Bloodfray Giant MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Giant
Abilities Trample,Unleash
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Bloodfray Giant’s Unleash mechanic is key for turning it into a powerful attacker or resilient blocker.
  2. Diverse in red decks, this giant synergizes well with damage-boosting and creature-size spells.
  3. Effective removal or control spells are essential in countering the Bloodfray Giant’s trample threat.

Text of card

Trample Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.)

The star performer of the Juri Revue, his shows have fans and blood spilling into the street.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bloodfray Giant doesn’t directly draw you cards, its Unleash ability allows it to become a formidable creature that can dominate the battlefield. This means it has the potential to surpass the value of an opponent’s single card, effectively giving you a card advantage in terms of board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Bloodfray Giant doesn’t inherently provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of adding mana. However, its relatively low cost and high power once unleashed can accelerate your damage output, pressuring your opponent and potentially reducing the resources they can allocate toward their own board development.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Bloodfray Giant cannot be cast at instant speed, but its presence on the battlefield can influence when and how you play your instants. With a threatening creature like Bloodfray Giant in play, you may be able to better control the pace of the game and dictate favourable terms for your instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Bloodfray Giant demands a player to discard a card for unleashing, potentially setting back your hand advantage in close matches.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and generic mana, the Bloodfray Giant’s mana cost leans on players having a stable red mana base, which might not align with multi-colored or flexible mana curve strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that sits at a four mana value, the Bloodfray Giant’s impact on the board may fall short compared to other options in the four-mana slot, especially when considering the additional costs for its Unleash ability, which doesn’t always equal a decisive board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodfray Giant offers flexibility as it’s a formidable creature card that can be readily incorporated into a variety of red decks. Its unleash ability allows players to make situational decisions, either keeping it as a blocker or turning it into a 5/5 attacker, making it a diverse tool in multiple scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card is prized for its ability to work in tandem with spells and abilities that capitalize on large creatures. With the unleash mechanic, Bloodfray Giant can become a powerhouse, synergizing with effects that boost damage, sacrifice for benefit, or use creature size to deal damage to opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment where aggressive strategies shine, Bloodfray Giant holds its ground. It can dominate the board early and apply pressure, making it a noteworthy contender against slower, control-based decks that may struggle to address such an early and considerable threat.


How to Beat Bloodfray Giant

Overcoming the Bloodfray Giant in Magic: The Gathering can be a tough challenge, especially if it’s unleashed and swinging for massive trample damage. As a 4/3 creature that can become a 5/4, planning your strategy carefully becomes critical. To effectively counter it, control spells are your best friend. These help to either remove the giant from the battlefield or keep it from attacking.

One effective method is to use removal spells before the giant gets unleashed. Spells like Doom Blade or Murder can be cast at instant speed, allowing you to wait for the opportune moment. Alternatively, bounce spells, such as Unsummon or Boomerang, can return the creature to its owner’s hand, disrupting your opponent’s momentum and forcing them to spend their mana all over again to play the giant.

Moreover, employing counterspells when the giant is cast ensures it never even touches the board. Counterspell or Mana Leak are excellent choices for this tactic. Should the Bloodfray Giant already be unleashed and attacking, having deathtouch creatures can be a deterrent, while enchantments that pacify, like Pacifism, prevent it from attacking or blocking altogether.

Ultimately, by utilizing these spells and tactics, players can mitigate the Bloodfray Giant’s impact and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Bloodfray Giant

When assessing the Bloodfray Giant in MTG, we might draw comparisons with other creatures that deliver a significant combat presence. Bloodfray Giant’s trample ability makes it a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, much like the Ghor-Clan Rampager. Both cards unleash havoc with their power amplification abilities, enabling considerable damage potential during the attack phase.

Meanwhile, another comparable card is the Hamletback Goliath, which also thrives on growing more formidable with each creature that enters the battlefield. While it lacks trample, its rapid size increase can swiftly become unstoppable. On the other hand, the Bloodfray Giant is initially more manageable with its Unleash ability, granting players the discretion to choose between aggression or defense stance.

The advantage of Bloodfray Giant lies in the balance of cost-efficiency and the strategic flexibility provided by its Unleash mechanic. It’s a solid choice for decks seeking to maintain pressure and offer adaptability in various game scenarios. In this context, the Bloodfray Giant stands out amongst peers, showcasing its unique role in red creature strategies within MTG.

Ghor-Clan Rampager - MTG Card versions
Hamletback Goliath - MTG Card versions
Ghor-Clan Rampager - Gatecrash (GTC)
Hamletback Goliath - Resale Promos (PRES)

Cards similar to Bloodfray 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
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Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
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Anger - MTG Card versions
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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 - 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 Bloodfray Giant MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Bloodfray Giant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodfray Giant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Steve Argyle.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 892003normalblackSteve Argyle
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1012015normalblackSteve Argyle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodfray Giant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bloodfray Giant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-04-15 A creature with unleash can’t block if it has any +1/+1 counter on it, not just one put on it by the unleash ability.
2013-04-15 Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block.
2013-04-15 The unleash ability applies no matter where the creature is entering the battlefield from.
2013-04-15 You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example.

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