Karplusan Giant MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 196
2008-09-22 - Number 133
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Giant |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
: Tap target snow-covered land you control to give Karplusan Giant +1/+1 until end of turn.
"They aren't the brightest or the quickest of Giants. For that matter, the same holds true if you compare them to rocks." —Disa the Restless, journal entry
Cards like Karplusan Giant
The Karplusan Giant is an intriguing creature card in MTG, with a unique interaction in the game’s strata of behemoths. Comparable creatures like the Flameblast Dragon share the capacity to unleash damage, but the Giant’s tie to the land it represents, specifically snow-covered lands, adds a layer of deck-building considerations. Unlike Flameblast Dragon, which requires mana investment per shot, the Karplusan Giant can potentially deliver multiple blasts if enough snow lands are in play, without additional mana costs.
Another peer in this comparison is the Inferno Titan, which also brings a damaging entrance to the battlefield. However, Inferno Titan is prized for its ability to deal damage upon entering as well as every time it attacks, plus the scaling power with red mana. Meanwhile, the Karplusan Giant’s ability remains static but requires no extra mana to exercise its power, presenting a more passive strategy.
Assessing the usefulness of the Karplusan Giant among these similar cards, it holds a distinct position for those who can wield its unique snow land synergy effectively, creating opportunities for significant board impact within MTG’s diverse creature abilities.
Cards similar to Karplusan Giant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Karplusan Giant offers a unique tactical edge by allowing players to strategically leverage their creature spells to boost its power. This capacity converts each creature cast thereafter into potential extra damage, turning your creature-based strategies into a source of recurring value.
Resource Acceleration: As a formidable presence on the battlefield, the Karplusan Giant can be more than just a creature; its inherent synergy with cards that untap creatures or proliferate +1/+1 counters can accelerate your resources and apply substantial pressure on your opponent.
Instant Speed: While the Karplusan Giant itself does not operate at instant speed, it pairs well with spells and abilities that do. Casting creatures on your turn and holding instant-speed interaction or protection makes the Giant a pivot around which your battle strategy can flexibly revolve, ensuring you have adequate responses at critical moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Karplusan Giant’s abilities often comes with the steep price of discarding a card. For players maneuvering the game’s strategy, this can be a significant setback, especially when hand size is crucial to sustain momentum.
Specific Mana Cost: Delving deep into Magic’s strategic play, Karplusan Giant demands a special blend of mana—specifically red and green. This peculiar requirement confines the giant to decks that can consistently produce both types of mana, thus potentially restricting its versatility across the diverse planes of the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The costs attached to unleashing the full potential of Karplusan Giant are not trivial. With a casting cost that stands on the higher rungs of the mana ladder, players might ponder its effectiveness when there are alternatives that could offer more impact for less investment, a consideration not to be taken lightly in the heat of battle.
Reasons to Include Karplusan Giant in Your Collection
Versatility: The Karplusan Giant offers adaptability across numerous deck styles, with its ability to serve as a reliable blocker and its synergy with damage-based strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that mitigate or utilize damage. Its unique interaction with cards like “Furnace of Rath” can turn each point of damage into a significant advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where board presence and life totals are critical, the Karplusan Giant can play a pivotal role, especially in formats where its 3/3 body combined with relevant abilities makes it a solid choice for red or red-green decks.
How to beat Karplusan Giant
Karplusan Giant may seem like a challenging foe in the MTG arena with its ability to redirect damage to a creature of your choice. To effectively combat this behemoth, understanding its mechanics is key. Karplusan Giant’s power lies in its potential to turn the tables during combat, directing the damage it would take to another creature on the battlefield. This necessitates a strategy that either avoids triggering its ability or removes the Giant before it can become a threat.
One approach is using exile effects or spells that don’t deal damage but rather neutralize threats through other means. Consider spells like Path to Exile or Oblivion Ring to handle the Giant without triggering its damage redirection. Alternatively, spells that force a sacrifice like Diabolic Edict can be equally effective as they circumvent the Giant’s ability by not targeting it directly. In games that extend beyond one-on-one, effects that give you control of the Giant temporarily, like Act of Treason, can also be used to your advantage by steering the damage to benefit your game plan.
In essence, the key to defeating Karplusan Giant lies in strategic spell choice and timing, disrupting the Giant’s presence on the board without allowing its ability to shift the momentum in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Karplusan Giant MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition II, 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 Karplusan Giant 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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Printings
The Karplusan Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 196 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 133 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Karplusan Giant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |