Giant Slug MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 99
1995-07-01 - Number 33
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Slug |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Giant Slug’s instant speed ability allows tactical battlefield control, making it unblockable when needed.
- Requires specific builds and mana dedication, which could limit its use in varied MTG decks.
- Despite mana costs, its unblockable potential makes it a versatile pick for control-oriented strategies.
Text of card
o5: During controller's next upkeep Giant Slug gains landwalk ability of controller's choice until end of turn. The type of landwalk chosen must correspond with one of the five basic land types.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Giant Slug from MTG doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it forces opponents to consider their removal options carefully, potentially saving your more valuable creatures from being targeted.
Resource Acceleration: In decks focused on creature-based strategies, Giant Slug can serve as a useful stepping stone. It may not ramp up your mana directly, but its modest casting cost ensures it can hit the board early to pave the way for larger threats.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Slug’s activated ability can be used at instant speed. This gives it a tactical layer, allowing you to control the pace on the battlefield by threatening to make it unblockable at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Giant Slug may not specifically require a discard, it does necessitate specific deck builds that might make you wish you could discard for a better creature.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two green mana to be activated, the Giant Slug can be restrictive if you’re not fully invested in green mana or running a multi-colored deck where its mana requirement can compete with other important spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though its base casting cost might seem reasonable, to unlock its potential, you’ll spend more mana to give it swampwalk each turn. This makes the Giant Slug potentially resource-draining, especially when faced with other cards that provide instant benefits.
Reasons to Include Giant Slug in Your Collection
Versatility: Although not a staple in every deck, Giant Slug can adapt to slow-paced, control-oriented games where you have the time to set up and utilize its unique ability to become unblockable.
Combo Potential: In a deck that revolves around creatures with activated abilities, Giant Slug can be a valuable asset, especially with cards that reduce activation costs or benefit from creatures connecting with an opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where ground stalls are common and creature-based strategies dominate, having a creature that can guarantee damage to your opponent each turn can be a decisive advantage.
How to beat
Giant Slug is one of those unique creatures in Magic: The Gathering that might not seem menacing at first glance due to its incremental advantage in certain situations. Known for its slow momentum, a Giant Slug requires a substantial mana investment to become a true threat. Overcoming this invertebrate is less about direct confrontation and more about utilizing speed and efficiency in your gameplay.
To counter the Slug’s potential, players can employ early-game pressure to outpace the mana curve it demands. Efficient removal spells are also excellent, permitting you to conserve your resources while dealing with the Slug before it becomes too large to handle comfortably. Additionally, enchancements that restrict the Slug’s ability to attack, such as those that tap it or prevent it from untapping, can quell any momentum it could accrue.
Remember, in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Giant Slug can be faced head-on with proper strategy and card choice, ensuring it never fully extends its reach across the battlefield. Maintain control and keep the pressure consistent, and the Slug will be just a minor bump on your path to victory.
Cards like Giant Slug
The Giant Slug stands as an interesting creature card in Magic: The Gathering. It holds a niche position when compared to other creatures due to its unique upkeep ability that allows it to gain unblockable until end of turn. A comparable creature is the Flowstone Sculpture, which similarly offers an ability that can be activated at any time to modify its characteristics. However, unlike the Giant Slug, Flowstone Sculpture’s ability gives it a temporary boost in power rather than movement utility.
Looking further into other creatures, a curious parallel can be drawn with the Mistform Sliver. This card offers a robust, adaptable creature type changing ability, allowing for a wide range of synergies across various Sliver decks. This adaptability contrasts with the Giant Slug’s more singular focus on unimpeded attacking. Lastly, examining the Hapless Researcher provides insight into a low-cost creature that sacrifices itself for the benefit of card draw, showcasing a different way low-cost creatures can provide value to a player’s strategy.
When balancing the strategic uses of various MTG creatures, Giant Slug offers a unique tactical advantage, particularly in environments where avoiding blockers can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Cards similar to Giant Slug by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Giant Slug MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Giant Slug and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Giant Slug Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 1995-07-01. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 99 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1995-07-01 | Chronicles | CHR | 33 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Giant Slug has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Giant Slug card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the Slug changes controllers after the mana is spent, the player who activates this ability selects a landwalk during their next upkeep even if they don’t control it at the time. |
| 2004-10-04 | When the ability resolves, it creates another ability that triggers at the beginning of your next upkeep. When that ability resolves, you choose a basic land type. |
