Giant Cindermaw MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur Beast |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 136 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Edgar Sánchez Hidalgo |
Text of card
Trample Players can't gain life.
"Don't excavate too far into those canyons. I promised your parents I'd return you in one piece." —Tocasia
Cards like Giant Cindermaw
Giants within the world of Magic: The Gathering are known for their formidable presence, and Giant Cindermaw is no exception. When evaluating it against its kin, like the classic Hill Giant, we see a notable difference in power. Giant Cindermaw not only offers a larger body but also a distinctive trample ability, allowing it to potentially deal excess damage to an opponent, compared to the straightforward nature of Hill Giant.
Another relative in the realm of giants is Frost Giant. Although Frost Giant comes with a resilience to damage in the form of toughness, it doesn’t present the same aggressive capabilities as Giant Cindermaw, which can change the tempo of the game with its impactful attacks. Additionally, cards such as Thundercloud Shaman gain value in a giant-themed deck for their ability to clear out smaller creatures on the board, further emphasizing the tactical niche Giant Cindermaw fills with its power and trample combination.
Considering the options available, Giant Cindermaw stands as a robust creature in the giant archetype. Its blend of considerable power, trample, and potential for game-changing plays makes it a card worth considering for players wanting to leverage the sheer force of giants in their MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Giant Cindermaw by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Giant Cindermaw. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Aggro | Standard | Gruul Dinosaurs | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
 | Mono-Red Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 3 | |
 | Gruul Dinosaurs | Pioneer | Gruul Dinosaurs | Pioneer Challenge 64 2023-12-22 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Giant Cindermaw card is designed to dominate the battlefield, providing essential card advantage with its intimidating presence. Each time you cast it, you’re not just putting a massive creature on the field; you’re potentially swinging the game in your favor by compelling your opponent to deal with a singular threat, allowing your other cards to operate with more freedom.
Resource Acceleration: Embodying the raw power of the mountains, Giant Cindermaw can fuel your mana pool, giving you the resource acceleration essential for deploying game-changing spells or creatures ahead of schedule. This can tip the scales in a closely fought match, allowing you to outpace your opponent’s strategies.
Instant Speed: The Giant Cindermaw’s abilities may not be instant speed inherently, but when coupled with cards that flash, it can become an unexpected juggernaut your opponent must face on their turn. This flexibility ensures that the Giant Cindermaw remains a potent threat even when it’s not your turn, applying pressure and dictating your opponent’s plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Giant Cindermaw can be a tricky card to play if your hand is already dwindling. The necessity to discard another card just to unleash it can sometimes do more harm than good, especially when you’re aiming to maintain a card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The summoning cost for Giant Cindermaw is not only steep, but it also demands a specific mana combination that might not always be readily available. This can hinder your deck’s flexibility and potentially slow down your game strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Giant Cindermaw brings formidable power to the battlefield, its high mana cost can be a drawback. It requires a substantial investment, and in a fast-paced game, there may be other cards with lower mana costs that provide a similar level of impact sooner, enabling quicker responses to your opponent’s moves.
Reasons to Include Giant Cindermaw in Your Collection
Versatility: Giant Cindermaw can be a significant inclusion in ramp or red-green beatdown decks. Its ability to deal damage through trample allows it to tackle various board states effectively.
Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that harness the power of landfall or damage triggers. When you play lands, or when it deals combat damage, there’s potential for impactful combos or game-changing tactics.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with creature-based strategies, Giant Cindermaw can provide an edge. Its trampler trait makes it a potent threat, able to poke through fortified defenses and shift the tide of a match.
How to beat
Giant Cindermaw is known for its formidable power that can easily overwhelm opponents in Magic: The Gathering. The elusive yet impactful Giant creature demands a strategic approach to tackle effectively. Dealing with this colossal menace requires both finesse and foresight. One effective tactic is to use removal spells before the Giant Cindermaw gets a chance to exert its influence on the battlefield. Instant-speed interactions such as ‘Path to Exile’ mitigate the threat by removing the creature outright, avoiding its devastating potential altogether.
Counter strategies work well, too, provided your deck has access to them. Playing a well-timed ‘Counterspell’ or ‘Dissolve’ can ensure that the Giant never sees play, preserving your board and life total. If the Giant does make it onto the battlefield, deploying creatures with deathtouch or setting up defensive fortifications can act as a deterrent, preventing the behemoth from swinging in unchecked. Lastly, edict effects, forcing an opponent to sacrifice a creature, can also bypass Giant Cindermaw’s considerable size, efficiently managing the threat it poses to your gameplan.
Successfully subduing a Giant Cindermaw in MTG relies on preemptive measures, smart control strategies, and decisive removal to take control of the game and ultimately guide you to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Giant Cindermaw MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Cindermaw and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Giant Cindermaw has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Giant Cindermaw card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | If an effect says to set a player's life total to a number that's higher than the player's current life total while Giant Cindermaw is on the battlefield, the player's life total doesn't change. |
| 2022-10-14 | Spells and abilities that cause players to gain life still resolve while Giant Cindermaw is on the battlefield. No player will gain life, but any other effects of that spell or ability will happen. |