Loathsome Troll MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Troll
Power 6
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Loathsome Troll affords a sustained board presence through its card advantage and regeneration ability.
  2. Flexibility at instant speed and resource acceleration make it a strategic asset in gameplay.
  3. While potent, the discard requirement and mana specificity could limit tactical options.

Text of card

: Roll a d20. Activate only if Loathsome Troll is in your graveyard. 1—9 | Put Loathsome Troll on top of your library. 10—19 | Return Loathsome Troll to your hand. 20 | Return Loathsome Troll to the battlefield tapped.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Loathsome Troll brings a persistent threat to the table, which can lead to card advantage as it forces opponents to deal with it repeatedly, effectively sapping their resources while you maintain board presence.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that can easily return from the graveyard to the battlefield, Loathsome Troll offers a form of resource acceleration by demanding less investment in keeping a creature in play, allowing you to use your mana for other strategic moves.

Instant Speed: With the ability to discard a card to regenerate Loathsome Troll, you have the instant-speed flexibility to protect it from destruction. This ability can be activated during your opponent’s turn, making the Troll a resilient and unpredictable asset.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of the Loathsome Troll card is the requirement to discard another card to utilize certain abilities. This can be particularly taxing in gameplay scenarios when your hand is already stretched thin, causing a setback by reducing your options.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to cast Loathsome Troll is very particular, requiring both green mana and another color. This can sometimes hinder the card’s integration into multi-colored decks, especially if the deck’s mana base is not well-tuned to accommodate such specific needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Loathsome Troll offers a robust set of abilities, its higher mana cost in relation to other creatures in the same mana range could be seen as less mana-efficient. Players may find that other creatures or spells at a similar or lower mana cost could provide more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Loathsome Troll card brings adaptability to green-focused or multi-coloured decks. Its ability to regenerate makes it a formidable defender and a repeatable presence on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: In decks that synergize with +1/+1 counters or graveyard mechanics, this creature can serve as a key component. It can also work well with sacrifice strategies, turning discarded cards into a resource for growth.

Meta-Relevance: With the trend towards aggressive creature-based strategies, having a resilient threat like the Loathsome Troll can give you an edge. It’s not easily removed, which means it can be a persistent nuisance against opponents who aren’t prepared to deal with it repetitively.


How to beat

The Loathsome Troll card presents a unique challenge for players in the MTG arena. Known for its regenerative abilities, this creature card can be a relentless opponent on the battlefield. Unlike other trolls in the game, the regeneration of Loathsome Troll requires a specific strategy to overcome. It can continually return to the game by paying the regenerate cost unless steps are taken to ensure it’s dealt with effectively.

One effective tactic to beat Loathsome Troll is using exile effects. Cards that exile, bypass the troll’s regeneration by removing it from the game entirely, and this ensures that it can’t come back to haunt you. Additionally, employing board wipes that don’t destroy but rather change the state of the battlefield can be key—think along the lines of mass -1/-1 counters or reducing power and toughness to zero, which negates the creature’s regeneration ability.

It’s also crucial to limit the resources that your opponent can utilise to pay the regenerate cost. Disrupting their mana base or forcing them to tap out at opportune times can leave the Loathsome Troll vulnerable. Consequently, a well-timed spell or ability that targets the troll’s weaknesses may be your greatest weapon in sending this fearsome foe into the abyss for good.


Cards like Loathsome Troll

Loathsome Troll carves its niche in the world of regenerating creatures within Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Much like the Troll Ascetic, Loathsome Troll offers a sturdy form of resilience on the battlefield. Both creatures excel in their capacity to regenerate, but Loathsome Troll brings an added layer of threat with its ability to grow stronger each time it exploits a card from a graveyard, a feature the Troll Ascetic lacks.

Varolz, the Scar-Striped stands as another parallel, boasting a similar graveyard interaction. While Varolz allows for any creature card in a graveyard to be used to bolster its strength, Loathsome Troll requires a sacrifice to unleash its full potential. This trade-off between immediate impact and long-term value offers an intriguing choice for players. Slumbering Troll also joins the fray, presenting regeneration at a low cost. Despite this, its inability to enhance its power makes Loathsome Troll a more aggressive option for graveyard-centric strategies.

Surveying the landscape of MTG’s regeneration-capable creatures, Loathsome Troll possesses a unique blend of tenacity and power increase that makes it a formidable presence. Its distinct synergy with graveyard mechanics ensures it’s a card that can hold its own among peers and brings a dynamic playstyle to the table.

Troll Ascetic - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Troll Ascetic - Mirrodin (MRD)
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Cards similar to Loathsome Troll by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loathsome Troll MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Loathsome Troll and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Loathsome Troll Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3272015normalblackPhil Stone
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 1922015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loathsome Troll has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks