Hamletback Goliath MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Giant Warrior
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Hamletback Goliath excels in decks that flood the board, enhancing its size and board control potential.
  2. Though mana-heavy and red-specific, its intimidating presence can warp opponent strategies.
  3. Counteracting the Goliath requires prompt removal or board wipes to prevent overwhelming advantage.

Text of card

Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, you may put X +1/+1 counters on Hamletback Goliath, where X is that creature's power.

"If you live on a giant's back, there's only one individual you'll ever need to fear." —Gaddock Teeg


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hamletback Goliath’s ability to grow each time another creature enters the battlefield can lead to overwhelming board presence. Its massive size can quickly become a game-changer, providing a distinct advantage in combat and forcing multiple card responses from your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, the sheer threat of Hamletback Goliath can alter your opponent’s play style, potentially slowing them down as they try to find an answer to its escalating power. This indirect influence can give you the upper hand in resource management, as opponents may need to hold back mana for potential removal.

Instant Speed: Though Hamletback Goliath doesn’t function at instant speed, its power can instantly respond to creature spells. In multiplayer games, this allows the card to accrue counters at a surprising rate, often outgrowing opponents’ threats in an exceptionally short span of turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hamletback Goliath doesn’t have a discard requirement, but it does necessitate a board state that enables growth for it to be truly effective. If you’re unable to support this condition, it may not offer the same value as other creatures in your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: The Goliath requires a specific mana allocation, including double red, which might not seamlessly fit into all decks, particularly those that leverage a wider color variety or predominantly focus on non-red spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of seven, including two red, Hamletback Goliath is a significant investment. Considering its late-game playability, other lower-cost creatures could provide more immediate board presence and impact.


Reasons to Include Hamletback Goliath in Your Collection

Versatility: Hamletback Goliath can be a game-changer in a variety of decks, particularly those that thrive on having powerful creatures on the battlefield. Its ability to grow larger with every other creature that enters the field makes it adaptable to both aggressive and ramp strategies.

Combo Potential: With its unique ability to gain +1/+1 counters each time another creature enters the battlefield, this giant offers great synergy with decks that summon numerous creatures or tokens, enabling explosive growth and potentially game-ending power.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-heavy strategies or those that go wide with numerous creature spells, Hamletback Goliath’s presence on the board can be incredibly impactful. It’s not just a formidable creature; it’s also a growing threat that opponents must answer, making it a valuable asset against various decks.


How to beat

Hamletback Goliath is a formidable creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its potentially massive size. As a card that can grow without bounds every time another creature enters the battlefield, Hamletback Goliath presents a significant challenge. Taking it down requires some forethought and strategy.

Removal spells are your best friend when facing this giant. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder can take care of the Goliath before it gets too large. Additionally, countering the Goliath upon casting with spells like Cancel or Mana Leak can prevent it from entering the battlefield altogether. In cases where the Goliath’s size becomes unmanageable, board wipe cards such as Day of Judgment or Damnation offer a clean slate by removing all creatures from the battlefield.

The key to triumphing over Hamletback Goliath lies in acting swiftly. Keeping removal in hand and managing the board effectively ensures that this creature doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle. It’s also wise to minimize playing creatures unless it’s essential, as each new creature only feeds the Goliath’s strength. Stealth and timing are your assets in this battle against the Goliath.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the game-changing potential of Hamletback Goliath in MTG requires understanding its unique dynamics. With its capacity to snowball into an imposing threat, it’s a card that can turn the tides of battle in your favor. To benefit from its power, ensure your deck supports creature-heavy strategies and consider its high mana cost when shaping your play style. While the Goliath thrives amid a flurry of creatures, remember to have a plan against removals that could target it. For more insights on how to harness the full impact of this towering force and go beyond the usual gameplay, delve into the strategic depths with us.


Cards like Hamletback Goliath

Hamletback Goliath is an interesting addition to the list of creatures in Magic: The Gathering that grow in size. Standing tall in comparison to other giants, this red creature card shares the limelight with the likes of Ivy Lane Denizen, where each creature entering the battlefield causes a bump in power though the Denizen favors counter addition over the Goliath’s temporary boost.

Further examining the card category, Llanowar Reborn presents itself as another growth avenue, albeit through land, accentuating creatures with +1/+1 counters upon their entry. Though this growth is limited to once per land, it highlights a different resource. In the realm of creatures, we also find Endless One, which brings the aspect of versatility to the table. Its power and toughness are directly correlated with the mana invested in it, making it scalable throughout the game, unlike Hamletback Goliath, whose size grows uncontrollably with the tide of creatures.

A closer look implies that Hamletback Goliath thrives in a busy field full of creatures, making it a potential colossal threat. As players evaluate their choices, Hamletback Goliath earns a notable position for those who seek to craft a deck around massive, board-dominating creatures.

Ivy Lane Denizen - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Reborn - MTG Card versions
Endless One - MTG Card versions
Ivy Lane Denizen - Gatecrash (GTC)
Llanowar Reborn - Future Sight (FUT)
Endless One - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

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Magma Giant - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Trained Orgg - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Thunder Dragon - From the Vault: Dragons (DRB)
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Yidaro, Wandering Monster - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Butcher Orgg - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Dynamo - Legions (LGN)
Ashen Monstrosity - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rimescale Dragon - Coldsnap (CSP)
Boldwyr Intimidator - Morningtide (MOR)
Shivan Hellkite - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Knollspine Dragon - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Karplusan Giant - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Ridge Rannet - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Ancient Hellkite - Magic 2011 Promos (PM11)
Tyrant of Discord - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Minotaur Aggressor - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Molten Primordial - Gatecrash (GTC)
Spawn of Thraxes - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hamletback Goliath MTG card by a specific set like Resale Promos and Lorwyn, 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 Hamletback Goliath and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hamletback Goliath Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2007-01-01 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 8 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-01-01Resale PromosPRES A102003normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
22007-10-12LorwynLRW 1732003normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
32012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1362003normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
42015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1562015normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
52016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1632015normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1022015normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy
72020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3322015normalblackPaolo Parente & Brian Snõddy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hamletback Goliath has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-07-01 The value of X is determined as the ability begins resolving. If the other creature is no longer on the battlefield, its last known existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its power.

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