Ravenous Gigantotherium is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Devour 3 (As this creature enters, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. It enters with three times that many +1/+1 counters on it.) When this creature enters, it deals X damage divided as you choose among up to X target creatures, where X is its power. Each of those creatures deals damage equal to its power to this creature.
Complete guide
Ravenous Gigantotherium is a massive green Beast that lives up to its name by consuming your smaller allies to become a powerhouse. Once it enters, it turns its overwhelming size into a tactical barrage of damage to clear the opposing battlefield. Mastering this card requires understanding the timing of its Devour ability and how it interacts with the damage it deals.
Feeding the Beast: Devour 3
As Ravenous Gigantotherium enters the battlefield, you can sacrifice any number of creatures you control. For each creature sacrificed this way, it gains three +1/+1 counters. Because this happens 'as it enters,' these counters are placed before the creature is officially on the field, ensuring its starting power reflects the feast it just enjoyed. Note that it cannot devour creatures entering at the same time as itself.
Dividing the Damage
When it enters, a triggered ability goes on the stack. You check its current power (X) and choose up to X target creatures. You must divide X damage among those targets, assigning at least 1 damage to each. The value of X is locked in the moment you put the ability on the stack; if its power changes after this point, the total damage remains the same. Crucially, each target survives long enough to deal damage equal to its own power back to the Gigantotherium.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is trying to buff the Gigantotherium with spells to increase its damage. Since the trigger happens immediately upon entering, you cannot use an instant or another triggered ability to raise its power in time to increase X. Only static effects, like an anthem, affect X. Also, remember that if a target becomes illegal before the ability resolves, the damage assigned to it is lost, but the remaining damage is still dealt to valid targets.
When to Play It
Play Ravenous Gigantotherium when you have a board of small tokens or utility creatures that are no longer useful. It is a perfect finisher for green decks that generate many bodies, allowing you to convert those tokens into a single massive threat that acts as a targeted board wipe against your opponent's key creatures.
Interaction examples
Avenger of ZendikarIf you control Avenger of Zendikar and six 0/1 Plant tokens, you can cast Ravenous Gigantotherium and sacrifice all six Plants to Devour 3. It enters with eighteen +1/+1 counters, making it a 21/21 creature. Its triggered ability then lets you divide 21 damage among up to 21 target creatures.
Craterhoof BehemothIf an effect causes both Craterhoof Behemoth and Ravenous Gigantotherium to enter the battlefield at the same time, the Gigantotherium cannot devour the Behemoth. A creature can only devour creatures that are already on the battlefield as it begins to enter.
If your Ravenous Gigantotherium enters as a 3/3 (no devour) and targets a 2/2 creature, you assign 3 damage to that target. Before the 2/2 dies, it deals 2 damage back to the Gigantotherium. Both creatures survive the initial check, but the 2/2 will then die from lethal damage marked on it.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ravenous Gigantotherium
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Ravenous Gigantotherium can't devour creatures entering the battlefield at the same time as it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You divide the damage as Ravenous Gigantotherium's triggered ability is put onto the stack, not as it resolves. Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage. You can't choose more than X targets and assign 0 damage to a target.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You may choose zero targets. If you do, Ravenous Gigantotherium deals no damage and is dealt no damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If some of the targets become illegal for Ravenous Gigantotherium's ability, the original division of damage still applies, but the damage that would have been dealt to illegal targets isn't dealt at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The value of X is locked in as you divide the damage while putting Ravenous Gigantotherium's ability onto the stack. Changing Ravenous Gigantotherium's power after that time won't change how much damage is dealt.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Static abilities, such as that of Glorious Anthem, modify Ravenous Gigantotherium's power before its triggered ability is put onto the stack. Spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities can't raise its power in time to change the value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
The creatures targeted by Ravenous Gigantotherium's ability deal damage back to Ravenous Gigantotherium before dying if they're dealt lethal damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Ravenous Gigantotherium
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