Giant Harbinger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant Shaman
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	169
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steve Prescott

Key Takeaways

Secures card advantage by lining up your next critical giant draws.
Enhances game tempo by setting up your mana curve with giants.
Allows for strategic plays by fetching giants with flash potential.

Text of card

When Giant Harbinger comes into play, you may search your library for a Giant card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Giant Harbinger excels at helping you sift through your library to find the perfect tool for the situation. When this creature enters the battlefield, it allows you to search for a Giant card and place it on top of your library, priming your next draw and effectively stacking your deck with a powerful threat or a much-needed ally.

Resource Acceleration: Although Giant Harbinger itself does not directly accelerate your resources, it can lead to significant accelerations by fetching key Giant creatures that can. This optimization of your creature lineup facilitates a smoother and more potent mana curve, getting you to your end game giants faster and more efficiently.

Instant Speed: While the Giant Harbinger operates at sorcery speed, the giant creatures it searches for can often be played at instant speed, thanks to other cards with flash or abilities that enable such play. This opens the door to surprising shifts in the board state, as you may unleash a crushing giant at the end of your opponent’s turn and swing the momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Giant Harbinger requires that you have other Giants in your deck to fully leverage its tutoring ability. Without a hand or deck rich in Giants, its utility diminishes, potentially leaving you in a weaker board position.

Specific Mana Cost: This card needs a unique combination of mana types to cast. One colorless and three specific mana types make it a less flexible addition in multicolor decks that might not always have the exact mana distribution when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to summon, Giant Harbinger has a hefty mana requirement for its search ability. Considering other cards at a similar cost could provide immediate board presence or control, this can be a significant drawback in faster-paced games.

Reasons to Include Giant Harbinger in Your Collection

Versatility: Giant Harbinger offers a flexible role in Giant tribal decks or any build looking to tutor specific creatures. It can search for any Giant card, providing a customizable tool for your deck-building needs.

Combo Potential: By fetching vital combo pieces like “Sunrise Sovereign” or “Thundercloud Shaman,” Giant Harbinger amplifies strategies that rely on Giants. It sets up powerful board state conditions that can dominate the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies prevail, Giant Harbinger ensures consistency. Its ability to assemble key Giants can give players an edge against opponents by continuously presenting significant threats.

How to Beat

Giant Harbinger can be a daunting card to face in MTG due to its ability to tutor a Giant card directly into the player’s library. Its power lies in setting up future plays and fortifying a player’s hand with precisely the kind of giants that could destabilize the board in subsequent turns. However, countering this card is not as formidable a task as it may initially appear.

One of the most effective strategies is to prioritize the removal of the Giant Harbinger from the playfield as soon as it hits the board. Since its power hinges on its library search ability, players can focus on instant-speed removal spells to take it out before its ability resolves. Counter spells are equally valuable to preemptively deny its casting, preventing the search ability from activating in the first place.

An additional method to counter Giant Harbinger is graveyard disruption. By manipulating or exiling key Giant cards from the opponent’s graveyard, one can mitigate the advantage that the Harbinger’s search ability would provide. Disruption tools can also slow down the Harbinger from accelerating the opponent’s board state. By following these tactics, players can weaken the impact of Giant Harbinger and maintain control over the game flow.

Cards like Giant Harbinger

Giant Harbinger brings a unique twist to toolbox strategies in MTG, sharing some common ground with cards designed to search for specific creature types. Cards like Goblin Matron pinpoint a particular tribe, goblins, to add to your hand, streamlining the path to your important pieces. However, Giant Harbinger targets the more overarching category of giants, casting a wider net and enabling you to pick from a larger pool of creatures to complement your game plan.

In terms of comparable utility, Moggcatcher is another creature with a similar function. It allows you to directly put a goblin onto the battlefield, which contrasts with Giant Harbinger’s method of placing a giant on top of your library. While Moggcatcher has the potential for immediate impact, Giant Harbinger sets up your next turn, offering a blend of predictability and card advantage within giant-themed decks.

Fulfilling a role as a linchpin in giant-based synergies, Giant Harbinger’s similarity to tutor cards elevates its strategic value within MTG. Its distinct functionality to sift through your deck for a key creature type makes it a potent piece for players crafting giant-centric strategies.

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

Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions

Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions

Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions

Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions

Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Giant Harbinger MTG card by a specific set like 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 Giant Harbinger and other MTG cards: