Giant Mantis MTG Card

Giant Mantis’s reach ability makes it an effective surprise blocker against flying creatures in MTG. The card’s specific green mana requirement may limit its versatility across various deck types. While a sturdy defender, more mana-efficient creatures might overshadow Giant Mantis in MTG deck building.

Mirage (MIR)
1996-10-08 - Number 218

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 213

Giant Mantis - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
2015-10-02 - Number 173

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Insect
Abilities	Reach
Power	2
Toughness	4

Text of card

Giant Mantis can block creatures with flying.

"I hate insects of every sort. The only mercy is that they are generally small." —Mwani, Mtenda goatherd

Cards like Giant Mantis

Giant Mantis finds its place among the roster of creature cards with reach in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to creatures like Canopy Spider, which also grants the ability to block flying creatures, though the spider offers this with lower mana and power/toughness stats. The Giant Mantis, with an extra bit of resilience and damage potential, edges out Canopy Spider in terms of survivability.

When we look at other similar cards such as Giant Spider, the comparison tightens. Both cards share the same reach ability and occupy the four-mana slot. However, Giant Spider presents itself with a slightly higher power, making it a more formidable blocker against flying threats. Yet, still within our comparison range is the Spidery Grasp, an instant that not only provides reach but also a substantial temporary power/toughness boost and untaps your creature, offering versatility during combat.

Considering their utilitarian role in intercepting threats from the air, each card shines in different scenarios. Depending on the deck’s build and strategy, the choice between them can influence the defense dynamic. Overall, Giant Mantis holds a balanced position in terms of cost, reach, and stats, making it a solid option for players needing to enhance their anti-air defenses.

Cards similar to Giant Mantis by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Giant Mantis doesn’t lead directly to card draw, but its mere presence often dissuades opponents from attacking. This quality can help maintain parity on the board, indirectly preserving your hand while dealing with adversary threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Giant Mantis itself doesn’t accelerate resources, it’s a budget-friendly addition to decks. Its low cost aids in keeping your mana open for more significant plays later on, thus contributing to a more efficient use of your in-game resources over time.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant, the Mantis’s reach ability enables it to be a surprise blocker against flying creatures. This can be particularly effective as a defensive measure during your opponent’s attack phase, offering an unexpected way to preserve your life total and remove key enemy threats from the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Each time Giant Mantis is deployed, it does not impose a discard requirement on the player. However, the lack of this element can be seen as a missed opportunity for synergy in decks that benefit from discarding, such as those involving graveyard strategies or madness mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Giant Mantis demands a specific combination of green mana, which may not align seamlessly with multicolored or color-flexible decks. Its reliance on green mana could restrict its inclusion to mono-green or green-centric decks, potentially limiting its playability across diverse deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost generally considered elevated for its stat line and abilities, there might be more mana-efficient creature options available. In a game where curve optimization is paramount, the mana invested in summoning Giant Mantis could perhaps be allocated to creatures with a greater impact or complementary abilities offering more strategic versatility on the battlefield.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Giant Mantis offers solid defense with its 2/4 stats, making it a reliable blocker in green decks that might struggle against flyers. Its reach ability allows it to effectively protect planeswalkers or your life total from aerial attacks.

Combo Potential: This insect shines in decks featuring cards that benefit from creatures with reach or those that capitalize on the insect creature type. Its synergistic qualities can enhance various strategies that revolve around creature abilities.

Meta-Relevance: With a diverse range of flying creatures present in the game, having a cost-efficient creature that can deter opponents’ attackers can be an asset. Giant Mantis serves as a versatile inclusion in any collection for its ability to hold the line against prominent flying threats.

How to beat

Giant Mantis presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its sturdy defensive capabilities, especially notable through its reach ability, allowing it to intercept flying creatures. To effectively navigate around this roadblock, it’s prudent to employ strategies that don’t engage it directly. Removal spells that bypass its 4 toughness can prove invaluable, spells like Murder or Doom Blade will do the trick efficiently. Alternatively, spells that deal damage without engagement, such as direct damage spells or those that impose conditions preventing block actions, can neutralize the Giant Mantis without the need for direct conflict.

In situations where removal isn’t an option, evasion tactics come into play. Implementing creatures with abilities like menace or those that can’t be blocked except by two or more creatures can mitigate the Mantis’s defense. Moreover, enhancing your creatures with buffs to surpass its power level is another straightforward method to ensure your attacks go through. Finally, maximizing the use of flying creatures in your deck also serves as a strong play against Giant Mantis, as they can often soar past such hurdles with greater power or through supportive spells enhancing their battle prowess.

While Giant Mantis can be a substantial obstacle, a carefully curated strategy that incorporates any combination of removal, evasion, and augmentation can clear the path to victory. Evaluating your deck to ensure you have answers to common defenders like Giant Mantis is key for maintaining the upper hand in a duel.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Giant Mantis MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Vintage Masters, 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 Mantis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Giant Mantis Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2015-10-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1996-10-08	Mirage	MIR	218	1997	Normal	Black	Randy Gallegos
2	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA	213	2015	Normal	Black	Randy Gallegos
3	2015-10-02	Battle for Zendikar	BFZ	173	2015	Normal	Black	Lake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Giant Mantis has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal