Gorilla Titan MTG Card


Gorilla Titan - Odyssey
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Ape
Abilities Trample
Released2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameOdyssey
Set codeODY
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number241
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byHeather Hudson

Key Takeaways

  1. Gorilla Titan amplifies board presence by transforming your graveyard into a formidable creature advantage.
  2. Despite its higher casting cost, Gorilla Titan’s massive size relative to mana investment pressurizes opponents.
  3. Its potential influence on the game’s pace shapes opponent strategies and can offer you advantageous openings.

Text of card

Trample Gorilla Titan gets +4/+4 as long as there are no cards in your graveyard.

"I want a banana *this* big!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gorilla Titan thrives in a setup where your graveyard is brimming with creature cards, standing tall as a formidable 8/8 behemoth. This not only provides an impressive board presence but also helps maintain card superiority by effectively turning losses from earlier in the game into a towering advantage on the field.

Resource Acceleration: While Gorilla Titan does not directly produce additional resources, its sheer size relative to its casting cost means investing mana into it can put you significantly ahead on the board. This, in turn, can pressure opponents, forcing them to deal with it and potentially freeing up your other resources to develop your board further.

Instant Speed: Despite Gorilla Titan lacking instant speed itself, its enduring impact as a major threat means that it can influence the pace of the game. Your opponents must always consider the possibility of this gargantuan ape crashing through, influencing their tactical decisions and potentially leaving windows for you to exploit with your own instant speed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gorilla Titan demands that players retain a hefty amount of cards in hand to maximize its potential, which might not always align with your game strategy or the current state of your resources.

Specific Mana Cost: With its necessity for a particular combination of mana, including a significant portion of green, it hinges on a deck’s ability to produce the needed colors, potentially limiting deck-building versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature card, Gorilla Titan’s cost is on the higher end. This could slow down your tempo, as there may be other creatures or spells that provide more value or board presence for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Gorilla Titan in Your Collection

Versatility: Gorilla Titan isn’t simply constrained to green-based creature decks. Its ability to thrive in the face of a graveyard with creature cards makes it a resilient pick for any deck looking to hold the line with formidable creatures.

Combo Potential: This simian powerhouse works wonders in tandem with discard outlets and self-mill strategies, turning your graveyard into fuel for its 4/4 stature. It’s even stronger when combined with effects that populate the graveyard, really letting the Titan’s presence be known on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where creature removal is plentiful, Gorilla Titan maintains relevance. As graveyards often get stocked with creatures in the crossfire, the Titan could become a consistent threat, demanding answers each time it resurfaces.


How to beat Gorilla Titan

Gorilla Titan presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its considerable strength that increases if you find yourself without any cards in hand. This aspect makes it a robust creature that can dominate opponents when left unchecked. A crucial strategy to tackle Gorilla Titan involves maintaining card advantage. By having cards in hand, you reduce the Titan’s impact, making it a less threatening presence.

Removal spells like Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile are classic answers as they bypass the creature’s size by exiling it outright. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can also clear the path, offering a clean slate whatever the opponents’ board state. In a pinch, chump blocking with smaller creatures can buy you crucial turns to find a more permanent solution. It’s essential to manage your resources efficiently and keep pressure with threats of your own to avoid being overrun by the might of the Gorilla Titan.

Ultimately, countering Gorilla Titan’s potential comes down to preparedness and resourcefulness. Armed with the right answers and the knowledge to play them wisely, you stand a good chance against this imposing primate and can keep your game strong in the mightiest of matchups.


Cards like Gorilla Titan

Gorilla Titan takes its place among the roster of formidable creatures in Magic: The Gathering with a twist geared towards decks that cherish the graveyard. It’s akin to cards like Phyrexian Gargantua, which grants you card draw at the expense of life when it enters the battlefield. Gorilla Titan, however, boasts being stronger if there are no cards in your graveyard, pushing players toward different strategic plays.

Another parallel can be drawn with Thorn Elemental, a creature that can deal damage as though it were not blocked. While this ability circumvents potential blockers, Gorilla Titan’s sheer power that scales with graveyard emptiness offers a more consistent threat that doesn’t hinge on being unblocked. Moreover, Lhurgoyf and its kin have power and toughness determined by graveyard contents, inversely rewarding a full graveyard, unlike the Titan’s inclination for an untapped graveyard potential.

Comparing the nuances of these various behemoths allows Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts to tailor their decks to specific strategies, with the Gorilla Titan providing a solid option for those who keep their graveyard as lean as possible or can strategically manage its contents during gameplay.

Phyrexian Gargantua - MTG Card versions
Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Gargantua - Apocalypse (APC)
Thorn Elemental - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Lhurgoyf - Ice Age (ICE)

Cards similar to Gorilla Titan by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gorilla Titan MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Gorilla Titan and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gorilla Titan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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