Ondu Giant MTG Card

Ondu Giant secures card advantage by fetching a land directly to the battlefield, boosting mana resources. Despite a restrictive mana cost, its ability to accelerate resources makes it a valuable addition to green decks. Countermeasures against Ondu Giant include instant-speed removal or spell counters to prevent its dual function.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Giant Druid
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Ondu Giant enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.

Some druids nurture gardens. Others nurture continents.

Cards like Ondu Giant

Ondu Giant is an intriguing creature card in the expansive world of Magic: The Gathering. Its most obvious comparison is with other cards that also provide land ramp when they enter the battlefield. Solemn Simulacrum, affectionately known as Sad Robot among fans, is a notable example. While it has a similar land-fetching ability upon entering the battlefield, Solemn Simulacrum also draws you a card when it leaves the battlefield.

Another parallel can be drawn with Wood Elves, which is a more cost-efficient creature that fetches a Forest card upon entry. Although it doesn’t have the power and toughness of Ondu Giant, the cheaper mana cost makes Wood Elves a compelling option for quickly fixing your mana. Furthermore, Farhaven Elf also shares a resemblance, with both the Elf and the Giant fetching a basic land, though Farhaven Elf is slightly less powerful in combat scenarios.

When comparing these options, Ondu Giant holds its own, standing out with its sturdy body that can have a presence on the battlefield. For MTG players looking for a mix of land ramp and board impact, Ondu Giant provides a balanced blend of both. Its similarities to other creature-based ramp spells make it a card worth considering in land-centric decks.

Solemn Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - MTG Card versions
Farhaven Elf - MTG Card versions
Solemn Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - MTG Card versions
Farhaven Elf - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ondu Giant is a boon for MTG players keen on enhancing their card advantage. When the Giant enters the battlefield, it allows you to search your library for a basic land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. This ability ensures that you not only receive an impressive creature but also smoothly increase your land count for future turns.

Resource Acceleration: By fetching an additional land with the Ondu Giant, you are effectively accelerating your resource pool. This is invaluable as it opens the door for casting higher-cost spells earlier in the game than you normally could, giving you a significant edge over your opponent in the resource race.

Instant Speed: While the Ondu Giant does not operate at instant speed, its land search effect resembles that of an instant in its ability to immediately impact the game when it enters the battlefield. This form of ‘land ramp’ ensures that you’re not left vulnerable after casting it, setting the stage for powerful follow-up turns.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Ondu Giant demands a definitive mana combination to be played. Needing one Forest and three additional mana of any type means it’s tailored for decks that can reliably produce green mana, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging four mana for a creature could be considered steep by some standards, especially given that Ondu Giant’s primary role is to search for a basic land. Although it helps with land ramp, its stats are somewhat underwhelming in comparison to other four-mana creatures which might provide a greater immediate impact on the board state.

Discard Requirement: While Ondu Giant itself doesn’t necessitate a discard, its higher mana cost might force players to discard other cards early in the game if they lack sufficient mana acceleration. This potential for resource sacrifice could make it a less appealing choice for aggressive decks or those that want to maintain card advantage.

Reasons to Include Ondu Giant in Your Collection

Versatility: Ondu Giant’s ability to search for a land card upon entering the battlefield makes it adaptable across various deck archetypes that prioritize landfall mechanics or mana ramp.

Combo Potential: This four-mana creature pairs well with land-triggered abilities, setting the stage for powerful plays with cards that benefit every time a land enters under your control.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state favoring longer, grindy matches, the additional land Ondu Giant brings to play bolsters your land drops and keeps your deck running smoothly amidst resource denial strategies.

How to beat

Ondu Giant presents a unique challenge in MTG matches, performing two vital functions: ramp and board presence. This creature, upon entering the battlefield, allows its controller to search their library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. This accelerates mana availability, which can be a crucial advantage. To effectively counter Ondu Giant, you’ll want to adopt strategies that remove it from play before that land-fetching ability triggers. Therefore, instant-speed removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, are highly valuable against it.

Another tactic involves countering the spell entirely. A well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Ondu Giant from ever entering the battlefield, thus negating both the creature and the land search ability. Alternatively, employing land destruction or mana disruption strategies can minimize the impact of the Giant’s land search since the controller will have fewer opportunities to use that extra land efficiently.

In essence, handling Ondu Giant requires preemptive measures or quick responses. Successfully doing so can stifle an opponent’s strategy, particularly if they rely heavily on the giant’s land ramp ability. Keep these strategies in mind, and you’ll be well-positioned to take down this colossal adversary.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ondu Giant MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Planechase 2012, 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 Ondu Giant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ondu Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 2022003NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
22012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 712003NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
32015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 192015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
42016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 712015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 12832015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
62020-09-26The ListPLST PCA-712015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
72022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6982015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ondu Giant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal