Gorgon's Head is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Equipped creature has deathtouch. Equip

Complete guide

Gorgon's Head is a simple yet effective Equipment that provides any creature with the deadly power of a Gorgon. For a low mana investment, you can transform a small blocker into a lethal threat that no opponent will want to engage with in combat. This artifact is a staple for decks looking to control the board through the threat of Deathtouch.

What It Does

Gorgon's Head is an Equipment artifact that costs one mana to cast and two mana to equip to a creature you control. While attached, the equipped creature gains the keyword Deathtouch. This means that any amount of damage the creature deals to another creature is considered lethal, enough to destroy it during the state-based actions check.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Gorgon's Head for one mana. Once it enters the battlefield, you can pay its Equip cost of two mana as a sorcery. When the Equip ability resolves, the artifact becomes attached to the target creature. From that moment on, if the creature deals damage—whether it is combat damage or non-combat damage from an ability—that damage is lethal to creatures.

Common Mistakes

One common error is forgetting that Equip is a sorcery-speed ability; you cannot move the Head to a surprise blocker during your opponent's combat phase. Additionally, remember that Deathtouch only applies to damage dealt to creatures. It does not increase damage dealt to players or planeswalkers, nor does it allow a creature with 0 power to destroy anything, as 0 damage is not considered 'dealing damage'.

When to Play It

This card is best used in defensive strategies where you want to discourage your opponent from attacking with their largest creatures. It is also highly effective on creatures with 'ping' abilities that can deal damage directly to other creatures, allowing you to pick off threats without entering combat.

Interaction examples

Efficient Setup with Sol Ring

Sol Ring

If you have Sol Ring on the battlefield, you can tap it to add two colorless mana. You can use one of that mana to cast Gorgon's Head and immediately use the remaining mana plus one from another source to pay the Equip cost, setting up a deadly defender as early as turn one.

Fixing for the Equip Cost

Arcane Signet

In a Commander game, you might lack the specific mana needed to cast other spells. You can tap Arcane Signet to produce a mana of your commander's color to cast Gorgon's Head. Later, if you need to move the Head to a new creature, the Signet provides a reliable source of mana to help pay that two-mana Equip cost.

Standalone Combat Lethality

Imagine you control a simple 1/1 creature and Gorgon's Head is equipped to it. If your opponent attacks with a massive 10/10 creature, you can block with your 1/1. Because of Deathtouch, the 1 point of damage dealt by your creature is enough to destroy the 10/10, resulting in a favorable trade for you.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.