Cinder Giant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Power	5
Toughness	3
Number	93
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Rogério Vilela

Key Takeaways

Cinder Giant offers board control by threatening to damage all creatures each turn, setting back opponents.
The card requires strategic hand management due to its upkeep cost of discarding a red card.
It shines in red-centric decks and meta where recurring damage impacts the game significantly.

Text of card

During your upkeep, Cinder Giant deals 2 damage to each other creature you control.

"The giant wept tears of embers for the deaths of his allies." —Azeworai, "The Lonely Giant"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Cinder Giant might not directly net you additional cards in hand, its ability to potentially clear multiple creatures off the board can indirectly lead to a card advantage state. By removing smaller blockers or threats, you maintain your own creatures and spells for future turns, keeping your hand and board full while depleting your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Cinder Giant itself does not accelerate your mana resources directly, but by threatening to remove numerous creatures, it can slow down your opponent’s development, giving you an effective time advantage. This indirect resource acceleration can be critical in outpacing your opponent’s strategy.

Instant Speed: While the Giant’s ability triggers automatically at the beginning of each upkeep, the fact that it operates at this speed means it affects the board each turn cycle without using the mana that could be reserved for other spells. This persistent threat can force your opponent to play more cautiously, often to your advantage as they may need to hold back creatures or play spells suboptimally.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cinder Giant’s upkeep cost necessitates the discard of a red card, creating potential setbacks in your hand economy. Depleting your hand of valuable cards each turn can impede your game plan and leave you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes double red mana, Cinder Giant may struggle to find a place in multicolored decks. This limits its versatility and can disrupt your mana curve if your deck isn’t heavily red-oriented.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of four mana to get Cinder Giant on the battlefield, it competes with other 4-drop creatures and spells that may provide more immediate impact or value to your game strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cinder Giant adds value to decks that capitalize on manipulating damage and board states. Its ability to deal damage to all creatures ensures that it can be a game-changer in wiping out multiple smaller threats simultaneously.

Combo Potential: With its consistent damage output, Cinder Giant pairs well with effects that prevent or redirect damage. Utilize this card in combinations that turn its drawback into an advantage, perhaps by redirecting damage to opponents or their creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based aggro decks are common, Cinder Giant can serve as a reliable deterrent. Its presence on the battlefield might influence opponents’ decisions, affecting the pace and flow of the match in your favor.

How to Beat

Cinder Giant, while being a considerable threat on the battlefield with its significant power, comes with its own set of limitations. This creature can swing games if left unchecked due to its high damage output, but it also damages your own creatures. Hence, the key to countering Cinder Giant lies in capitalizing on its self-damaging trait.

One effective strategy is to use damage mitigation cards or those that prevent damage altogether. This turns the giant’s drawback into an advantage for you. Additionally, cards that can tap creatures or force them to attack each turn can ensure that the giant deals damage to your opponent’s creatures as well, potentially clearing their board.

Removal spells are also a good approach as Cinder Giant’s four toughness makes it vulnerable to a range of common removal spells. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can deal with it efficiently. Finally, enchantments that pacify or inhibit creature abilities can render Cinder Giant a non-threat, allowing you to focus on your game plan while it remains a dormant force on the field.

Cards like Cinder Giant

Cinder Giant stands out in MTG as a creature with a powerful area effect, damaging all creatures on every turn once activated. It bears resemblance to cards such as Pyroclasm and Volcanic Fallout, which are both known for their ability to deal damage across the board. However, Cinder Giant offers a repeating effect across multiple turns, whereas Pyroclasm and Volcanic Fallout are one-time events, geared towards quickly clearing the board.

Another card echoing the abilities of Cinder Giant is Rolling Earthquake, which can equally be a game-changer due to its potential for heavy, widespread damage. Rolling Earthquake requires a high mana investment for maximum impact, similar to how Cinder Giant necessitates a continuous investment to keep the damage flowing. Unlike Cinder Giant’s focus on creatures, Rolling Earthquake also hits players, raising the stakes and its versatility in gameplay.

Therefore, when the situation calls for a repetitive threat, MTG players often turn to the distinctive prowess of Cinder Giant. While other cards may excel in speed or broader damage, Cinder Giant carves its niche in the realm of persistent, creature-focused damage sources. Its unique standing in MTG is affirmed by its ability to shape the battlefield turn by turn.

Cards similar to Cinder 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 Cinder Giant MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Cinder Giant and other MTG cards: