Hill Giant MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 24 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Giant
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers strategic board presence through its substantial size, affecting game tempo without direct abilities.
  2. Works as a budget-friendly creature that suits red deck strategies, complementing cards that reward strength.
  3. While lacking in abilities, its nostalgic charm and cost-effectiveness make it relevant in casual play.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hill Giant may not draw cards directly, the benefit of having a sizable creature can lead to advantageous board states. By presenting a substantial threat, it can indirectly contribute to card advantage through the sheer presence of a formidable creature on the field.

Resource Acceleration: Despite Hill Giant not offering traditional resource acceleration like mana ramping or treasure generation, its relatively low casting cost can be an early stepping stone into casting even larger threats in the mid to late game. This makes it a solid inclusion in a mana curve that aims to deploy threats consistently.

Instant Speed: Although Hill Giant itself does not have instant speed, its basic functionality in the game revolves around establishing tempo. The ability to field a creature with its stats at sorcery speed can set the pace for the rest of the match, pressuring opponents to respond or outpace you. Plus, the mere presence of a Hill Giant can often free up mana for instant-speed interactions on the following turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hill Giant does not require discarding as part of its cost, enabling you to maintain card advantage while developing your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Hill Giant’s casting cost demands both generic and red mana, restricting its seamless integration into multi-colored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three generic mana and a single red mana, Hill Giant can be a costly play for its vanilla 3/3 stats, especially when other creatures at a similar cost may offer additional abilities or synergies.


Reasons to Include Hill Giant

Versatility: Hill Giants are classic cards that can be slotted into various red decks due to their straightforward power and toughness balance. Their sizeable stature on the battlefield makes them a reliable presence for newer players building their collection.

Combo Potential: While not traditionally combo-centric, Hill Giants can harmonize well with cards that benefit from having robust creatures in play, such as those that amplify creature damage or those that require creature sacrifices for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that appreciates simplicity and efficiency, the Hill Giant stands firm. Although not a competitive staple, its relevance emerges in specific casual circles or in formats like Pauper, where its basic functionality can shine.


How to beat

Hill Giant might not be the flashiest creature in the realm of MTG, but its straightforward power can present a roadblock for unprepared decks. Standing tall with a solid 3/3 body for a mere four mana, it’s a staple of simplicity in red decks that seek to utilize beefy creatures without complicated abilities. Yet, despite its simplicity, overcoming this classic brute requires a bit of strategy. The card’s vulnerability lies in its lack of special abilities, unlike other creatures that might have flying, trample, or haste.

One effective strategy is to take advantage of removal spells. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can swiftly eliminate it from the field. Likewise, white-based decks have access to various exile spells, such as Swords to Plowshares, providing a clean and efficient answer. If you’re looking to maintain board presence, smaller creatures combined with combat tricks like Giant Growth or instant-speed interaction spells can ensure you win the fight. Above all, understanding when to trade creatures or hold back for the perfect moment to play a removal spell is key to dominating a straightforward aggressor like Hill Giant.

Overall, facing a Hill Giant is about anticipating the play, maintaining removal resources, and timing your actions to maximize efficiency on the battlefield.


Cards like Hill Giant

Hill Giant is a stalwart classic within the world of MTG, reminiscent of a time when simple, straightforward creatures roamed the battlegrounds. Its kin in the realm of basic creatures includes the likes of Moss Monster, another large-bodied creature that demands a hefty mana investment. Despite their comparable sizes, Moss Monster often takes a backseat due to its higher casting cost and the fact it belongs to the green mana sphere as opposed to red.

In contrast, Gray Ogre presents itself as a more affordable option with its lower mana cost. However, it offers less impact on the board with a smaller frame. Hill Giant, with its moderate cost and solid 3/3 stats, often strikes a better balance for players seeking to make an assertive play mid-game.

Delving into the tribal themes, we encounter Cyclops Tyrant, a card that brings both an intimidating presence and an evasion ability, albeit for a slightly higher cost. While Hill Giant doesn’t boast any abilities, its straightforward nature and the nostalgia it brings can still find its place in casual decks or as a learning tool for new players. In summary, despite emerging challengers and evolved creature designs, Hill Giant retains a unique charm and simplicity that continues to endear it to MTG enthusiasts.

Moss Monster - MTG Card versions
Gray Ogre - MTG Card versions
Cyclops Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Moss Monster - Legends (LEG)
Gray Ogre - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Cyclops Tyrant - Magic 2014 (M14)

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

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Keldon Warlord - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Goblin Goon - Legions (LGN)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hill Giant MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Hill Giant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hill Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 20 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1571993normalblackDan Frazier
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1581993normalblackDan Frazier
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1581993normalwhiteDan Frazier
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1581993normalblackDan Frazier
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1581993normalblackDan Frazier
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1581993normalwhiteDan Frazier
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1581993normalblackDan Frazier
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1581993normalwhiteDan Frazier
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2011993normalwhiteDan Frazier
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2011993normalblackDan Frazier
111996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 321993normalwhiteDan Frazier
121996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 331993normalwhiteDan Frazier
131997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2391997normalwhiteCharles Gillespie
141997-05-01PortalPOR 1331997normalblackRandy Gallegos
152001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 196★1997normalblackDany Orizio
162001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1961997normalwhiteDany Orizio
172003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 194★2003normalblackDany Orizio
182003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1942003normalwhiteDany Orizio
192005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 197★2003normalblackDany Orizio
202005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1972003normalwhiteDany Orizio
212007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2122003normalblackKev Walker
222010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 472003normalblackKev Walker
232022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4501997normalblackDan Frazier
242022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1532015normalblackDan Frazier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hill Giant has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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