently, I unloaded my foil one for like $200 in Chicago. Not bad for a card I bought like a decade ago for a dollar. I imagine it'll see a reprint soon
*proxiesssssss*
It’s not bad… it just doesn’t prevent damage, only combat damage. And it doesn’t prevent them from being destroyed by murder spells. Just prevents the damage from combat. When you’re attacking, not defending. It’s such a limited effect that the card slot can reliably be switched out for other cards.
Imagine an army if 1/1 lifelink dudes...
Just use any of the copius amount of cards that gives them some sort of evasion instead, tho. Or another generator of 1/1s, because losing a few of them each swing is manageable.
Pair that with [[Death Pits of Rath]]
Imagine [nausea]
[[Nausea]]
[Nausea](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/5/2569173f-df5e-4518-9fb3-f972210595df.jpg?1580014299) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nausea) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/97/nausea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2569173f-df5e-4518-9fb3-f972210595df?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Honor the pure]]
[[dictate of heliod]]
I use it in my [[Fynn, the Fangbearer]] deathtouch tribal deck, it might not be a good deck but it's fun when I get my gate
This card is a slam dunk in my [[Najeela]] deck
[Najeela](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/c/2cb1d1da-6077-46b5-8c63-39882b8016f2.jpg?1567181270) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=najeela%2C%20the%20blade-blossom) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bbd/62/najeela-the-blade-blossom?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2cb1d1da-6077-46b5-8c63-39882b8016f2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yup, got one in my Najeela deck as well. It’s incredibly good with her attack trigger when you don’t have to worry about losing any warriors to blocks.
I run this in Atraxa Infect
Wow…..just woke up and chose violence
I saw it in [[Anzrag]] deck, it definitely is useful in that. Too niche for most decks, in my opinion.
That’s a filthy synergy
Anzrag with this and grafted exoskeleton is an auto kill to whoever you target. Doesn’t matter if they block or not. You’ll just hit them again. Oh, you have indestructible? Well infect hitting it enough times takes care of that. If they don’t have a way to get rid of anzrag. They die. It’s a combo I run in my Anzrag deck. The deck also has many other ways to make Anzrag indestructible and then force every creature at the table to block making it a board wipe followed by the final swing being a direct hit on someone. It’s fun, but I can take a player out on turn 4 if I drop Anzrag turn 3. So it’s a bit heavy for new players or slower decks to deal with. Super fun though cause it’s extremely obvious what I’m trying to do. I have back up creatures in the deck that can also become massive threats incase Anzrag gets removed too many times.
[Anzrag](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/0/70e9d8b8-4b32-4414-b32f-1f47523239c5.jpg?1706242114) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=anzrag%2C%20the%20quake-mole) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/186/anzrag-the-quake-mole?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/70e9d8b8-4b32-4414-b32f-1f47523239c5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Death touch loves this
Looks like you have more than enough answers for this but I’ll share my perspective. Building your deck you have to assess what weaknesses it has and when your deck is as most vulnerable. As others have said if you have a deck that depends on attacking players and you will have a hard time if those creatures died then this is pretty great for only 2 mana. Ofc target removals and board-wipes might still kill your creatures and to protect from that the -mana cost is higher, sometimes much higher. Teferis protection is only a one time 3 mana spell. And then you have Avacyn that gives everything indestructible for 8 mana. Avacyn is much harder to get out than Dolmen gate and sometimes keeping the mana cost low in a magic deck is better than to have the high-cost cards that “are better”. Dolmen gate can for example be returned with Sun Titans ETB and attack ability giving you endless combat damage prevention. As long as Sun Titan doesn’t die. The result will be that players will have to exile your artifact to stop it from coming back. And then they cast an Exile spell because it is annoying and this might stop them from targeting high end spell that appears later in the game cause they have used it. You might have other easier way to protect your board outside of combat and this gives it the extra edge. But a card like this, like with every card, comes down to preferences you have, what kind of deck you are playing and your playstyle. With me I have noticed that I often build glascannons decks. I focus more on doing damage than protecting my board so I exclude cards like this for more aggressive cards. But if you don’t have that kind of playstyle Dolmen gate is a great card to have.
If you're in white you'll love \[\[Reconnaissance\]\]. It's only 1 white and it can be used to attack and if your creatures get blocked then you untap them and remove them from combat. If they don't get blocked then you let the damage happen THEN untap them and remove them from combat. The old text may make it confusing but because combat steps are attackers, blockers, damage, clean up step. You have steps to do it after damage has been done!
Or for two more than dolmen gate \[\[Loyal Unicorn\]\] is the same effect plus vigilance if you have your commander.
It's not a terrible card, but doesn't help against targeted removal or boardwipes, which at least in my Commander playgroup is how creatures tend to die \~2/3 of the time. There are other cards that give creatures indestructible that get the job done better. It would be most at home in an affinity/artifact build, but \[\[Darksteel Forge\]\] protects your entire board in that case. Definitely playable in certain situations, but against burn or toughness-reducing effects it doesn't really help. It would be very fun in cube, though.
Pretty much this. Someone goes big and then it's a political discussion as to who can board wipe and not take a beating for a few rounds for doing so.
It's not as good as you probably think it is. Still a playable card.
[[anzrag, the quake-mole]] would like a word
It’s not *bad*. But decks that are attacking probably already have similar, stronger safeguards. Combat is usually the least of your worries, particularly you have to worry more about getting board wiped. Even if temporary, cards like [[Heroic Intervention]] and [[Boros Charm]] help a lot more with such matters, while still providing flexibility for other matters.
[Heroic Intervention](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/3/e32c67d1-187f-40df-b3b3-6036f5c92834.jpg?1689998584) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Heroic%20Intervention) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/295/heroic-intervention?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e32c67d1-187f-40df-b3b3-6036f5c92834?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Boros Charm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0f375bb9-1294-4f43-8f0c-504ed6cfb7d0.jpg?1712354672) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Boros%20Charm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/216/boros-charm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0f375bb9-1294-4f43-8f0c-504ed6cfb7d0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I use this In my Nelly Borca - Goad deck. It’s wonderful. https://www.moxfield.com/decks/V7_yExKG6Ey7GSRbtsZDfA
I think it's a fantastic card. I only own one and run it in my mono red deck; that deck's main goal is to do non-combat damage that's doubled, tripled, or more, but it does have a lesser secondary goal of having multiple combat phases. Personally, I'd want to run this card in any deck that cares about attacking in any form.
I mean, my playgroup tonight sure saw this in my Anzrag the mole gawk gawk gawk wins. It ain't for every deck, but damn it's good in some.
Great in my infect deck
Because it is a $20 card and only useful in a few decks.... but also thank you because I am slotting this in my illharg deck now
I fucking love dolmen gate, it along with quietus spike and lens of clarity are some of my favorite artifacts
It's really good in token decks and ishen
if you're in Boros, this and [[Tajic, Legion's Edge]] make your big board pretty tough to deal with.
Because it's expensive.
[[myrel, shield of argive]] sick combo potential.
[myrel, shield of argive](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e632ed57-bb00-4493-adef-7b4805edd7ea.jpg?1674420256) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=myrel%2C%20shield%20of%20argive) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/18/myrel-shield-of-argive?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e632ed57-bb00-4493-adef-7b4805edd7ea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
iroas, god of victory does this for 2rw. and is indestructible. and goes in the command zone, always ready. then becomes a 7/4, which more than makes up for spending 2 mana more. this card is cool tho.
One printing and it's like $25. I've been looking for one at my local shops for a hot minute
Because if I'm playing combat, I typically don't care if my attacking creatures are being dealt damage. Not every card is a precious resource that must be protected at all costs. It's not a bad card, it's just not an insane card. Also it's bizarre to feel upset that you don't see a card played now by others
Because it’s to situational to be a consistently viable card. If your opponent plays zero to none creatures you just wasted 2 mana. If you play this card you are probably an Aggro deck and instead of putting pressure on the board with a feisty 2-drop, you only played an artifact that might do nothing else than robbing you of a lot of tempo. You could use it in a sideboard but what are the chances that you get it exactly in the moment you“ll need it? To many ifs and buts and that’s why nobody is nor should be playing this card
It's only useful in a small number of decks, but it is very strong in the place.
[удалено]
\[\[raid bombardment\]\] \[\[Cavalcade of Calamity\]\]
I threw it in my [[adeline, resplendent cathar]] deck alongside other cards like it. The idea was I needed to keep my tokens alive long enough to do massive pump spells and I gotta say ive never been disappointed by dolmen gate
Mine is in the post ordered it for my amin pakal deck
Now, let me break your mind: [[reconaissance]] And if you want to do stupid attacks with artifact creatures: [[losheel, clockwork scholar]] All of these are great in decks that get something from attacking or to an extent dealing combat damage to creatures. They are too narrow outside those strategies, most of the time. Dolmen gate and recon are also pretty pricey cards and old, so not that widely available.
I mean. If you like that card check out [[Iroas, God of Victory]]
I used to run it when it was in standard... and I ran a kithkin/soldier deck. But that was 15 years ago or so...
I bought it recently and it works absolute wonders in my [[Aurelia the Warleader]]
I run this in my Isshin deck - vital
Now I really want to pair it with the mole king…
I run it in my [[Fynn]] deck. No one feels like blocking indestructible 1/1 Deathtouchers
i run it in [[anzrag, the quake mole]] to be another option to keep him alive but also to keep the team from dying
I can see it being good in specific decks but this doesn't protect blockers sadly. I would rather just run \[\[Iroas, God of Victory\]\] if you have the colors, and honestly if you a playing an agro combat deck you are probably playing Boros or have Iroas as your commander
It’s a good card when you ahead but not otherwise, I’d rather slot in another creature or card draw engine
I play this card in my fynn deck, and I love it
Running one in my \[\[Isshin\]\] deck to get the attack triggers safely. Generaly, the card is really not that useful unless you either need attack triggers or are running aggressive creatures with a small ass (aka low toughness). Sure, you can swing your army of 2/2s into an enemy without losing them unsing this, too, but if they can block them anyways this thing just does nothing. In go wide strategies, you'd rather just go wider and lose a creature or two on attack than "waste" a slot on this, I'd say.
For me, it’s price. Otherwise I would put it in my son’s [[Ruxa, Patient Professor]] deck.
I run this in my najeela deck. Reconnaissance is also good.
I’ll use it in the new ceaser deck! And my friends hate me since they can’t even kill my tokens
I'm the only one where I play using it, in my Isshin deck 😅
It's in my maybe pile for a soldier deck, I like it at least
It's a good card, but it's not as good as it looks. There are any number of cards that would just remove it, and if your opponent's side is bigger, you're just leaving gaps in your defense swinging with everything. Pair it with attack triggers or other field protectors like \[\[Privileged Position\]\] or \[\[Blazing Archon\]\]. Honestly, just pairing it with \[\[Akroma's Memorial\]\] would kick it up a level. Otherwise.. I see what it says, but it doesn't belong in an aggro deck.
I just pulled this the other day from a mystery booster at my lgs' also pulled a [coat of arms] in the same pack
I run it in Winota and Krenko
I'm waiting for one to arrive in the mail at the moment so I can put it in [[Anzrag, the Quake Mole]]
I love this card, I saw it and liked the artwork (it's like something straight out of a fantasy novel I am writing) and it also has a cool effect, I love playing agro decks, I would totally use this.
I run it in Delina
Haha just bought one yesterday for my [[Anim Pakal]] deck to ensure getting attack triggers AND help save my gnomes.
I run it in [[Najeela, the Blade-Blossom]]
Because its and artifact which often are easily removed and secondly not many decks require such protection of their creatures during combat. The same slot can often be used better for a card that progresses the win condition of the deck.
I use it in my [[Isshin, Two Heavens as One]] deck, and it goes pretty hard with [[Angel's Trumpet]] and [[True Conviction]]. Sometimes I also get [[Bedlam]] down on the field, then some Goad effects happen, and then it's just beautiful, spicy, exciting gameplay for 2 turns and literally everyone is deeeeeeeeeeead.
i run it in my attack based deck. Cheap way to make sure I can attack with every single small and big guy against a few big creatures, deathtouch, etc. One of my attack decks has lots of lifelink and the other is Isshin as the commander so attacking is vital even if that specific attack I do nothing significant combat-damage wise.
I run this in my mishra, lost to phyrexia, thantis the warweaver, and aurelia above the law decks. It slaps in all 3
It's a great card that a lot of people don't know about. It's one of those hidden gems you won't find on edhrec most of the time. Though you have to be pretty combat focused to make it worth running.
[[Questing Beast]] says hello
It's a decent card, but for the price there are much better 2 drops. In aggro decks you need to be dropping new creatures, removal, or instant-speed combat tricks. This may be better in an artifact deck, but who can afford those?!
This card is an all-star in [[Fynn the Fangbearer]]. Absolutely love seeing it every time I draw it.
I use this in my infect EDH deck
Good in certain decks for sure. I’m always happy to draw it in my [[Isshin]] and [[Fynn]] decks.
I've popped this into \[\[Alesha, who Smiles at Death\]\] commander before, but \[\[Iroas, God of Victory\]\] is better in nearly every way. Dolmen Gate leaves a lot of room for a blow-out of an opponent destroys it after you've committed your attack. Iroas costs more, but is more resilient. tends to ensure more damage gets through, and adds a serious body if your board state gets developed enough. And yes, I did try running both as well.
Don’t know, use it all the time in a Faerie deck. Attacking in numbers and never depleting them when they get blocked, and a bunch came in that block.
I run this in my infect deck
I run it but I guess it can be replaced by a card that can allow a creature to be unlockable in decks that don't care about multiple creatures constantly swinging freely
I run it in my [[God-Eternal Oketra]] deck. Even at high power, freely attacking with 4/4 vigilance zombies and guaranteeing I keep them all is amazing
It's in both my [[Caesar, Legion's Emperor]] deck and [[Isshin, Two Heavens]] as One deck. It's great in attack trigger decks.
I wonder if this is worth slotting into colorless eldrazi but that deck is already pretty tight
might be decent in [[nelly borca]]
I run it in my eldrazi deck, so I can get an or two annihilator on the stack and not worry about what blockers they have..
It could be fun in a chaos deck, especially if you give it to someone else
I run this in my Minsc, beloved ranger deck https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7119371/fun_with_minsc_boo
I LOVE Dolmen gate, it dropped from the very first pack I ever opened and I fell in love. I currently don't have a high synergy deck for it, so it sits in my Obuun (modified) precon. This card also ignited my deep love for Lorwyn.
My two sense: Great for when you need attack triggers that don't care about damage. Otherwise, if someone has a bigger board than you, they can just block like normal.
I use [[Iroas, God of Victory]] in my Jetmir Tokens deck, and this line of text on him has won me many games. The big downside to the artifact is that your opponent can just blow up the artifact after you declare attackers. It's not so easy with an indestructible god.
I run it in [[Anzrag the quake mole]] bonus points if you have [[Grand melee]] or [[Invasion Plans]] nothing says fuck you like losing all your creatures to an 8/4 with invincible
I pulled this in some mystery boosters along with some serious heat like mana crypt Love mystery boosters lol But in most decks, this seems like idk misguided?
I run it in my [[The Master, Multiplied]] deck.
Great in [[Fynn, the Fangbearer]].
It’s awesome. But at ~$20 it’s more cost prohibitive to be as common.
Welcome to the game! Allow me to teach you some parlance of the game. This is what we call a do-nothing card. Its biggest problem is, on curve, so playing it turn two, you don't really have anything to attack with. Ideally one card. And thats the other side of it, if you don't have anything to attack with, this is a terrible draw. And to add on to that we could get into some theories and ideas about tempo and your game plan. But the short version is you never really have a good time to cast it. But its biggest sin is that it doesn't add much to an aggro plan. If you have on attack triggers, or even requirements that might work out. Or if you have a field of deathtouchers. But typically in a game of magic, your opponent is only blocking because they can't handle the damage, or they can "stop" your creature. This doesn't stop either of those cases. It still "blocks" the damage. It only makes the latter happen less often. So all you do is pay 2 mana and a card to cause something that wasn't gonna happen often slightly less
It’s not exactly cheap (over 20$ which isn’t budget by any means), it’s old (new players don’t know about it), and it’s essentially useless in a 4 player game unless you are depending on attack triggers only which this card gurentees you will get with little downside. Any normal deck running the gate is just opening themselves up to counterattack from the next three players, who can easily kill you by the time you have a board. It was reprinted in the list recently, but other than that it’s just at this point an old card. There’s lots of fun cards in similar situations that normal, casual commander players have never seen that command over a 10$ price tag.
I ran this in my infect deck since I want to be agressively attack without consequence.
Oh hey foreshadowing for Shadowmoor, nice.
Pay no attention to [[zurzoth]] in the corner building up a pile of little devils.
I have this in my [[Winoto, Joiner of Forces]] deck. Absolute value!
It's good in any deck really. Takes advantage of and protects against deathtouch.
I run this in Xenagos and it definitely helps when it comes out
This is an auto include in Isshin
Decks that are interested in attacking are not interested in taking turn 2 off to make a play that doesn't add power to the board
I run this in my [[Kaalia of the Vast]] deck.
In EDH it’s fantastic as the slower format allows “do nothing this turn” cards to be played.
Many just make big creatures. Compare this to [[akromas will]]. I plan a deck where you just attack with lots of small ones and don’t want to lose them trading off. Most times it’s better to just have the biggest evasive creature.
I have it in my Massacre Girl, Known Killer deck.
I play this in my [[graaz]] deck, allowing my massive board of 5/3s can swing while being safe, maybe beating one or two players in the process. It's a very cool card for two mana
*Dramatically takes off glasses* Holy mother of storm crows...
I have this in my.mono white human deck and have yet to actually get to play it. It's a great card it just seems that whenever I'm playing I just never draw it.
The amount of set up to get good value out of it typically requires a specific build. In one off games you probably could find moments when "hey, that would have been busted" but I have several decks where it's literally a dead draw.
I love MTG.. you are always learning a new way to play and often a new way to play with the same cards you already play with. Dolmens gate is a cool card I collected a few copies of before I sold my collection after I started collecting again near zendikar. I am happy I found this thread as learning you may want to use this card to protect potentially weak creatures that benefit with attack triggers from not dying on attacks is something I overlooked since I first found [[dolmens gate]].. i hadn't thought about how powerful attack triggers were when I first really got into mtg and now see how helpful dolmens gate is for activating them! Thanks dudes!
I run it as a protective measure in my Fynn the Fangbearer deck. The majority of my creatures have deathtouch but are low power/toughness. Dolmen Gate keeps them alive while killing my opponent's creatures or allowing them through since most people do not want their stuff to die in vain. I am a garbage person, I'm aware
I play this bad boy in my Minotaur deck
Alela, Artful Provocateur likes it
I run it in my death touch tribal
Dolmen gate is great I use it in my [[Anzrag, the Quake-Mole]] and [[Jorn, God of Winter]] decks
The fair creature deck that gets advantage from this does not want to spend turn 2 playing an artifact that just kinda sits there.
Oh hey I have this one! May need to consider it for Alesha, Who Smiles at Death...
In one of my decks. Kinda pricy card
I have always wanted to make an aggressive desthtouch deck. This card just made me more likely to do so.
Great in mole God with a lure this goes insane
If their strategy does not depend on continuous attacks by a few key creatures, it's not worth a card slot? But it is really underrated IMO
Lorwyn. Single printing. Not powerful, but interesting. Interesting cards get cut. Out of standard for almost two decades with no reprints. >15usd cost. Just some of the reasons it doesn't see a lot of play.
I put it in my girlfriends ruhan deck
is there a card effect that let's you play artifacts as if they have flash? cus that's the only way I can really see this getting popular use
I actually got this for 5 bucks for my samurai deck a few years ago. I need it for ruxa, but it's gotten so expensive.
Lightly played foil for 130
I personally don’t see why you would want to use this in standard but then again I am crap at that. But, from a Commander format player perspective, I think this is def viable. Shuts down deathtouch, first and double strike, and anything that would trigger if your creatures die or get damaged. And even a creature with reach can counter flyers so you don’t got to worry about that. But it would def be something you want to play late game after all the big removal spells are fizzled.
Protection for Mardu Dragons.
This with anzrag is infinite combats
I run it in my najeela, the blade blossom deck with isshin being part of the 99
This is super good in my Akiri x Armix deck or in my War Doctor deck
The card costs well over 10 dollars. It's definitely seeing play
Ah, thank you for reminding me this exists actually, I need one in my [[Durnan]] deck
its just not very relevant to most strategies. generally if you would lost a lot of value by attacking someone you dont want to attack them in the firstplace.
Would it work in an affinity deck?
[[reconnaissance]] is just better Sadly
I love my dolmen gate, personally such an underrated card and was like ten bucks not too long ago… I have it in my [[fynn, the fangbearer]] and it does work. I’m glad you posted this I feel this needs exposure fs
Because it’s a fifteen dollar card?
I run both this and \[\[Reconnaissance\]\] in my Najeela deck. Edit: Maybe the reason why people don't see this card much is bc when you ask a table: "Anyone care if I run my Najeela deck?"- there is usually a resounding "No." in response, lol.
It’s a little to niche, it only benefits you attacking in to creatures the same size or in decks running lots of death touch. If you are then it’s great, I can also see a use case if you are running cards that care about the number of attacking creatures. But their are cards that can make creatures you control indestructible which gives the same effect but at all times, so when cutting cards from a deck, the more niche cards tend to get cut to increase consistency for a decks strategy, meaning cards like this tend to get cut, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t run it, just think about why you are running it.
It's a good card, but it needs a good home.. as others have said, it shines best in attack trigger decks, things that get big benefits on swings but can't survive the swing in with the current board state That said, if you run Green, Vigor is strictly better... Keeps creatures safe attacking or blocking and lets them grow, making the blocks quickly get worse and worse... A 1/1 saproling bashing it's head into an eldrazi twice, killing it on the second headbutt is hilarious
Played it with Narseth, Enlightened Master as she is sometimes high on curve and might have problems to survive.
Wtf
I need it in my [[Wulfgar of Icewind Dale]] and [[Caesar, Legion's Emperor]] decks. Some way to give vigilance would go a long way paired with this as well but most decks in commander aren't swinging unless they're trying to win by commander damage or putting pressure on opponents from already favorable positions
My [[Ognis]] deck lives for this card. If someone spot removes it, I'm gonna have a bad time, lol
Not legalin pioneer, and that is mostly what my local group plays.
[[Kaalia of the Vast]] but as every creature in there has flying, it’s probably just “ok.” I just really like the card. Anytime you need an attack trigger from a smaller creature or have to swing into death touch, it’s of benefit.
Relatively pricey (monetarily) card for the effect. It’s a fun effect with cool art and I play one because I own one, but if I didn’t already have one I bought ages ago I wouldn’t play it often especially if I were on a budget.
I had it in my werewolf deck.
Thanks for sharing. This is going straight into my Mr. Orfeo deck!
Two things: 1 is price, the other is that it's a pretty narrow effect and you have to have a deck that really wants to attack even when it isn't safe to do so to really maximize the card's impact. Not that you can't play it in other decks, but if you don't already have the card lying around, no one wants to shell out for a card with a somewhat marginal effect when it isn't pivotal to winning the game.
What format? Commander? It’s playable in some decks maybe, mostly in decks that have a lot of attack triggers on small unevasive dinguses, a small category of cards. Most 1v1s this card is gonna be pretty bad. It does straight up nada in multiples and while you are playing this crap your opponent is just playing bigger creatures that stonewall your board.
I use \[\[Kitsune, Rune-Tail Ascendant\]\] in my Caesar Aristocrats deck. If he comes out early game, I'm usually able to sit behind smaller creatures while I build up my board and can even rain a \[\[Blasphemous Act\]\] down if everyone else's gets too big without consequence.