Towering Thunderfist MTG Card
2013-02-01 - Number 109
2024-02-23 - Number 151
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Giant Soldier |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Vigilance from Boros Keyrune gives Towering Thunderfist dual offensive and defensive capabilities.
- At five mana for a 4/4, it’s resource-efficient and establishes early board presence.
- Lacks traditional mana acceleration but still accelerates game pace with its power.
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.
Text of card
: Towering Thunderfist gains vigilance until end of turn.
"Nothing ruins a party like one of those big killjoys bursting through the door and setting all the guests free." —Ruba, Rakdos cultist
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Despite not directly providing card draw, Towering Thunderfist’s viability in formats such as Limited is undeniable. When positioned strategically, it can overpower smaller creatures, effectively trading one card for multiple threats from an opponent and securing you a favorable board state.
Resource Acceleration: Towering Thunderfist may not offer traditional mana acceleration, but its 4/4 stat line for a mere five mana can be considered efficient resource use in terms of power to cost ratio. It becomes a significant presence relatively early in the game without demanding extensive resources.
Instant Speed: While Towering Thunderfist is a creature and not cast at instant speed, the vigilance granted to it with an activated ability from Boros Keyrune allows it to attack without tapping. This gives players the flexibility to remain defensive even after an offensive action, akin to the benefits of casting spells at instant speed during opponents’ turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Towering Thunderfist doesn’t directly require you to discard cards, any card that has a more specific use rather than a broader strategic value may lead you to discard it for more situationally appropriate options.
Specific Mana Cost: Towering Thunderfist demands a mana cost that includes red, which could restrict its integration into multi-colored decks, particularly if the mana base isn’t optimized for red mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Towering Thunderfist is considered to have a high mana investment for its offered abilities. In competitive play, many alternatives could potentially provide more impactful effects or greater flexibility at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Towering Thunderfist in Your Collection
Versatility: Towering Thunderfist can be a flexible addition to various deck builds, finding its place in red or white-based aggro strategies. With its formidable presence as a 4/4 creature, it can quickly become a staple on your battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card carries potential for synergetic combos, especially when paired with equipment or aura spells that can enhance its natural vigilance ability. The ability to attack without tapping makes it a relentless force in both offense and defense.
Meta-Relevance: Given its sturdy stature and ability to remain untapped after attacking, Towering Thunderfist can hold its ground in a metagame that values creatures being ready to block or capitalize on effects that occur during each combat phase.
How to beat
Towering Thunderfist is a formidable presence in any MTG game, boasting both size and the vigilance ability when equipped with the right aura or equipment. To effectively overcome this threat, players need to strategize around its weaknesses. For starters, Towering Thunderfist lacks evasion, making it vulnerable to chump blocking by smaller creatures. Utilizing removal spells such as Murder or Path to Exile can also dispatch this giant efficiently. In addition, the Thunderfist’s impact can be mitigated by bounce spells like Unsummon, providing a temporary but effective solution and saving valuable resources for more permanent answers.
Another tactic is to outpace the Thunderfist with aggressive strategies, swarming the battlefield with creatures that can either outnumber or overpower it before it becomes a significant problem. Ensnaring spells such as Pacifism can neutralize the Thunderfist without requiring a direct confrontation, and enchantment removal like Disenchant can strip away any buffs or auras that grant it vigilance, reducing its battlefield effectiveness. Countering it with counterspells while it’s on the stack is another route, preventing it from ever landing on the battlefield.
In essence, remember to keep cool and aim for Towering Thunderfist’s Achilles’ heel. With the right combination of strategy and timing, this Goliath can easily tumble.
Cards like Towering Thunderfist
Towering Thunderfist is a solid creature card in MTG that brings a significant presence to the battlefield. It goes toe-to-toe with cards like Looming Altisaur in terms of sheer size. However, Towering Thunderfist steps ahead with its vigilance ability, allowing it to be a formidable defender as well as an attacker without tapping. Unlike the Altisaur, Towering Thunderfist can get even more intimidating with the addition of the renown mechanic, should it be enhanced with an Aura or Equipment to engage directly in combat.
Comparatively, the Knight of the Tusk is another creature that shares the massive size stats. However, it lacks any additional abilities without external support, unlike Towering Thunderfist that vigilantly guards your board state. Moreover, the synergy potential of Towering Thunderfist with equipment cards can’t be overlooked, which transforms it into a recurring threat every turn. Yet, when evaluating mana efficiency, Knight of the Tusk demands one more mana than Towering Thunderfist, a detail that can influence the pace of your game plan.
In short, Towering Thunderfist stands strong amongst its peers, notably for its versatility in defense and offense, making it a favorable choice for players looking for an impactful creature with balanced abilities and mana cost. It’s an exemplar of power and vigilance combined.
Cards similar to Towering Thunderfist by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Towering Thunderfist MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Ravnica: Clue Edition, 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 Towering Thunderfist and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Towering Thunderfist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-02-01 | Gatecrash | GTC | 109 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Towering Thunderfist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Towering Thunderfist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-01-24 | You must activate Towering Thunderfist’s ability before you declare attackers (at the latest, during the beginning of combat step) in order to have it attack without becoming tapped. |
