Rotting Giant MTG Card

Rotting Giant utilizes the graveyard, accelerating your game by casting it earlier than its mana cost suggests. Discarding for attacks can be a downside, making deck compatibility and strategy vital for its inclusion. Versatile and meta-relevant, Rotting Giant fits well in graveyard-centric decks and aggressive playstyles.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zombie Giant
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	158
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Text of card

Whenever Rotting Giant attacks or blocks, sacrifice it unless you remove a card in your graveyard from the game.

Wracked with rot, it wrecks and ruins.

Cards like Rotting Giant

Within the vast array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Rotting Giant stands out for its synergistic potential in zombie decks. It bears resemblance to other undead brethren like Shambling Ghoul, which enters the battlefield tapped but doesn’t require further self-sacrifice for attacking. Alternatively, Rotting Regisaur looms large in this category, bringing unprecedented power to the board at the expense of discarding a card every turn, a more predictable drawback compared to Rotting Giant’s potentially self-destructive combat trigger.

Looking closer at comparable mechanics, we can’t overlook Highborn Ghoul. Although it features a lesser attack power, it compensates with menace, ensuring a more consistent damage output without the risk of self-milling like Rotting Giant possesses. Furthermore, the connection with Diregraf Ghoul is evident; it’s a one-drop zombie that offers great early-game presence but without the latent risk that comes with our Rotting Giant’s attack clause.

Assessing these cards within the zombie archetype highlights Rotting Giant’s unique balance of risk and reward. It allows for strategic depth in gameplay, appealing to those willing to gamble with their graveyard for a more aggressive board stance.

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

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Rotting Giant grants you the capability to delve into your graveyard, turning any dead cards into a vital part of your strategy. By utilizing the graveyard as a resource, you effectively maintain card parity while establishing a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This undead behemoth can hit the board sooner than expected, thanks to its built-in mechanics that assist in casting it ahead of schedule. This acceleration propels you into a powerful position, allowing you to exert pressure on your opponents early in the game.

Instant Speed: Though the Rotting Giant itself may not operate at instant speed, its synergies with various instant-speed interactions in your deck are noteworthy. Whether it’s restocking the graveyard with end-of-turn effects or enabling surprise blocks by reanimating at the last second, it interplays intricately with the dynamic pace of MTG.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rotting Giant demands a regular discard to unleash its attack, a condition that could impose a heavy toll on your hand, particularly in decks where card retention is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: With its black mana cost, the Rotting Giant may not synergize well with decks that splash multiple colors, potentially hindering its inclusion in diverse mana base strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its cost demands two mana, which might seem reasonable, but when you consider the discard requirement for activation, there might be more effective creatures available that provide immediate impact without additional costs.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rotting Giant offers an early game presence that can adapt to various deck styles, serving well in aggressive strategies that aim to put pressure on the opponent from the onset.

Combo Potential: This card’s self-mill mechanic enhances graveyard-based strategies and can synergize with decks that capitalize on having a high creature count in the graveyard for delve, threshold, or to initiate powerful graveyard-to-play mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard interaction is key, Rotting Giant fits right in. It acts as a sturdy blocker that can come back from the graveyard, making it a persistent threat that aligns well with recurring themes and mechanics in the current game environment.

How to beat

Rotting Giant is a card that poses a unique challenge in the battlefield. Unlike some creatures that are straightforward to handle, Rotting Giant has certain characteristics that demand a strategic approach. The key to overcoming this card is to focus on its downside—the need for its controller to exile a card from their graveyard to attack or block. Without fuel for its ability, it becomes a liability to the player who controls it.

Direct removal spells are an excellent way to deal with Rotting Giant. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile bypass the graveyard altogether, preventing it from becoming a recurring threat. Alternatively, graveyard disruption is also effective. By using cards such as Leyline of the Void or Relic of Progenitus, you can keep your opponent’s graveyard sparse, rendering the Rotting Giant inactive. Another tactic is to take advantage of its forced tap by striking with evasive or high-priority threats that your opponent must address, thus making the cost of tapping the Rotting Giant too high to pay.

Mastering these strategies not only helps you tackle the Rotting Giant but also enhances your overall gameplay. Clever manipulation of your opponent’s resources and timing your removal can pave the way to victory against this formidable creature.

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rotting Giant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal