Howling Giant MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Giant Druid |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Released | 2019-07-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2020 |
| Set code | M20 |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 177 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Grzegorz Rutkowski |
Key Takeaways
- Brings valuable board presence and additional creatures without extra mana investment.
- Fits primarily in green-heavy or versatile mana decks due to specific mana costs.
- Offers both defensive capabilities and synergy with token-focused strategies.
Text of card
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) When Howling Giant enters the battlefield, create two 2/2 green Wolf creature tokens.
He and his pack sing the same mournful song to the moon.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Howling Giant comes with a significant boon as it brings two 2/2 green Wolf creature tokens into play. This extra pack doesn’t just serve to increase your board presence; it provides additional blockers, attackers, or fodder for other spells or abilities right out of the gate.
Resource Acceleration: While Howling Giant itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its substantial 7 mana cost ensures it’s a late-game play. Its presence on the board signals that you’ve successfully ramped up your mana throughout the game, and its benefit of summoning additional creatures can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by enabling attacks or defenses without spending additional mana.
Instant Speed: Though Howling Giant operates at sorcery speed, the creation of Wolf tokens can be a surprise boon during the late game. It may not be cast at instant speed, but its impact is felt instantly on the game state, offering immediate utility as soon as it hits the field.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Howling Giant’s ability does not call for any discard action, so there’s no inherent card disadvantage from playing it. As such, players don’t need to worry about losing precious hand resources when casting this creature.
Specific Mana Cost: This towering creature requires a specific blend of green mana and generic mana to cast. Having a triple green mana cost in its price tag means it fits primarily in decks that are heavily green or are able to generate various types of mana efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of seven, Howling Giant sits at the higher end of the mana curve. In fast-paced games, this cost can be prohibitive, restricting the card to decks that can ramp up their mana quickly or are patient enough to reach the late game.
Reasons to Include Howling Giant in Your Collection
Versatility: Howling Giant offers both a formidable presence on the board and defensive capabilities with its Reach attribute. This green creature can be a steadfast defender or a game-ending threat, making it adaptable to a variety of green-based decks, including ramp or midrange strategies.
Combo Potential: Upon entering the battlefield, Howling Giant brings along two 2/2 Wolf creature tokens, which not only bolster your creature count but can synergize with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or with those that buff token creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by flying creatures, Howling Giant’s Reach can be invaluable, providing a sturdy line of defense. Additionally, its ability to generate multiple bodies can be crucial in overwhelming opponents or defending against aggressive strategies.
How to Counter Howling Giant
Howling Giant is a formidable creature in the MTG realm with its impactful presence on the board. As a 5/5 reach creature, Howling Giant brings a dynamic that can be challenging to bypass. Not only does it stand tall against flying adversaries, but its ability to generate two 2/2 green Wolf creature tokens upon entering the battlefield provides an instant increase in board presence.
To effectively contend with this green behemoth and its wolf pack, removal spells are your best option. Cards such as Murder, which outright destroys a target creature, can handle Howling Giant regardless of its size. For a more budget-friendly alternative, you might consider Lava Coil, which dishes out damage enough to take down the Giant and exiles it to prevent graveyard retrieval strategies.
Moreover, board wipes like Shatter the Sky or Wrath of God can reset the board, effectively dealing with all creatures at once. While these spells come with their own costs, they can save you when you’re facing a creature as sizeable and well-protected as Howling Giant. Keep in mind strategies involving removals or board wipes to keep the upper hand when facing this colossal threat and its loyal wolf companions.
Cards like Howling Giant
The Howling Giant weaves its way into MTG with a presence that resonates in decks focusing on reaching the higher realms of mana. In terms of cards with a similar vibe, Cloudthresher stands out as it also brings a formidable creature to the board and has the ability to impact aerial threats. However, the Giant, with its ability to summon Wolf tokens upon entry, offers a more immediate board presence, unlike Cloudthresher’s focus on Flash and Evoke.
Next, we find Thunderfoot Baloth as a close relative in the green stompy family. Both creatures accentuate the strength of having other creatures on the battlefield. The Baloth, however, leans on its Lieutenant ability to buff your creatures, only active as long as you have your commander. In contrast, the Giant ensures a broader influence on the board by enhancing your creature count without such restrictions. Apt comparison also comes from Rampaging Brontodon, not directly in effect, but in the shared theme of sizeable green creatures with potential board-altering abilities.
To wrap up, while options like Cloudthresher and Thunderfoot Baloth share the Howling Giant’s penchant for creating significant game impacts, the giant’s unique ability to add multiple creatures to the board upon entry carves its distinct niche in MTG’s vast landscape of green behemoths.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Howling Giant MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Howling Giant 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Howling Giant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
