Great Desert Hellion MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Hellion |
| Abilities | Intensity,Menace |
| Released | 2022-12-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: The Brothers' War |
| Set code | YBRO |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 19 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Uriah Voth |
Text of card
Starting intensity 1 Menace At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Great Desert Hellion unless you discard a card. If you discard a card this way, perpetually increase Great Desert Hellion's intensity by 1. When Great Desert Hellion leaves the battlefield, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw cards equal to Great Desert Hellion's intensity.
Cards like Great Desert Hellion
Great Desert Hellion stands as a force in the creature card realm in MTG, comparable in some ways to cards like Rumbling Baloth. Both are creatures that demand a significant amount of mana, with Great Desert Hellion requiring five mana and Rumbling Baloth requiring four. Each has its strengths, with the Hellion often prized for its haste ability, allowing it to attack as soon as it enters the battlefield, a feature that the Baloth lacks.
Diving deeper into similar cards, we encounter Ember Swallower, another formidable creature. While it comes with a comparable mana cost, Ember Swallower offers a monstrous ability that can wreak havoc on an opponent’s mana base, situating itself as a different breed of threat. Unlike the immediate impact of the Hellion’s haste, Ember Swallower can change the contours of a game with its late-game potential.
Each of these creatures fills a unique niche, highlighting the rich diversity within MTG’s creature cards. Great Desert Hellion shines for players who value speed and aggression, marking its place in the strategy as an impactful, fast, and dynamic creature capable of applying pressure the moment it roars onto the battlefield.
Cards similar to Great Desert Hellion by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Great Desert Hellion. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | Holiday Night Magic | |
 | Rakdos Aggro | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Great Desert Hellion may not directly allow you to draw cards, its trample ability ensures that any excess damage it deals to creatures can carry over to the opponent, effectively dealing with multiple threats at once and maintaining pressure in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Giving other Hellion creatures you control haste when it enters the battlefield, Great Desert Hellion accelerates your offensive resources, allowing for an immediate impact on the battlefield, which can catch opponents off guard and turn the tide of the match.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Great Desert Hellion synergizes well with instant-speed spells, especially those that clear the path for a full on assault, or those that can be cast after declaring attackers, allowing you to make tactical decisions based on your opponent’s reactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To fully utilize this Hellion’s aggressive potential, you must satisfy a discard condition. This can set you back if you’re already short on cards, potentially stalling your momentum in a critical phase of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a creature that demands a specific mana composition, namely red, its inclusion is primarily suited for mono-red decks or those that can reliably produce the necessary mana colors, which limits its versatility in a diverse meta.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana requirement, the Hellion sits at a point where its cost-effectiveness is questionable. There are myriad creatures and spells that can provide competitive advantages without such a taxing investment, potentially making this card a less appealing choice in many strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Great Desert Hellion offers flexibility in deck-building due to its solid stats as a creature. It can be a formidable force in aggressive decks looking to apply pressure or serve as a strong defensive option with its significant toughness.
Combo Potential: This card offers synergies with strategies that capitalize on the desert theme or require high-power creatures. Its ability to potentially clear smaller blockers also paves the way for various interesting in-game interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where smaller creatures dominate, Great Desert Hellion stands out by being able to survive many common removal spells. This resilience can give players an edge in matchups that rely on board presence to win.
How to beat
The Great Desert Hellion is a creature that demands immediate attention on the battlefield within Magic: The Gathering. Its sizeable power and toughness make it a considerable threat to face. However, defensive strategies can be quite effective against it. One method is to establish a strong line of blockers. Creatures with high toughness can absorb the Hellion’s damage, ideally without being destroyed in combat.
Removal spells are also a key asset. Instant-speed removal allows you to deal with the Hellion before it can attack, while sorcery-speed removal can clear the path before it becomes a blocker problem. Spells like Unsummon or Path to Exile offer efficient solutions to the Hellion menace.
Finally, leveraging abilities that prevent the Hellion from attacking or blocking, such as those that tap creatures or remove them from combat, can neutralize it effectively. When considering your deck’s interaction with the Great Desert Hellion, including flexible responses will ensure you’re prepared to handle this desert dweller whenever it surfaces.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Great Desert Hellion MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: 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 Great Desert Hellion 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Great Desert Hellion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |