Commander review: it's too narrow. It doesn't help against stealing, bounce, destruction, exile, getting shuffled away or whatever. I guess in a deck where Doran, the Siege Tower is your commander, it might be borderline playable, but else it ain't. It will be stuck on your hand for many turns, and then in rare cases rescue one or two of your creatures. 1/5
Posted By:
majinara
(1/27/2012 1:24:38 AM)
The card has a cool atmosphere, but the functionality doesn't fit the flavor at all.
If you bar the door and cluster behind it like the people seen on the artwork,
you won't be able to deal any damage to the creatures outside.
Likewise, how are those able to deal damage to you before destroying the door?
A Boggart Ram-Gang for example couldn't stomp the door in, but it will still wither away a blocker behind that door.
On top of that, it doesn't affect blocking creatures, it affects creatures you control - no matter what.
So you can use this spell during your turn, and your attackers will still get the boost.
Now tell me how barring a door before charging into battle is supposed to increase your toughness.
Posted By:
Mode
(10/14/2012 12:07:20 PM)
what they should have done is
bar the door 2 w
you gain 1 life for each attacking creature lose that much life at the begging of your next turn
Posted By:
Notchism
(11/5/2012 3:15:57 PM)
All we need now is some sort of legendary creature named "Katie" and we're set.
Posted By:
Enemy_Tricolor
(4/4/2012 11:49:17 PM)
I kinda like how you can meaningfully play it during your own combat phase, too. Like if you attack with some creatures and your opponent blocks them, willing to trade/kill them with first strikers. Suddenly you drop Bar the Door and your attackers survive but pick off the blockers. It's funny to picture an attacking force march into combat with doors strapped to their backs, who then provoke the enemy, plant the doors in the dirt, and fight from around the door frame.
Also, apparently just closing a door is enough to survive a good-sized Earthquake.
Posted By:
Kirbster
(6/20/2012 7:59:36 PM)
Not to ignore the card itself, but the humans of Gavony sure are snazzy dressers.
Posted By:
Kaleidostorm
(12/30/2012 12:16:38 AM)
@Notchism
That'd be pretty sucky. You're gaining no life advantage and losing 2W and a card. Unless you use it on your turn, in which it isn't very flavorful and would just prolong your death (presumably) until your next upkeep.
@Lord_of_the_Real
That's too overpowered, you can activate the 
ability without any counters on it.
On a side note, we now have Tower Defense in green, which is generally better than this because 1. If you're running tokens, you probably have green somewhere and 2. if you're using Doran, well he's green too. Besides, this costs less.
2/5
Posted By:
FatalEagle
(2/25/2013 3:24:10 PM)
Strictly better than Piety and Defensive Maneuvers, generally better than Solidarity.
...Oh, and outside Doran, Flowstone, or -X/-X situations, much worse than Safe Passage.
Posted By:
HuntingDrake
(5/8/2013 3:15:07 AM)
See Fortify for a +2 toughness OR +2 power booster.
Posted By:
TowerDefender
(7/13/2013 11:36:25 AM)
I think the word "strictly" is used too much. Sure this looks better than a lot of cards, but there are almost always situations where the other could be better. Something like Defensive Maneuvers, if used for yourself, would certainly be worse than this. But let's say you're in a Two-Headed Giant game and your partner has creatures and you don't, Defensive Maneuvers let's them block more effectively (especially if they're running tribal) where as Bar The Door would have no use. Or perhaps you're playing a cutthroat game, where one player (whom you're more concerned about) is attacking another player that you aren't worried about, Piety could give them what they need to survive and continue to be a distraction. So generally better? Yes. Strictly better? No.
Posted By:
DiscoSpider
(8/28/2013 5:03:14 AM)