Gating: Difference between revisions
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'''Gating''' is a term that refers to cards that require you to return a creature that shares a color with it to your hand when it comes into play in exchange for a lower casting cost. Gating cards were | [[File:ShivanWurm2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Shivan Wurm from [[Planeshift]]]] | ||
'''Gating''' is a [[slang]] term that refers to cards that require you to return a permanent (usually a creature) that shares a color with it to your hand when it comes into play, usually in exchange for a lower casting cost or higher power.<ref>{{WebRef| url = https://www.wizards.com/sideboard/article.asp?x=sb20010116b| title = Planeshift Preview: Cavern Harpy| accessdate = 15 August 2016| author = Rui Oliveira| publisher = Wizards of the Coast}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/great-mix-part-ii-2007-02-05|The Great Mix-Up, Part II|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 5, 2007}}</ref> Gating cards were featured in ''[[Planeshift]]''. | |||
List of Gating cards | ==Description== | ||
In science fiction, “gating” is a term often used to mean teleportation. This is supposedly where the slang comes from.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/110650470533/why-is-gating-named-as-such|title=Why is "gating" named as such?|February 10, 2015}}</ref> All gating cards printed are [[multicolored]]. There are 13 gating cards in ''Planeshift'', 12 of which are creatures. Gating is [[primary]] used in [[white]] but all the other colors can have access to it when needed.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/107839781018/is-gating-exclusively-a-white-thing-now-or-it|title=Is gating exclusively a white thing, now, or it can be used by other colors whenever it's needed?|January 11, 2015}}</ref> | |||
The most powerful of these is the Shivan Wurm, a 7/7 [[trample]]r which could be cast on the third turn in a green deck with mana-producing creatures. Meanwhile, <c>Fleetfoot Panther</c>'s gating cost can actually be a boon, as its [[flash]] ability can save a creature already in play from destruction. Any gating creature can also be useful in a deck full of creatures with comes-into-play abilities (like <c>Flametongue Kavu</C>, for instance), allowing you to return such creatures to your hand so you can play them multiple times. | |||
As the gating cards are multicolored, the strongest color combination of the gating cards is green/red. This combination has the most gating cards with four. This combination has two of the strongest gating creatures in <c>Horned Kavu</c> a quick 3/4 creature for {{R}}{{G}} best played as a second-turn drop. <c>Shivan Wurm</c> can be a solid fourth of fifth-turn drop. | |||
One should also take note of <c>Cavern Harpy</c> which enabled the [[Extended Aluren deck|Aluren combo]]. | |||
===Not a keyword=== | |||
Gating is ''not'' an [[ability]] or a [[keyword]]. If it came back one day, [[R&D]] most likely would keyword it.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2005-2005-08-01|Ask Wizards - August 2005|[[Devin Low]]|August 25, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/176163647978/hello-mark-do-you-know-why-the-planeshift|title=Do you know why the "planeshift" ability like in Horned Kavu never got a name and never came back ?|July 22, 2018}}</ref> | |||
===Visual cue=== | |||
In the art of the cards, gating creatures appear to pass through a [[planar portal|portal]].<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-september-2002-2002-09-02|Ask Wizards - September, 2002|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|September, 2002}}</ref> | |||
==List of Gating cards== | |||
{| | {| | ||
| | | | ||
*<c>Cavern Harpy</c> | *<c>Cavern Harpy</c> | ||
*<c>Doomsday Specter</c> | *<c>Doomsday Specter</c> | ||
*<c> | *<c>Fleetfoot Panther</c> | ||
*<c>Horned Kavu</c> | *<c>Horned Kavu</c> | ||
*<c>Lava Zombie</c> | *<c>Lava Zombie</c> | ||
| Line 20: | Line 36: | ||
|} | |} | ||
The | ==Similar cards== | ||
<c>Shrieking Drake</c> in ''[[Mirage]]'' had a similar ability, though the creature could be any color. Since it costs only {{U}} and can return itself, it can be employed in many combos. To an extent, any creature with proper gating can too, but their higher, multicolored costs make them less efficient for such purposes, Cavern Harpy in the Aluren combo being a notable exception. | |||
The mechanic returned slightly altered on white cards in ''[[Planar Chaos]]''. No color is prescribed as to which creature needs to be returned but instead multiple creatures would be needed to be returned on some cards. These cards are <c>Whitemane Lion</c>, <c>Stonecloaker</c>, <c>Stormfront Riders</c> and <c>Dust Elemental</c>. <c>Keymaster Rogue</c> (reprinted as <c>Storm Sculptor</c>) and <c>Yarok's Wavecrasher</c> are newer versions. | |||
A variant was printed with <c>Dream Stalker</c> in ''[[Time Spiral]]'' that returned on the cards <c>Kor Skyfisher</c>, <c>Emancipation Angel</c>, and <c>Invasive Species</c> where the difference is that the returned card does not have to be a creature, but can be any permanent you control. <c>Ancestral Statue</c> does the same, but excludes lands. Another variant in <c>Faerie Impostor</c> and <c>Quickling</c> requires another creature on the board to be returned or else it is sacrificed, preventing single-card looping. | |||
==Rulings== | |||
*Gating cards read "Whenever [this card] comes into play, return a [color A] or [color B] card to your hand." That's a triggered ability, so players can respond to it going on the stack by playing instants or activated abilities. | |||
*Like any comes-into-play triggered ability, the gating ability will trigger regardless of whether the card comes into play from a player's hand, graveyard, or library (or any other zone). | |||
*The gating triggered ability doesn't target anything, so it's perfectly fine to return an untargetable card you control (or a card with the right kind of protection) to its owner's hand. | |||
*When the gating ability resolves, if you control no appropriate cards of the specified colors other than the gating card, you'll have to return the gating card itself to your hand. If the gating card turns out to be an invalid choice (for example, if you change the gating card's color before its comes-into-play ability resolves), then the gating ability does nothing. | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Magic slang]] | |||
[[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:55, 6 September 2021
Gating is a slang term that refers to cards that require you to return a permanent (usually a creature) that shares a color with it to your hand when it comes into play, usually in exchange for a lower casting cost or higher power.[1][2] Gating cards were featured in Planeshift.
Description
In science fiction, “gating” is a term often used to mean teleportation. This is supposedly where the slang comes from.[3] All gating cards printed are multicolored. There are 13 gating cards in Planeshift, 12 of which are creatures. Gating is primary used in white but all the other colors can have access to it when needed.[4]
The most powerful of these is the Shivan Wurm, a 7/7 trampler which could be cast on the third turn in a green deck with mana-producing creatures. Meanwhile, Fleetfoot Panther's gating cost can actually be a boon, as its flash ability can save a creature already in play from destruction. Any gating creature can also be useful in a deck full of creatures with comes-into-play abilities (like Flametongue Kavu, for instance), allowing you to return such creatures to your hand so you can play them multiple times.
As the gating cards are multicolored, the strongest color combination of the gating cards is green/red. This combination has the most gating cards with four. This combination has two of the strongest gating creatures in Horned Kavu a quick 3/4 creature for 
best played as a second-turn drop. Shivan Wurm can be a solid fourth of fifth-turn drop.
One should also take note of Cavern Harpy which enabled the Aluren combo.
Not a keyword
Gating is not an ability or a keyword. If it came back one day, R&D most likely would keyword it.[5][6]
Visual cue
In the art of the cards, gating creatures appear to pass through a portal.[7]
List of Gating cards
Similar cards
Shrieking Drake in Mirage had a similar ability, though the creature could be any color. Since it costs only 
and can return itself, it can be employed in many combos. To an extent, any creature with proper gating can too, but their higher, multicolored costs make them less efficient for such purposes, Cavern Harpy in the Aluren combo being a notable exception.
The mechanic returned slightly altered on white cards in Planar Chaos. No color is prescribed as to which creature needs to be returned but instead multiple creatures would be needed to be returned on some cards. These cards are Whitemane Lion, Stonecloaker, Stormfront Riders and Dust Elemental. Keymaster Rogue (reprinted as Storm Sculptor) and Yarok's Wavecrasher are newer versions.
A variant was printed with Dream Stalker in Time Spiral that returned on the cards Kor Skyfisher, Emancipation Angel, and Invasive Species where the difference is that the returned card does not have to be a creature, but can be any permanent you control. Ancestral Statue does the same, but excludes lands. Another variant in Faerie Impostor and Quickling requires another creature on the board to be returned or else it is sacrificed, preventing single-card looping.
Rulings
- Gating cards read "Whenever [this card] comes into play, return a [color A] or [color B] card to your hand." That's a triggered ability, so players can respond to it going on the stack by playing instants or activated abilities.
- Like any comes-into-play triggered ability, the gating ability will trigger regardless of whether the card comes into play from a player's hand, graveyard, or library (or any other zone).
- The gating triggered ability doesn't target anything, so it's perfectly fine to return an untargetable card you control (or a card with the right kind of protection) to its owner's hand.
- When the gating ability resolves, if you control no appropriate cards of the specified colors other than the gating card, you'll have to return the gating card itself to your hand. If the gating card turns out to be an invalid choice (for example, if you change the gating card's color before its comes-into-play ability resolves), then the gating ability does nothing.
References
- ↑ Rui Oliveira. "Planeshift Preview: Cavern Harpy". Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 5, 2007). "The Great Mix-Up, Part II". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 10, 2015). "Why is "gating" named as such?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 11, 2015). "Is gating exclusively a white thing, now, or it can be used by other colors whenever it's needed?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Devin Low (August 25, 2005). "Ask Wizards - August 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 22, 2018). "Do you know why the "planeshift" ability like in Horned Kavu never got a name and never came back ?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (September, 2002). "Ask Wizards - September, 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.