Glassdust Hulk MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Abilities Cycling
Power 3
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Cycling allows Glassdust Hulk to provide card advantage and deck filtering at instant speed.
  2. Specific mana requirements and cost can limit Hulk’s deck inclusion to certain strategies.
  3. Its unblockable potential and synergy with artifacts make it a unique asset in MTG.

Text of card

Whenever another artifact comes into play under your control, Glassdust Hulk gets +1/+1 until end of turn and is unblockable this turn. Cycling {WU} ({WU}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When cycled, Glassdust Hulk lets you draw a card, offering a way to dig through your deck for more options without losing card economy. This effect can be particularly useful when searching for key pieces or answers in a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Glassdust Hulk itself does not directly accelerate resources, its low cycling cost can help filter through your deck and reach your land drops consistently. This can indirectly contribute to smoother mana development in the early game.

Instant Speed: Glassdust Hulk can be cycled at instant speed, providing flexibility to adapt during your opponent’s turn. This allows you to wait for the most opportune moment to cycle it, maximizing strategic depth and maintaining the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Glassdust Hulk may land you in a tricky situation if it’s caught in a discard spell or ability, as it requires another artifact to turn it invisible, which means discarding a potential resource.

Specific Mana Cost: Glassdust Hulk needs a color-specific mana investment, which is a mix of blue and white. This could restrict its integration exclusively to decks that can reliably produce both colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three generic and one white mana, Glassdust Hulk can be seen as a bit mana-intensive, especially when compared to other creatures that offer similar or greater power and toughness with added abilities for the same or lower cost.


Reasons to Include Glassdust Hulk in Your Collection

Versatility: Glassdust Hulk offers adaptability in multiple deck builds, particularly those emphasizing artifact synergy or those requiring evasive creatures. Its cycling ability also provides utility, allowing you to draw a card if the Hulk doesn’t suit the current board state.

Combo Potential: When paired with artifact recursion or proliferate mechanics, Glassdust Hulk can become a consistent threat. Its ability to gain a power boost whenever another artifact comes into play grants it a solid niche in artifact-centric strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, Glassdust Hulk can be particularly effective in environments where artifacts are prevalent, becoming both a blocker and a scaling threat. Plus, with cycling, it remains relevant by helping you dig for answers or key components in your deck.


How to beat

Glassdust Hulk is a versatile card in the MTG universe, known for its ability to become unblockable whenever you play an artifact. To effectively neutralize this threat, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergy the Hulk has with artifacts. One strategy is to remove artifacts from the battlefield, limiting the opportunities for the Hulk to gain unblockable status. Artifact removal spells like Shatter or Disenchant play a pivotal role in this approach.

Besides direct removal, controlling the board with counterspells when the Hulk or accompanying artifacts are cast can be another effective tactic. This proactive measure can prevent the Hulk from ever making an impact on the game. Cards like Counterspell or Neutralize fit perfectly into this strategy. Additionally, maintaining board pressure with creatures that have deathtouch or using removal spells like Doom Blade to dispose of the Hulk before it becomes a significant threat is wise. This ensures the Glassdust Hulk never gets the chance to leverage its strengths in a match.

In summary, countering the synergistic nature of Glassdust Hulk with swift removal, controlling the use of artifacts, and keeping board presence with strategic creature placement can lead to a successful outcome against this formidable card in MTG.


Cards like Glassdust Hulk

Glassdust Hulk is an intriguing artifact creature card in Magic: The Gathering that blurs the lines between aggressive and defensive strategies. When paralleled with cards such as Court Homunculus, another artifact creature, Glassdust Hulk offers a different dynamic, as it can become unblockable until end of turn whenever you play an artifact or cast another spell that shares a color with it, adding a layer of complexity and surprise to combat strategies.

Contrasting with Ethersworn Shieldmage, Glassdust Hulk isn’t focused on protecting other artifacts but rather carving a path for itself, becoming a persistent threat that’s hard to predict. Yet another card worth comparing is Esper Stormblade, which also gains strength from other artifacts or multicolor cards on the field. While Esper Stormblade can be more aggressive from the get-go, Glassdust Hulk’s cycling ability offers a tactical advantage, allowing you to draw a card and potentially cycle into another threat or an answer when needed.

Considering its ability to slip through defenses and its synergy with other artifacts and multicolor spells, Glassdust Hulk holds its place as a versatile option for players looking to add an evasive edge to their artifact-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Court Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Ethersworn Shieldmage - MTG Card versions
Esper Stormblade - MTG Card versions
Court Homunculus - Conflux (CON)
Ethersworn Shieldmage - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Esper Stormblade - Alara Reborn (ARB)

Cards similar to Glassdust Hulk by color, type and mana cost

Cloudheath Drake - MTG Card versions
Master's Guide-Mural // Master's Manufactory - MTG Card versions
Cloudheath Drake - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Master's Guide-Mural // Master's Manufactory - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glassdust Hulk MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Glassdust Hulk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Glassdust Hulk Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 72003normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
22015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1772015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1992015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glassdust Hulk has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Glassdust Hulk card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-08-07 Once a creature has blocked Glassdust Hulk, resolving its triggered ability won't cause it to become unblocked.

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