It kind of bothers me that they went with a "strictly worse" version of Kalonian Behemoth to fill out the green uncommons. Was there NOTHING you could think of rather than a 7/7 for 7, when you've put a 9/9 shroud for 7 at rare? I would have preferred a 6/6 trample for 7 over either of them...
jhimbob
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
If you don't pick up a Kalonian Behemoth, this will do the job. Even though it dies to all black removal.
darkfury
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Kalonian Behemoth actually is the worse creature in this case, because while it is more reasonable on the mana curve, Shroud stops you from casting anything on it to help it out, and only a few permenants can give it trample because of that
this, while point for point is worse, can be given trample, lifelink, and other abilities that are far more useful then perma shroud
tezcat
★★★☆☆ (4.0/5.0)(15 votes)
Enormous Baloth is not "strictly worse" than Kalonian Behemoth due to the difference in color requirements in the casting costs. This guy needs only one green mana (G), while Kalonian Behemoth requires two green (GG). I understand that in mono-green, the mana requirement difference is nullified. The point, however, is that the term "strictly worse" has a very specific meaning when not qualified.
In addition, Shroud is not a "strictly positive" ability, since it limits your targeting of the creature as well as any opponent's (as darkfury points out). The similar (but not key-worded) ability "Card Name can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control" (see Plated Slagwurm, Troll Ascetic) would be considered "strictly positive," however.
All that aside, this is a very cool card in terms of art, flavor text, and straight-up simplicity.
I just use four Duskdale Wurm in my fat green deck. Costs the same, same stats, added trample. When Duskdale Wurm is available, it makes no sense to pick this card.
Neutralion
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
... He is at last so good a Kalonian Behemoth, and in some gargantuan deck, I would prefer to have them both. Anyway, does anybody recognized that this one hunted Garruk in Wild Son comics?
Ashamed
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Standard? Oh, and it's an uncommon? Replaced by Pelakka Wurm. One with the new Totem Armor Auras are devastating. Before the Eldarazi set came out: Kalonian Behemoth, for sure.
@Zulp
And when Pelakka Wurm is around it makes no sense to pick Duskdale Wurm. By the way you ignored Duskdales to this guys I am a$suming you are playing mono-green, so the fact that Pelakka is shouldn't matter to you.
There are a lot of cards this is overshadowed by, but it is still a 7/7 for 7CMC. Something you don't see outside of green and multi.
Test-Subject_217601
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Despite the fact that I will agree Enormous Baloth is better than Scaled Wurm and cards like it I'll still defend Scaled Wurm(& co.) simply because newer cards seem to be more powerful. Back when Scaled Wurm(& co.) were first released a 7/6 for 8 mana was a good deal whereas now that there's cards like Baneslayer Angel a 7/6 for 8 mana seems very overcosted especially considering it lacks any abilities. And I'll defend Enormous Baloth in regards to there being cards better than it simply by saying It's an uncommon and it barely even deserves to be an uncommon aside from the fact the it's mtg tradition to make any creature with more than 3 power either uncommon or rare. But considering some of the cards out there Enormous Baloth really just deserves to be common.
wow this card sucks a 7/7 with no ability for 7 mana is unplayable
Nagoragama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Terrible card, but incredibly amusing flavor text.
Kryptnyt
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I've had some good times with this card. Those times have long gone, but he'll always hold a place in my heart as the "efficient big ol' beast" that won me games.
ZombieSnail
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cool flavor, but one of the unfortunate misses from a hit and miss set. M11 is such a huge improvement over this. And I fear for the day when Wizards runs out of synonyms for "big" ;)
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(8 votes)
A huge green creature without trample?
Madness!
D0UBLE_A
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Some of the best flavor text in the game, I have him running in my Selesnya deck.
This thing got me hooked on green. My friend brought a beginner pack or something to school, and he took the whites, so I played my first game with his green cards. And trounced him with this thing. Now, I only like it for its sentimental value (and art and flavor text). This is a good card for beginning players who like green. The first green deck I got was complicated, and didn't have many fatties... But I got this from my friend, so I beat ass with it again! This isn't a Spike cards by any means, but I still like it!
The lack of trample is a little disappointing but that aside this guy is the very epitomy of green to me.
I don't think you can really knock a vanilla 7/7 for 7CMC, but this guy is definately a lot better when used in conjuction with Brawn and/or Mighty Emergence.
Trygon_Predator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This and Craw Wurm gave me my first big thrill in the first game of Magic I played. I mean... look at that 7/7! I've learned better since then, but there's always special fun in playing huge creatures. Nowadays, though, Vorstclaw is usually a better choice.
GolemEmperion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its diet consists of fruits, plants, small woodland animals, large woodland animals, woodlands, fruit groves, fruit farmers, and small cities. Yeah, I ain't gonna mess with that.
atemu1234
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I get it. It doesn't have trample because it stops and eats what it kills, instead of going over it to the next target.
TheAmberSpyglass
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Got this in the starter pack and loved the art. Even played him a few times back when I ran BG. He's very mediocre in most situations. Needs trample to be remotely effective, but gets the job done. {I R BIG GREEN MEENY}
xenohedron
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like this card. Hoping for a reprint at common in M14!
Sneetches
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Its been long overshadowed but this card was one of those awe-inspiring newbie drops, so it'll always have some sentimental value to those beginner green players.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Awesome art and the card just makes you want to throw it into decks even though you know better. I think what it is, the number 6, and the 7/7 body. Makes him look better then what he is, its a psychology thing kinda like .99 cents.
EDHDeckbuilder
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Gets a 3/5 for me for nice art and great pseudo-Discovery channel flavour text, and being one of those cards that appeals to newer players because it's BIG. However, in my experience, there's just no place for vanilla creatures of any size in EDH, or really in any deck that isn't being used to teach people the rules and process of the game(I might cast a big beast like this on turn 3-5 after a successful ramp just to demonstrate the advantage of ramping).
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is hands-down my favorite flavor text. Ever.
Dragonshoredreamz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@divine_exodus He has Trample...they just forgot to print it on the card.
Comments (39)
this, while point for point is worse, can be given trample, lifelink, and other abilities that are far more useful then perma shroud
In addition, Shroud is not a "strictly positive" ability, since it limits your targeting of the creature as well as any opponent's (as darkfury points out). The similar (but not key-worded) ability "Card Name can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control" (see Plated Slagwurm, Troll Ascetic) would be considered "strictly positive," however.
All that aside, this is a very cool card in terms of art, flavor text, and straight-up simplicity.
Owned.
Before the Eldarazi set came out: Kalonian Behemoth, for sure.
And when Pelakka Wurm is around it makes no sense to pick Duskdale Wurm. By the way you ignored Duskdales
There are a lot of cards this is overshadowed by, but it is still a 7/7 for 7CMC. Something you don't see outside of green and multi.
And I fear for the day when Wizards runs out of synonyms for "big" ;)
Madness!
The lack of trample is a little disappointing but that aside this guy is the very epitomy of green to me.
I don't think you can really knock a vanilla 7/7 for 7CMC, but this guy is definately a lot better when used in conjuction with Brawn and/or Mighty Emergence.
Yeah, I ain't gonna mess with that.
He has Trample...they just forgot to print it on the card.