Towering Baloth MTG Card


Imposing size offers card advantage as opponents may expend multiple resources to contend with it. Presence on the board can accelerate resource gain and shift opponents’ strategic focus. Demands strategy around discard and mana, but offers versatility and combo potential in green decks.
Towering Baloth - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Abilities Morph
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Power 7
Toughness 6
Number292
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byArnie Swekel

Text of card

Morph o6o G (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for o3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

The Mirari twisted all that lived in the Krosan Forest into gross mockeries of their former selves.


Understanding Towering Baloth

Within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, the Towering Baloth stands tall. This green beast with its sizable stats highlights the raw power and the potential to overpower opponents in the late game. Like many green creatures, it emphasizes strength and size to dominate the battlefield.

Cards like Towering Baloth

Towering Baloth operates in the same domain as other hefty creatures found throughout MTG’s vast array of cards. Take, for instance, the Leatherback Baloth, a card that boasts a formidable presence on the board with no additional mana investment after its casting cost. The Towering Baloth, however, outmatches in power, though it comes with a higher mana requirement.

There’s also Ghor-Clan Rampager, which provides a significant power boost and trample to another creature while itself being a sizeable body. Yet, unlike our Towering friend, it can be used in a pinch as a combat trick, offering versatility in contrast to the latter’s straightforward brawn.

Analyzing the capabilities and utility of these creatures shows that while Towering Baloth may require more resources, its sheer size can be worth the investment, especially in a deck built around exploiting such gargantuan creatures.

Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ghor-Clan Rampager - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ghor-Clan Rampager - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Towering Baloth by color, type and mana cost

Scaled Wurm - MTG Card versions
Crash of Rhinos - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Deathcoil Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Might - MTG Card versions
Tunneler Wurm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Heart of Krosa - MTG Card versions
Skarrg Goliath - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Towering Might - MTG Card versions
Living Hive - MTG Card versions
Thousand-legged Kami - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Kong - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Orochi - MTG Card versions
End-Raze Forerunners - MTG Card versions
Terastodon - MTG Card versions
Walker of the Grove - MTG Card versions
Woodfall Primus - MTG Card versions
Wolf Pack - MTG Card versions
Gigantomancer - MTG Card versions
Khalni Hydra - MTG Card versions
Scaled Wurm - MTG Card versions
Crash of Rhinos - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Deathcoil Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Might - MTG Card versions
Tunneler Wurm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Heart of Krosa - MTG Card versions
Skarrg Goliath - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Towering Might - MTG Card versions
Living Hive - MTG Card versions
Thousand-legged Kami - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Kong - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Orochi - MTG Card versions
End-Raze Forerunners - MTG Card versions
Terastodon - MTG Card versions
Walker of the Grove - MTG Card versions
Woodfall Primus - MTG Card versions
Wolf Pack - MTG Card versions
Gigantomancer - MTG Card versions
Khalni Hydra - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

When it comes to Towering Baloth, MTG players can tap into several strategic advantages that can swing the game in their favor. Let’s break down how this card interacts with key gameplay mechanics:

Card Advantage: Towering Baloth’s sheer size makes it a threat that demands an answer. In defending against it, opponents may need to use multiple cards, thus providing you with a potential card advantage as they deplete valuable resources.

Resource Acceleration: Through various deck mechanics, getting a creature like Towering Baloth onto the battlefield could lead to resource acceleration. While the Baloth itself might not directly contribute mana, its presence can shift focus and enable other cards in your deck to ramp up your resources unfettered.

Instant Speed: Although Towering Baloth doesn’t operate at instant speed, its effect on the board can be profound enough to force opponents to play their own instants and removal spells prematurely. This indirect pressure can work to your benefit, as you dictate the pace of the game and force reactions on your terms.

While Towering Baloth might not directly exemplify these characteristics, the strategic implications of playing such a card can certainly leverage these areas of gameplay in MTG. Players would do well to consider how it can fit into a strategy that maximizes card advantage, resource acceleration, and the strategic use of instant speed spells.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Towering Baloth demands the player to discard a card to unlock some of its capabilities. This requirement can put players at a disadvantage, especially when their hand is already depleted or when every card in the hand is crucial for the gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Towering Baloth’s mana cost is tailored to green mana-intensive decks, which could be restrictive. Players running multi-color decks or those with a mana base that cannot reliably produce the necessary amount of green mana may find it challenging to cast this creature consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a considerable mana value required to summon Towering Baloth, it competes for a spot with other high-impact creatures and spells in its mana range. Players may opt for alternatives that offer either more immediate board presence or have lower mana requirements, thereby providing greater flexibility and efficiency throughout the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Towering Baloth can serve as a formidable threat in a variety of deck builds. Its substantial body makes it an excellent blocker while also posing a threat that must be answered by opponents.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that allow you to manipulate the top of your deck or increase creature power, Towering Baloth can become a key component in a powerful synergy, potentially leading to quick and overwhelming victories.

Meta-Relevance: With the current trend towards creature-heavy strategies and board presence, Towering Baloth holds its ground as a valuable asset. It can dominate the battlefield and turn the tides of a match, especially in a meta that favors a strong creature game.


How to beat

Towering Baloth is an imposing creature card that can dominate the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its formidable presence, underscored by its high power and toughness, demands a strategy to overcome it. To tackle this beast, players should consider utilising removal spells that can bypass its sheer bulk. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder are efficient tools that can swiftly deal with the Baloth without getting caught in a drawn-out confrontation.

Control decks that can counter creatures or manipulate the board state also have an edge. Employing a card like Essence Scatter when Towering Baloth is cast prevents it from ever posing a threat on the battlefield. For those who prefer a more subtle approach, enchantments like Pacifism or more comprehensive solutions such as Board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God will nullify the Baloth’s advantages by either restricting its ability to attack or by resetting the board entirely.

In sum, while Towering Baloth has the potential to be a game-changer, its weaknesses can be exploited with the right combination of removal, control, and board management. Understanding these strategies is key to claiming victory over this massive creature.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Towering Baloth MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Towering Baloth and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Towering Baloth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal