Hulking Devil MTG Card


Hulking Devil can dominate board presence, provoking unfavorable trades that advantage the player. Its imposing presence on the board can deter attacks, allowing for strategic mana and play development. Strategic play can leverage the creature’s raw power and influence, even without instant speed abilities.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Devil
Power 5
Toughness 2

Cards like Hulking Devil

Hulking Devil offers players a solid creature presence on the battlefield, a common theme among large red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Rumbling Baloth, a sizable body for a reasonable mana cost. Yet, Hulking Devil brings a slightly different dynamic to the board. With its higher power compared to Rumbling Baloth, it can pose a more immediate threat to opponents.

Shadowborn Demon is another creature that could draw comparisons. Shadowborn Demon provides not only a powerful attacker but also includes a removal aspect, though at a cost higher than Hulking Devil. This gives Shadowborn Demon a utility edge for more intricate gameplay strategies. Conversely, Hulking Devil is a straightforward play for those looking to apply pressure without additional effects or costs intertwined.

Evaluating Hulking Devil in the broader context of Magic: The Gathering creature cards, it is evident that its simplicity is its asset. For players seeking a hassle-free, aggressively statted demon that can apply pressure early on, Hulking Devil unquestionably finds its niche within the wide array of creature options available to a red deck builder.

Rumbling Baloth - MTG Card versions
Shadowborn Demon - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Baloth - MTG Card versions
Shadowborn Demon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hulking Devil 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
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Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
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Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
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Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
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 - 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
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
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

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite Hulking Devil not directly offering card draw or discard mechanics, its solid body can potentially force unfavorable trades for your opponent, effectively granting you card advantage through board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Hulking Devil itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its mere presence can deter opponents from attacking, buying you time to develop your mana base and cast more impactful spells down the line.

Instant Speed: Though Hulking Devil doesn’t have abilities that function at instant speed, its stature as a creature can quickly turn the tide of a match when played strategically post-combat or in response to your opponent’s end step after they’ve committed resources elsewhere. This gives you more control over the pacing and flow of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its tempting power, Hulking Devil often remains in players’ hands or ends up discarded to enable madness or other abilities, highlighting a steep drawback for those operating on a tightly managed hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The Hulking Devil demands a specific combination of mana to summon. Three red mana points create a resourcing challenge, especially for multicolored decks striving for color balance and adaptability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells in the mix, a four-mana investment can be considerable. Many players might opt for cards that exert great influence on the game’s state, surpassing the Devil’s raw strength with strategic versatility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: While Hulking Devil may not seem like the most flexible card at first glance, it’s simplicity in cost to power ratio makes it a solid choice for mono-red builds focusing on raw strength and aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This creature offers a substantial 5/2 body which holds promise in combos involving sacrifice for damage or benefit, synergizing well with cards that feed off of high power creatures or those that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and early pressure are key, Hulking Devil can serve as an inexpensive way to assert dominance and force opponents to deal with it or face considerable damage, aligning well with red’s overarching theme of hasty and impactful play.


How to beat

The Hulking Devil is a creature that presents its own set of challenges on the battlefield. With its substantial power, it can overwhelm opponents who are unprepared. However, this creature is not without its vulnerabilities. Players looking to neutralize the threat of a Hulking Devil have several strategies at their disposal.

First, direct removal spells are robust tools against it. Spells like Murder, which outright destroy a creature, can easily handle the Devil. Moreover, bounce spells that return a creature to its owner’s hand, such as Unsummon, can reset the field and give players time to fortify their defenses or find a more permanent solution.

Additionally, the Hulking Devil is susceptible to being trumped by creatures with higher toughness, which can block and survive its attack, effectively neutralizing its offense. Ensnaring creatures in pacifying enchantments or locking them down with tap abilities also proves to be quite effective.

Ultimately, while Hulking Devil may seem daunting at first glance, its singular focus on attack leaves it vulnerable to a variety of common and effective defensive tactics. It’s a reminder that in the world of Magic: The Gathering, having a strategic approach to each card can turn the tide of battle.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hulking Devil MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Hulking Devil and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hulking Devil Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 1652015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9752015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
32020-09-26The ListPLST SOI-1652015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hulking Devil has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal