Gargoyle

Ivory Gargoyle by Quinton Hoover

Gargoyle is a creature type used for cards that depict grotesque figures of a winged humanoid or animal, incorporated into the architecture of a building, usually in the form of a waterspout. Sentient gargoyles are able to move from the architectural base and fly, despite their dense mineral nature. They mainly appear in white, red and as artifact creatures. Gargoyles almost always have flying, and sometimes defender or reach.

The first creature to bear the type was Granite Gargoyle in Alpha. There are more than twenty Gargoyles printed.

Storyline

Alara

On Alara, most Gargoyles were found on Esper. They acted as the servants of wizards and mechanists to guard their towers to gather Etherium, with some being constructed partially from that metal.

Dominaria

Dominaria has a various host of gargoyles used by many different cultures, including the various kingdoms of Terisiare and Jamuura. Many of these gargoyles were repurposed by following cultures, who included them in their own architecture (Kjeldoran Gargoyle).

Fiora

Fioran Gargoyles are normally stone statues, but can manifest illusions of themselves to harry to intruders.(Spire Phantasm)

Innistrad

Gargoyles on Innistrad are the creation of human runechanters and used to protect important buildings and structures, like churches and walls.

When Nahiri arrived on the plane, she used her lithomancy to enslave several of these gargoyles for her own purpose. (Stonewing Antagonizer)

Mirrodin

Gargoyles on Mirrodin were guardians of important places on that plane, as they did not need sleep or felt fear. (Lumengrid Gargoyle)

During the Mirran-Phyrexian War, several gargoyles were aligned with the Mirran Resistance.

Ravnica

Ravnican Gargoyles are generally part of the roofscape of the city, with some being several thousand years old. They come to life to protect the buildings from attack or unwelcome intrusion. The Orzhov gargoyles, especially, are infamous for their ability to unleash horrific high-pitched screams that can even break bones (Shrieking Affliction) and that wake the dead.

Some Gargoyles, constructed from Nullstone, have the ability to dampen forms of magic, heat, sound and light around them.

Tarkir

Tarkiran Gargoyles existed first in the new timeline, where they were forged when the old Clans dissolved and aligned themselves under the dragonlords. Made from gold, they protect dragonlofts.(Dragonloft Idol)

Ulgrotha

Abbey Gargoyles were creatures created by Serra to watch Baron Sengir’s movements, and look for any other wrong-doing on Ulgrotha; they were stationed in the city of Onella at the Aysen Abbey.

Trivia

• Warden of the Wall is an artifact that can become a 2/3 colorless Gargoyle artifact creature with flying.
• Opal Gargoyle is an enchantment that can become a 2/2 white Gargoyle creature with flying.
• Opal Guardian is an enchantment that can become a 3/4 white Gargoyle creature with flying and protection from red.

Tokens

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source	Printings
Gargoyle	Colorless	Artifact Creature — Gargoyle	3/4	Flying	Gargoyle Castle
Tyranid Gargoyle	Blue	Creature — Tyranid Gargoyle	1/1	Flying	Gargoyle Flock Tyranid Harridan