Flowstone Giant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Giant
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	174
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Joel Biske

Key Takeaways

Offers battlefield presence and can lead to advantageous two-for-one scenarios against opponents.
Its power boost ability is versatile, enabling unexpected combat plays and strategic blocks.
Despite its strengths, it requires careful handling due to its discard cost and specific mana needs.

Text of card

o R: Flowstone Giant gets +2/-2 until end of turn.

When the first of these giants woke from the bedrock, he was still sleepy. He yawned and stretched until his legs grew so thin that they snapped like icicles in the sun. —Vec lore

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Flowstone Giant stands out in a deck by offering a substantial presence on the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly provide card draw, its formidable stature demands an answer from opponents, often leading to a two-for-one scenario where they have to use multiple resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: This red behemoth doesn’t inherently accelerate your resources, but it has synergies with cards that reward you for playing creatures with high power or for sacrificing creatures. It can be a catalyst in those decks that gain value from such mechanics, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Though Flowstone Giant itself isn’t an instant, its activated ability to increase its power can be used at instant speed. This flexibility allows for strategic combat tricks, bluffing potential during the attack phase, or surprise blocks, potentially upsetting your opponent’s calculations during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Flowstone Giant demands a significant commitment, not just in mana but also in card advantage. To activate its ability to temporarily increase its power, you need to pitch another card from your hand. In a game where each card is a resource, having to discard can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Flowstone Giant requires both colorless and red mana to cast, meaning it fits primarily in red-centric or two-color decks that can reliably produce the required mana. Its specific cost can hinder deck flexibility, making it less appealing for decks that are not dedicated to the mountain’s mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three colorless and one red mana, Flowstone Giant is a substantial investment, particularly when there are other creatures or spells at a similar or lower mana cost that could potentially offer a better return on investment. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, the high casting cost of the Flowstone Giant can be a considerable drawback.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flowstone Giant may not be the flashiest card, but its ability to switch from offense to defense makes it a flexible addition to any red deck. It adapts to various board states, enabling it to be a threat or a blocker as needed.

Combo Potential: Players looking to explore underutilized combos will appreciate Flowstone Giant’s potential to become a key component in decks that capitalize on creature size alterations or damage triggers.

Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in current metagames, Flowstone Giant can catch opponents by surprise in casual play, making it a fun and unexpected play that can shift the momentum in your favor.

How to beat Flowstone Giant

Flowstone Giant may present itself as a formidable threat on the battlefield with its potential for a temporary power boost. However, players have a variety of tactics to neutralize this creature. A strategic way is through spot removal spells that can take it down regardless of its size, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, which can swiftly remove it from play without triggering its potential power increase.

Another effective method is to utilize control cards like Counterspell to prevent Flowstone Giant from ever hitting the board. This preemptive approach can stifle an opponent’s plans and save resources. Moreover, given that the Giant’s power-up is a temporary ability, playing creatures with greater baseline stats can also overshadow its temporary boosts, making a head-on defeat a viable strategy as well. For a long-term advantage, cards granting permanent buffs to your creatures can easily outmatch the Giant’s fleeting prowess.

Employing these strategies can help ensure that Flowstone Giant becomes a manageable obstacle rather than an unstoppable force. Magic players who anticipate and prepare for such encounters will find themselves at a significant advantage.

Cards like Flowstone Giant

Flowstone Giant is an intriguing creature card that finds its place in the realm of red beaters in Magic: The Gathering. A card worth comparing to Flowstone Giant is Raging Goblin, which also boasts the red attribute, but offers haste instead of the trample ability. Unlike Flowstone Giant, Raging Goblin has a lower power statistic but its haste allows for immediate combat engagement.

Another card to consider is Balduvian Barbarians, a card with identical casting cost but without the flexible power adjustment that Flowstone Giant provides. Balduvian Barbarians is a static 3/2, but Flowstone Giant’s ability to grow stronger, albeit temporarily, gives it an edge in overcoming larger defenders. There’s also the card Avarax, a relative to the Flowstone Giant, offering a repeatability factor by allowing you to search for another copy upon entering the battlefield, yet it lacks the instantaneous power boost.

Assessing these cards alongside Flowstone Giant, one finds that the trade-off between power flexibility, board impact, and other abilities like haste or recurring card advantage are vital in deck building decisions. Flowstone Giant stands out with its power boosting ability, offering strategic value for players looking to surprise their opponents with sudden increases in creature strength.

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

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

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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