Molten Gatekeeper — ruling 1

If you activate a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will do nothing as it resolves.

Molten Gatekeeper — ruling 2

Activating a card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting that card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Flare of Denial) will not.

Molten Gatekeeper — ruling 3

At the beginning of the next end step, a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the permanent will stay on the battlefield and the delayed triggered ability won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the permanent if it eventually leaves the battlefield.

Molten Gatekeeper — ruling 4

Unearth grants haste to the permanent that's returned to the battlefield (even if it's not a creature card). However, neither of the "exile" abilities is granted to that permanent. If that permanent loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.

Molten Gatekeeper — ruling 5

If a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the permanent to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If that spell or ability later returns the card to the battlefield (as Static Prison might, for example), the permanent card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effects will no longer apply to it.

Molten Gatekeeper : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Molten Gatekeeper 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

Whenever another creature you control enters, this creature deals 1 damage to each opponent. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

Complete guide

Molten Gatekeeper is a powerful inclusion for decks that focus on flooding the board with creatures. This Golem acts as a consistent source of damage, punishing your opponents every time a teammate joins the fray. Its Unearth ability ensures that even after it has been dealt with, it can return for one final, explosive turn.

A Passive Source of Burn

The primary role of Molten Gatekeeper is to turn every creature spell or token generation effect into direct damage. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, Molten Gatekeeper deals 1 damage to each opponent. Because this ability triggers for each creature individually, cards that create multiple tokens at once will result in multiple instances of damage.

Understanding Unearth

Unearth is an activated ability that functions only while the card is in your graveyard. For just one Red mana, you can return Molten Gatekeeper to the battlefield with haste. This is treated as an activated ability, not a spell, so it cannot be countered by traditional counterspells. While it provides a temporary boost, the creature is exiled at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield for any other reason.

Replacement Effects and Exiling

The Unearth ability creates a replacement effect: if the creature would leave the battlefield, it is exiled instead. However, if an effect (like a flicker or exile-based removal) attempts to exile the card anyway, the card is simply exiled as requested. If that effect later returns the card to the battlefield, it returns as a new object, and the Unearth restrictions are completely wiped away.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that Molten Gatekeeper does not trigger off itself entering the battlefield; the ability specifies 'another creature.' Additionally, keep in mind that the Unearth exile trigger happens at the beginning of the next end step. If you Unearth the Gatekeeper during an opponent's end step, it will stay through your entire following turn.

Interaction examples

Boosting Efficiency

Solemn Simulacrum

When you have Molten Gatekeeper on the battlefield and cast Solemn Simulacrum, the Gatekeeper's ability triggers immediately. You will deal 1 damage to each opponent, search for your land, and have a new blocker ready. If the Simulacrum later dies, you draw a card, but note that Gatekeeper only cares about the 'enter' event, not the death.

Doubling the Heat

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Golem' as the creature type, Molten Gatekeeper becomes twice as deadly. Because Roaming Throne is also a Golem, its presence causes the Gatekeeper's triggered abilities to trigger an additional time. Now, every new creature you play results in 2 damage to each opponent instead of 1.

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

How it works : Molten Gatekeeper

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 7, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you activate a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will do nothing as it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 7, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Activating a card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting that card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Flare of Denial) will not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 7, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
At the beginning of the next end step, a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the permanent will stay on the battlefield and the delayed triggered ability won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the permanent if it eventually leaves the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 7, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Unearth grants haste to the permanent that's returned to the battlefield (even if it's not a creature card). However, neither of the "exile" abilities is granted to that permanent. If that permanent loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 7, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the permanent to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If that spell or ability later returns the card to the battlefield (as Static Prison might, for example), the permanent card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effects will no longer apply to it.
No other card is named in this ruling.