Axegrinder Giant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Giant Warrior
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Power	6
Toughness	4
Number	151
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Warren Mahy

Key Takeaways

Axegrinder Giant demands strategy in discarding, impacting late-game hand size and card value.
Red mana requirement limits deck inclusion, though its power can dominate smaller metagame creatures.
Strategize removals or counters against this high mana-cost Giant to maintain control in your MTG matches.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Axegrinder Giant doesn’t directly confer card advantage but its solid body can influence board presence, forcing opponents to use more resources to handle it.

Resource Acceleration: While not impacting mana, Axegrinder Giant can sway combat calculations to your favor, potentially making it a cost-effective solution on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Although it operates at sorcery speed, understanding when to deploy Axegrinder Giant effectively can provide strategic depth to your game, akin to timing instant speed spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Axegrinder Giant demands that you discard another card to capitalize on its abilities. This can backfire, especially in the late game when your hand is depleting and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost necessitates a mix of both generic and red mana, binding it tightly to red-centric or two-color decks, and possibly excluding it from a wider range of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of six mana, the Axegrinder Giant’s summoning cost is on the higher side. In a game where tempo plays a crucial role, there are alternative giants or creatures that offer more impact on the board for the same, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Axegrinder Giant brings a robust presence to the battlefield, suitable for decks that revel in the strength and resilience of Giant tribal themes. Its solid power and toughness make it a worthy addition to any red deck that seeks to apply pressure through formidable creatures.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with equipment or aura spells that enhance its combat capabilities, potentially creating a formidable threat. In decks that manipulate the power of giants, Axegrinder Giant can become even more impactful, working well with cards designed to exploit the presence of large creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where smaller creatures dominate, the sheer size of Axegrinder Giant can serve as an effective deterrent. It remains a competitive choice in certain metagames, capable of overpowering many common threats, and thus, it can play an important role in your red deck’s strategy against such opposition.

How to beat

Axegrinder Giant can be a formidable presence on the battlefield for those delving into the Magic: The Gathering landscape. This red card from the Lorwyn set is known for its power—representing a challenge for many players. Coming with a substantial mana cost, Axegrinder Giant’s strength lies in its ability to deliver significant damage, demanding swift action from opponents.

In countering this mountainous foe, effective strategies include leveraging removal spells that can handle creatures of its size. Options such as Path to Exile or Murder are resource-efficient ways to take the Giant out of play without delay. Additionally, by employing counterspells like Cancel, players can prevent the Giant from ever setting foot on the board.

Defensive measures can also prove valuable, with enchantments like Pacifism limiting the Giant’s capacity to attack, thereby neutering its imminent threat. When it comes to creature combat, chump blocking with expendable tokens or smaller creatures can buy crucial time, though it’s hardly a long-term solution. Ultimately, timely elimination or neutralization of Axegrinder Giant is paramount, ensuring players maintain control of the game and paving their way to victory.

Cards like Axegrinder Giant

The Axegrinder Giant presents a robust choice for decks leaning towards brute strength and straightforward attacking strategies in MTG. It stands alongside creatures like the Rumbling Baloth, which also offers a meaty body for a moderate mana investment. While the Baloth doesn’t require red mana, the Axegrinder Giant’s red affiliation can be beneficial in decks that capitalize on the red color’s aggression and speed.

Comparably, the Spined Wurm is another creature card that often finds its way into green-based decks for its solid stats. Although it lacks the Giant’s red synergies, it brings a similar battlefield presence. Then we find the Hill Giant, a classic card bearing a resemblance in both cost and stats to Axegrinder. They share the same mana cost, but the Axegrinder Giant slightly outshines the Hill Giant in power, giving it an edge in trades and damage potential.

In summary, while there are numerous creatures within the same mana spectrum, Axegrinder Giant carves out its niche with a balance of cost to power ratio, fitting seamlessly into red or multi-colored aggressive decks in MTG for players looking to apply pressure with beefy attackers.

Hill Giant - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

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

Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions

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Ryusei, the Falling Star - Iconic Masters (IMA)

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Kamahl, Pit Fighter - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)

Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Where to buy

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