Slinking Giant MTG Card


Slinking Giant - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Giant Rogue
Abilities Wither
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number106
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDave Kendall

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage and strategic benefits through its capabilities, impacting crucial game moments.
  2. Demands careful deck building due to specific mana needs and its discard activation requirement.
  3. Can define gameplay through sheer power and utility, making it a contentious addition to red decks.

Text of card

Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.) Whenever Slinking Giant blocks or becomes blocked, it gets -3/-0 until end of turn.

"I need a better hiding place."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Slinking Giant allows players to strategically enhance their hand, granting them the potential for a significant power play. Drawing cards at critical moments can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Resource Acceleration: The Giant’s presence on the board can accelerate your resource pool, effectively giving you an edge in deploying other high-impact cards sooner than usual, setting the stage for a dominant position.

Instant Speed: With the ability to act at instant speed, the Slinking Giant fits smoothly into your game plan, providing flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions or to surprise them with unexpected maneuvers.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Slinking Giant’s activation necessitates discarding a card, posing a potential setback when your hand is already depleted or the discarded card could have been pivotal to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a precise combination of mana to cast, demanding a deck built around red mana sources, which could restrict its versatility and make it a cumbersome choice in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Slinking Giant can be a formidable force on the battlefield, its casting cost is notable. Players might find themselves weighing its benefits against other options, as there exist cards at a lower mana value that provide similar or better impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Slinking Giant can be a key component in many deck builds, particularly those that can take advantage of its large power and trample ability to overwhelm opponents.

Combo Potential: This card’s capacity to dish out hefty damage makes it an ideal piece for combos with cards aimed at increasing creature power or providing additional combat phases.

Meta-Relevance: With aggressive decks often making waves in the current meta, Slinking Giant’s formidable presence on the battlefield can tip the scales in matches where board dominance is crucial.


How to Beat Slinking Giant in MTG

Slinking Giant is known for its formidable presence in MTG, capable of swinging games in favor of the player who wields this card. With the ability to dodge most damage spells due to its higher toughness, it often demands specific answers. The trick to handling this creature lies in understanding its vulnerabilities and using the right removal or control techniques.

Enchantment-based removals, such as Pacifism, can neutralize Slinking Giant without triggering any on-destruction effects it might have. This method effectively sidelines the threat, allowing you to focus on your strategy. Additionally, counter spells remain a solid approach to dealing with this creature. By countering it before it hits the battlefield, you won’t have to deal with its board presence. If Slinking Giant is already in play, board wipes can level the playing field. Spells like Wrath of God can clear the board, including the Giant, as long as it doesn’t have indestructibility or similar protective abilities.

Overall, beating Slinking Giant in MTG requires a blend of prevention and patience. Save your removal spells for the right moment, and don’t underestimate the value of controlling the board state early on to prevent your opponent from getting the upper hand with this powerful creature.


Cards like Slinking Giant

Slinking Giant introduces a dynamic element to red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It takes a spot alongside cards like Balduvian Barbarians, sharing the same power for a three-mana creature. Where Slinking Giant differs is in its additional abilities, offering more than just brute force to the playing field. Balduvian Barbarians lacks any extra abilities, presenting a straightforward choice for battlefield presence.

Also in the mix is Raging Goblin. While the Goblin offers the haste ability, allowing it to swing in swiftly, Slinking Giant compensates for its lack of haste with sheer size, making it a more substantial threat if left unattended. It strikes a balance between immediate impact and long-term presence. Looking at Cunning Giant, we see a creature that presents both size and a clever twist. Although it does not have haste, it forces your opponent to make tough decisions during combat, akin to Slinking Giant’s game-altering potential.

Examining these creatures in depth reveals the unique blend of strength and strategy Slinking Giant brings to the table. Its combination of size and abilities carves a niche for it among red creatures, offering MTG players new tactical avenues to explore.

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Cunning Giant - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - Ice Age (ICE)
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Cunning Giant - Portal Second Age (P02)

Cards similar to Slinking 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 - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Keldon Warlord - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
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 Slinking Giant MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Slinking Giant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slinking Giant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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