Giantbaiting MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Conspire

Key Takeaways

  1. Giantbaiting’s token creation can swing games, making it a formidable power play.
  2. It requires sacrificing board presence, vigilant mana base management, and higher costs.
  3. In token-centric strategies, Giantbaiting finds its niche, enhancing combo potential.

Text of card

Put a 4/4 red and green Giant Warrior creature token with haste into play. Remove it from the game at end of turn. Conspire (As you play this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Giantbaiting can provide a significant power spike by creating a large token creature, capable of overwhelming your opponent. This can shift the momentum of the game in your favor, without sacrificing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: One of the key benefits of Giantbaiting is its ability to utilize creatures that have already tapped for mana or other abilities on your turn. By converging resources you’ve already used, you get additional value out of your creatures, effectively acting as a form of resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Although Giantbaiting operates at sorcery speed, it pairs exceptionally well with instant-speed card interactions. It can turn a reactive playstyle into a proactive threat, as your opponents must always account for the sudden appearance of a potentially game-ending token when you have open mana and Giantbaiting in your deck.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Giantbaiting asks players to commit two creatures to cast it, meaning you’re sacrificing board presence which can be pivotal if you’re already behind.

Specific Mana Cost: As a hybrid red/green spell, it demands a strict mana base that not all decks can support, restricting its play to specific archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, including both red and green, can be steep for the effect, especially when there are alternative cards that generate tokens or provide combat buffs at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Giantbaiting in Your Collection

Versatility: Giantbaiting offers a unique avenue for aggression in decks that capitalize on token generation. Its ability to turn a swarm of small creatures into a massive attacker can swing games in your favor out of nowhere.

Combo Potential: Deck builders can find clever ways to make Giantbaiting a key piece in combo strategies. It pairs well with cards that double token production or those that grant additional combat phases, leading to potentially game-ending turns.

Meta-Relevance: In a game space often dominated by creature-based strategies, Giantbaiting stands as a potent option to challenge stalling tactics. It can swiftly change the tables, especially in formats where tokens are a prevalent theme.


How to beat

Giantbaiting presents an entirely unique challenge when facing it in Magic: The Gathering. This sorcery card can explosively amp up the power on the board if left unchecked, thanks to its ability to create a massive token creature that could turn the tides of battle. The key to overcoming this threat is to focus on removal spells or abilities that can deal with the token before it gets a chance to attack. Control decks, in particular, can keep Giantbaiting at bay with counterspells or destroy spells aimed at nipping the potentially devastating attack in the bud.

Spot removal is particularly effective right after the token is created but before it has a chance to swing in for damage. It’s also vital to keep pressure on the Giantbaiting player’s mana resources, to prevent them from deploying this game-changer. Board wipes can clean up not only the token created by Giantbaiting but also any other creatures that are amassing on the opponent’s side of the field. Being proactive and keeping the board clear are your best bets in ensuring that Giantbaiting doesn’t catch you off guard.

Utilizing instant-speed interaction ensures that even if your opponent manages to resolve Giantbaiting, you’ll be ready to respond before the colossal token has an opportunity to crash in and do serious damage. Keep these strategies in mind and Giantbaiting won’t be such an insurmountable foe.


Cards like Giantbaiting

Giantbaiting stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique card combining creature creation and the ability to swarm opponents. Akin in effect to cards like Krenko’s Command, which also produces tokens, Giantbaiting allows players to create a temporary but powerful creature that can be a significant threat. Unlike Krenko’s Command, which leaves behind two 1/1 goblin tokens, the token created by Giantbaiting is ephemeral, yet it boasts a substantial attack power boost with the potential for an immediate and aggressive impact.

Another card that shares some similarities is Goblin Offensive. It creates multiple 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens, essentially populating the field with numerous small threats. While Giantbaiting’s token might be more potent on its own, Goblin Offensive can lead to a wider field presence over time. Siege-Gang Commander offers a comparable token generation with an added direct damage ability, offering both a broader strategy and more versatility compared to Giantbaiting’s single-target, direct approach.

Ultimately, while Giantbaiting offers an aggressive play with its large temporary token, its Magic: The Gathering peers like Krenko’s Command, Goblin Offensive, and Siege-Gang Commander provide different forms of value, from long-term board presence to utilitarian damage output, showcasing the diverse strategies available to token-centric decks.

Krenko's Command - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Siege-Gang Commander - MTG Card versions
Krenko's Command - Magic 2013 (M13)
Goblin Offensive - Urza's Saga (USG)
Siege-Gang Commander - Scourge (SCG)

Cards similar to Giantbaiting by color, type and mana cost

Dire-Strain Rampage - MTG Card versions
Firespout - MTG Card versions
Heaven // Earth - MTG Card versions
Savage Smash - MTG Card versions
Road // Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wreck and Rebuild - MTG Card versions
Dire-Strain Rampage - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Firespout - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Heaven // Earth - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Savage Smash - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Road // Ruin - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Wreck and Rebuild - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Giantbaiting MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Giantbaiting and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Giantbaiting Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Trevor Hairsine.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 2072003normalblackTrevor Hairsine
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2082015normalblackTrevor Hairsine
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15232015normalblackTrevor Hairsine
42020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-2082015normalblackTrevor Hairsine

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Giantbaiting has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-03-14 The delayed triggered ability that exiles the token isn’t a characteristic of the token. If an effect such as populate copies the token, the new token won’t be exiled.

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