Stoneshock Giant MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Giant
Abilities Monstrosity
Power 5
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Stoneshock Giant’s Monstrosity ability provides a card advantage by removing blockers and enabling attacks.
  2. Its instant speed activation allows for strategic play, keeping opponents guessing on resource allocation.
  3. While potent, the high red mana cost and risk of discarding limits the Giant’s deck versatility.

Text of card

: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Stoneshock Giant becomes monstrous, creatures without flying your opponents control can't block this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Stoneshock Giant itself does not directly allow you to draw cards, its formidable Monstrosity ability can clear the way for your other creatures to get through and deal damage, potentially leading to an advantage in card economy as your opponents run out of blockers.

Resource Acceleration: Stoneshock Giant doesn’t accelerate your mana resources directly, but by applying pressure on the board, it can shift how your opponent allocates their resources. Forcing your opponent to hold back mana for potential responses can indirectly accelerate your board development relative to theirs.

Instant Speed: Stoneshock Giant’s Monstrosity ability is adaptable to be activated at instant speed since it doesn’t require tapping. This lets you pass your turn with mana available and choose the most opportune moment to turn your giant monstrous, potentially during your opponent’s end step or after they’ve committed to a non-advantageous block.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of the Stoneshock Giant is that activation may force a considerable discard, especially when your hand is key to maintaining board presence or if you’re aiming for card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This giant requires a significant amount of red mana within its casting cost, potentially limiting its versatility in decks that are not predominantly red or those that strive for a balanced mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Stoneshock Giant has a robust mana cost for its monstrous ability. There are times when investing such a substantial quantity of mana may not align with your game state, considering other creatures or spells could execute similar roles for less.


Reasons to Include Stoneshock Giant in Your Collection

Versatility: Stoneshock Giant provides flexibility to your deck. Its ability to become monstrous adds a late-game threat that can turn the tide in your favor, while its potential to cause all of your creatures to avoid being blocked that turn prepares the way for a deciding alpha strike.

Combo Potential: When Stoneshock Giant becomes monstrous, it enables combinations with cards that benefit from an increased number of attackers or those that capitalize on creature tap abilities. This synergy can amplify the impact of your assault, catching an opponent unprepared.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where board stalls are common, Stoneshock Giant can break through defensive lines. Its strategic fit in the current meta can be crucial in games where delivering direct damage is necessary for victory.


How to beat

Stoneshock Giant poses a towering threat on the battlefield, stretching the limits of one’s defenses with its formidable monstrosity ability. Often, it’s the sheer size and the potential of an unblockable attack that can tilt a game in favor of your opponent in MTG. To successfully navigate through this mountainous challenge, the key lies in timing and control strategies. Countermeasures such as instant-speed removal can dismantle the Giant before it magnifies its threat level, ensuring it never reaches the monstrous status. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade are excellent choices to stymie the Giant’s colossal ambitions early on.

Another effective tactic is to employ creatures with reach or flying to maintain a strong line of defense in the skies. So when the Giant does become monstrous and declares an attack that cannot be blocked except by walls, you’ll have peace of mind knowing the skies are protected. Furthermore, enchantments that neutralize abilities, like Pacifism, can render the Giant a mere spectator on the field, stripped of its power to crush your defenses. Keeping these strategies up your sleeve equips you to stand tall against the Stoneshock Giant, and others like him, in your MTG duels.


Cards like Stoneshock Giant

Stoneshock Giant illustrates the diversity of creature abilities within MTG, standing out as a formidable presence on the battlefield. In comparison to other creatures that boast the monstrosity ability, such as Polukranos, World Eater, Stoneshock Giant not only becomes larger but also imposes a tactical advantage by preventing opponents from blocking with their creatures.

Viewing the wider landscape, Ember Swallower offers a similar monstrosity mechanic, but instead focuses on resource denial by forcing each player to sacrifice three lands. While both giants can escalate their power, Stoneshock Giant’s potential to swing games with its unique ability to clear the way for a turn of unblockable attacks sets it apart.

Another comparative card is Cyclone Summoner which, rather than enhancing itself, resets the board by returning all non-Giants to their owners’ hands. The tactical shift here is palpable – where Stoneshock Giant disrupts combat, Cyclone Summoner disrupts board presence. Both cards pivot the momentum, yet Stoneshock Giant does so by enhancing its threat on the board.

In essence, Stoneshock Giant holds a special niche amongst MTG creatures, particularly for strategies that capitalize on open combat phases and direct damage to opponents.

Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions
Ember Swallower - MTG Card versions
Cyclone Summoner - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, World Eater - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Ember Swallower - Theros Promos (PTHS)
Cyclone Summoner - Resale Promos (PRES)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stoneshock Giant MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Commander 2015, 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 Stoneshock Giant and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Stoneshock Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 1422003normalblackLars Grant-West
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1652015normalblackLars Grant-West
32016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1692015normalblackLars Grant-West
42018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1202015normalblackLars Grant-West

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stoneshock Giant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-09-15 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
2013-09-15 If blockers have already been declared when Stoneshock Giant's last ability resolves, those blocks won't change or become undone.
2013-09-15 Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
2013-09-15 Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.
2013-09-15 Your opponents can't assign any creature without flying to block that turn, even if that creature had flying or wasn't on the battlefield under one of your opponent's control when Stoneshock Giant's ability resolved.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks