Giant Strength MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 149
1995-04-01 - Number 196
1995-04-01 - Number 196
1995-08-01 - Number 86
1997-03-24 - Number 233
1997-10-14 - Number 178
1999-04-21 - Number 181
2014-06-16 - Number 163
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target creature gains +2/+2
"O! it is excellent/ To have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous/ To use it like a giant." —William Shakespeare, *Measure for Measure*
Cards like Giant Strength
Giant Strength represents an intriguing buff in the realm of creature enchantments within Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors cards like Brute Strength, which also provides a significant boost to a creature’s power and toughness. Giant Strength furnishes a permanent +2/+2 increase as long as it’s attached, whereas Brute Strength is a temporary boon, giving a creature +3/+1 just until the end of turn, but it also grants trample, an ability not found in Giant Strength.
Exploring further, we find cards like Madcap Skills, another enchantment that adds +3/+0 to a creature. While it offers a greater boost to power and less to toughness compared to Giant Strength, it has the additional advantage of making the creature harder to block by requiring two or more creatures to do so. This can create a significant tactical advantage during combat.
Overall, Giant Strength may not offer the one-and-done burst of power or the added abilities of other similar cards, but its enduring nature can establish a lasting threat on the battlefield. For players looking to bolster their creatures over the long term, Giant Strength can play a pivotal role in their deck’s strategy.
Cards similar to Giant Strength by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Giant Strength doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, by enhancing a creature’s stats, it effectively makes each creature a more significant threat. This enhancement can indirectly lead to card advantage as your strengthened creature could take down multiple creatures of an opponent over the course of a game.
Resource Acceleration: While Giant Strength doesn’t produce additional mana or tokens, it serves as a form of resource acceleration by maximizing the potential of your existing creatures. Making a creature bigger can be the difference between it surviving combat or not, allowing you to preserve your board state and maintain momentum.
Instant Speed: Giant Strength can be cast at instant speed, making it a versatile tool in combat. You can blindside an opponent during their turn by boosting your creature’s power and toughness, potentially turning the tide of battle in your favor without telegraphing your move beforehand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging a discard action, Giant Strength necessitates the sacrificing of a card from hand which could tip the scales unfavorably in a tight match where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is tailored to red mana, potentially making it a less versatile option in decks that aren’t heavily red or that struggle with mana diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared to other buffs available in the game, Giant Strength’s mana investment may seem steep for the increase in power and toughness it provides, potentially detracting from its inclusion in lean, efficiency-focused decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Giant Strength is a card that can be seamlessly integrated into various decks seeking power boosts for their creatures. Its ability to easily slot into red aggro or midrange decks makes it a flexible choice for different playstyles.
Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs well with creatures that benefit from increased strength. When combined with creatures possessing trample or double strike, Giant Strength can turn even a modest creature into a formidable threat.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where combat tricks and creature enhancements can swing the tide of battle, Giant Strength holds its ground. It provides an immediate impact on the board, which can be crucial in fast-paced matchups.
How to beat
Giant Strength is a classic aura card in Magic: The Gathering that can turn a creature into a formidable threat. As with any aura, one of the key strategies to counter it is removing the enchanted creature from the battlefield. Targeted removal spells, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, can efficiently deal with the buffed creature regardless of its newfound power.
Bounce spells, that return the creature to its owner’s hand, are also effective. A card like Unsummon can be perfect for this, neutralizing the threat and leaving your opponent with the aura card stranded in play without a target. Enchantment removal is directly on point; Naturalize or Disenchant can remove Giant Strength from the game, weakening the once-strengthened creature.
Moreover, countering the spell before it hits the field is always a clean solution. Spell Pierce or Counterspell can be employed to prevent your opponent’s aura from ever resolving. Lastly, edict effects, forcing players to sacrifice creatures, can work around Giant Strength by not targeting the creature directly, such as Diabolic Edict. In conclusion, having an array of removals or counters ensures you’re prepared to dismantle the power boost Giant Strength provides.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Giant Strength MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition, 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 Strength 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Giant Strength Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 149 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Justin Hampton | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 196 | 1993 | Normal | White | Justin Hampton | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 196 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Justin Hampton | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 86 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Justin Hampton | |
| 5 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 233 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 6 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 178 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 7 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 181 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 8 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 163 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Giant Strength has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |