Vulpine Goliath MTG Card

Theros (THS)
2013-09-27 - Number 183

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number THS-183

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Fox
Abilities	Trample
Power	6
Toughness	5

Key Takeaways

Trample ability allows Vulpine Goliath to potentially create card advantage by overcoming multiple blockers.
Requires green mana dedication, potentially limiting multicolor deck building flexibility.
Despite its high mana cost, offers substantial late-game impact in creature-focused MTG strategies.

Text of card

Trample

"With a diet of hydras, giants, and massive serpents, anything would get that big." —Corisande, Setessan hunter

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Vulpine Goliath does not inherently grant card advantage, its trample ability ensures that it can often lead to card advantage by overcoming blockers and necessitating multiple cards from an opponent to be dealt with.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Vulpine Goliath itself is not a tool for resource acceleration, it certainly benefits from any previously established ramp on your board. Its 6/5 stats make it a prime target for any acceleration mechanics you might employ, ensuring its timely deployment onto the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Vulpine Goliath doesn’t operate at instant speed, its monolithic presence influences battle dynamics simply by being on the field, compelling opponents to think twice before executing their strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Vulpine Goliath doesn’t directly ask you to discard a card, needing to protect its hefty body or activate its trample ability might force you to trade-off valuable cards from your hand in other ways to ensure its survival and effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires a commitment to green mana sources in your deck, which could limit deck-building flexibility and possibly affect its inclusion in multicolor decks that are already strained for mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: A six-mana cost is a significant investment, particularly when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Some alternatives might offer not only immediate board presence but also additional abilities or interaction with other cards for a similar or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Vulpine Goliath in Your Collection

Versatility: With its trample ability and formidable 6/5 body, Vulpine Goliath makes a solid addition to any green deck looking for a powerful late-game threat. It’s equally at home in a ramp deck that accelerates its casting or a deck with a focus on creatures with trample.

Combo Potential: The card’s synergies aren’t to be underestimated. Vulpine Goliath pairs well with effects that double the power of creatures or utilize the number of creatures with trample you control, allowing for significant impact plays that can swing the game in your favor quickly.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where larger creatures are key to victory, Vulpine Goliath can play a central role. Its ability to bypass smaller blockers thanks to trample makes it relevant in the current meta, capable of standing toe-to-toe with other heavy-hitters in the creature-centric matchups.

How to beat

Vulpine Goliath is an intriguing creature in the fantasy world of Magic: The Gathering due to its sizable body and trampling capability. This green card can be quite a formidable presence on the battlefield, challenging opponents to find a way to counter its strength. To outmaneuver Vulpine Goliath, players might consider utilizing inexpensive removal spells or blocking tactics, which can mitigate the impact of this giant fox.

Strategies such as Pacifism or other aura spells that prevent creatures from attacking or blocking can be critically effective. Additionally, trading multiple smaller creatures for Vulpine Goliath can be a worthwhile sacrifice to prevent damage from its trample ability. Performance in-game will depend on the approach, whether it’s controlling the board or employing strategic spells that specifically undermine the strength of larger creatures. Attacking a player’s mana base can also prevent them from casting high-cost creatures like Vulpine Goliath, thereby ensuring they never pose a threat in the first place.

Ultimately, understanding your deck’s strengths and the suite of counters available to you will be key in dealing with the challenge that Vulpine Goliath presents in a match of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Vulpine Goliath

Vulpine Goliath is a monstrous creature that roams the realm of green spells in Magic: The Gathering. With a glance towards its relatives in the MTG universe, Giant Spider steps forward as a comparable entity. Both cards resonate with a preference for green mana and share the reach ability, providing defense against flying creatures. Yet, Vulpine Goliath towers over with its trample ability, enabling it to push excess damage through to the opponent, an option distant from Giant Spider’s specifications.

Moving through the forest of green spells, Terra Stomper is another kin to the Vulpine Goliath with its inability to be countered and a significant trample trait. Though Terra Stomper demands a higher mana investment, it compensates with raw power, making the battlefield presence noticeably stronger. Then we uncover the Scaled Behemoth, a card mirroring the Goliath’s love for trample but weaving in hexproof, a protective layer making it immune to the spells and abilities of opponents.

As we track the green paths of MTG, Vulpine Goliath finds its place – mighty in its own right yet balanced among its colossal companions. Its trample ability paired with a fair mana cost makes it a card players consider in their creature-filled arsenals.

Giant Spider - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vulpine Goliath MTG card by a specific set like Theros and The List, 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 Vulpine Goliath and other MTG cards: