Gallowbraid
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Trample
Cumulative upkeep—Pay 1 life. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Weatherlight
- Price
- $0.77
- EDHREC rank
- #26664
Gallowbraid is a 7/7 trampler for five mana with cumulative upkeep — a massive threat that arrives ahead of schedule but starts draining your life total every turn you keep it around. The clock cuts both ways: you're either closing the game fast or paying more than the card is worth.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Gallowbraid occupies a niche in black stompy or life-payment decks where the cumulative upkeep is a feature rather than a liability — commanders that reward life loss or reset permanents sidestep the drawback entirely. Legacy and Vintage allow it legally, but a 7/7 with a ticking life tax competes poorly against formats full of cheaper, unconditional threats and free interaction. Oathbreaker is the one format where Gallowbraid's raw size can dominate before the upkeep spirals, since games tend to end faster. Anywhere it's legal, treat it as a five-mana finisher that demands a quick clock — not a long-game inevitability.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.77 bulk tier
At $0.77, Gallowbraid is firmly bulk — the price reflects its narrow playability rather than any scarcity. It's an easy pickup if a deck calls for it, but don't expect that floor to move meaningfully.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.