Giant GrowthHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Giant Growth is a simple yet effective instant spell that targets a single creature and grants it a +3/+3 power and toughness boost. This effect lasts until the end of the current turn, providing a temporary surge that can turn the tide of a battle or save a key creature from damage-based removal.

Resolving the Spell

When you cast Giant Growth, you must choose a target creature. The spell goes on the stack and, if no one responds, it resolves. Upon resolution, the target creature's current power and toughness are increased by 3. Because this is an instant, you can cast it during the Declare Blockers step to ensure your creature survives combat or deals lethal damage to an opponent's creature.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is casting Giant Growth before an opponent has declared their blockers. If you cast it too early, your opponent may choose not to block the now-massive creature. Additionally, remember that if the target creature leaves the battlefield or gains shroud or protection from green in response, Giant Growth will fail to resolve because its target is no longer legal.

When to Play It

The best time to use Giant Growth is usually during combat to 'trade up'—using a small creature to destroy a much larger one. It is also an excellent tool for saving a creature from spells that deal a specific amount of damage, like a Lightning Bolt, by raising its toughness above the damage threshold.

Interaction examples

Defensive Maneuvers

Heroic Intervention

If an opponent targets your creature with a destruction spell, you can cast Giant Growth to boost its stats, but it won't stop the destruction. However, if you cast Heroic Intervention first to give your creatures hexproof, and then cast Giant Growth, your creature is protected from being targeted by your opponent while still receiving the +3/+3 buff from your own spell.

Top-Deck Strategy

Worldly Tutor

During your upkeep, you can cast Worldly Tutor to search for your best creature and put it on top of your library. After you draw and play that creature on a subsequent turn, Giant Growth can be used as a surprise finisher to push through the final points of damage your opponent wasn't expecting.

Single-Card Combat Trick

Imagine your 1/1 Squirrel is blocked by a 3/3 Beast. Before damage is dealt, you cast Giant Growth on your Squirrel. The Squirrel becomes a 4/4 until the end of the turn. When damage is assigned, your 4/4 Squirrel deals 4 damage to the Beast (destroying it) while taking only 3 damage itself, allowing the Squirrel to survive the encounter.