Skyraker Giant MTG Card

Skyraker Giant provides card advantage through its reach ability, adeptly defending against flyers while maintaining your hand. The four mana 4/3 creature offers early game board presence and can influence instant-speed spell use by opponents. Despite its strengths, the Giant’s specific mana requirements and discard cost can limit its versatility in some decks.

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 162

Skyraker Giant - Commander Legends (CMR)

Commander Legends (CMR)
2020-11-20 - Number 199

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant
Abilities	Reach
Power	4
Toughness	3

Text of card

Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)

She will not be content until hers is the highest head in the sky.

Cards like Skyraker Giant

The Skyraker Giant is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that finds its niche among red’s giants and beaters. It draws parallels with other giant types such as the Thundercloud Shaman, which also plays well in a Giant tribal deck while offering a broad sweep effect that can clear several creatures off the board at once. While the Thundercloud Shaman excels in control and board clear capabilities, the Skyraker Giant stands out with its reach ability, allowing it to defensively pick off flying creatures that other ground-based giants can’t touch.

Examining Embermaw Hellion reveals a different angle of comparison. Although the Hellion doesn’t have reach, it amplifies red’s damage output, increasing the damage done by any red source. The Hellion’s ability complements the aggressive nature of red creature decks, yet the Skyraker Giant still asserts its unique defensive edge.

From a broader perspective, when evaluating potential inclusions in a red deck, Skyraker Giant maintains a definitive place. Its key feature of reach, coupled with formidable power, grants the card a solid standing in strategies where controlling the skies is as crucial as commanding the ground.

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

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skyraker Giant comes equipped with reach, allowing it to serve as both a formidable defender and an efficient blocker against flying creatures. This provides a tactical edge, enabling you to maintain card parity by eliminating opposing threats without sacrificing your own.

Resource Acceleration: At four mana for a 4/3 body, Skyraker Giant aligns well with a curve that seeks to advance your board state rapidly. It strengthens your position earlier in the match, potentially pacing the game in your favor while preserving resources for later plays.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Skyraker Giant can significantly interact with spells cast at instant speed. Its robust stature can deter opponents from committing to instant-speed fliers during combat, influencing the flow of the game even when it’s not your turn. This reactive potential should be factored into strategic planning as it can impact the choices and timing of your opponent’s instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Skyraker Giant comes with a stipulation that could be a setback for many decks. This card requires a player to discard a card to utilize certain abilities. If your hand is already depleted, this cost can be significantly detrimental, hindering your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Skyraker Giant demands specific mana types which can complicate its integration into a deck. This Giant requires a precise combination of mana that may not be readily available in multi-color decks, effectively narrowing its utility to red-centric builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Giant certainly offers a substantial presence on the battlefield, its mana cost is on the higher end. Other creatures or spells available might provide a better cost-to-benefit ratio, making the Skyraker Giant a less appealing option when constructing a mana-efficient deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyraker Giant is a robust inclusion for any red-based deck looking to enhance its defense while maintaining offensive pressure. Its ability to reach flying creatures makes it a versatile defender as well as a formidable threat in its own right.

Combo Potential: For enthusiasts of giant tribal or multicolor synergies, the Giant amplifies these tactics. It can be a linchpin in strategies aiming to utilize giants or activate abilities that benefit from having a fearsome creature like Skyraker Giant on the board.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment heavy with flying creatures, Skyraker Giant can be a game-changer. Its ability to address aerial threats while providing a solid ground presence makes it a card to consider for maintaining relevance against a diverse range of decks.

How to beat

Dealing with Skyraker Giant in your MTG matchup means understanding how to neutralize its airborne dominance. As a 4/3 flyer, it presents a solid challenge, especially if the game enters the mid to late stages. One effective strategy is to employ instant-speed removal spells, such as Murder or Hero’s Downfall, which can dispatch the Giant before it starts racking up damage. Enchantment-based removal like Pacifism also renders it harmless without triggering abilities that activate upon death.

Another approach is using creatures with reach or other flyers for blocking. The Giant does not possess any evasion outside of flying, meaning that any creature with reach can potentially defend against it. Moreover, look towards spells that can neutralize the Giant’s advantages, like Plummet, specifically designed to take down flying threats. If your deck is slanted toward counterplay, a well-timed Counterspell or Negate can prevent the Giant from hitting the board in the first place.

Ultimately, while the Skyraker Giant can be formidable, there are numerous strategies to manage it effectively. Staying aware of the options in your deck and the right timing to deploy them is key in ensuring that the Giant doesn’t overshadow your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyraker Giant MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Commander Legends, 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 Skyraker Giant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skyraker Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI		162	2015	Normal	Black	Anastasia Ovchinnikova
2	2020-11-20	Commander Legends	CMR		199	2015	Normal	Black	Anastasia Ovchinnikova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skyraker Giant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal