Jeering Homunculus MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Homunculus
Abilities Goad
Power 0
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Jeering Homunculus provides indirect card advantage by manipulating opponents’ combat decisions.
  2. Fitting into mana curves at low cost, it facilitates board development while saving resources.
  3. Despite sorcery speed, its timely play can alter combat, mimicking instant-speed effects.

Text of card

When Jeering Homunculus enters the battlefield, you may goad target creature. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)

Mklthd had always hated crowds . . . and they had always hated him.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Jeering Homunculus doesn’t directly increase your card count, its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies can lead to indirect card advantage. By forcing your opponent to attack or block with a specific creature, you can orchestrate advantageous board states that culminate in favorable trades or eliminate key threats.

Resource Acceleration: Despite the Jeering Homunculus not providing traditional resource acceleration like additional mana or card draw, it serves as a low-cost creature that can fit into your curve efficiently. At only two mana, it allows you to develop your board while holding resources for other crucial plays in your game plan.

Instant Speed: Jeering Homunculus operates at sorcery speed, which means it does not have the flexibility of instant-speed cards. However, the timing of playing this creature can still be pivotal. Deploying it just before your own attack can force an opponent into an unfavorable block or after they’ve declared attackers to unexpectedly alter their combat strategy, simulating the reactive nature of instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though the Jeering Homunculus prompts a laugh with its antics, it misses the mark with a mandatory discard clause. In tense moments where every card in hand is pivotal, having to throw one away can tip the scales unfavorably.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Jeering Homunculus to the field isn’t all fun and games. It requires a precise blend of mana, including the often tricky blue mana. This specificity constrains it to decks where blue mana is abundant, leaving others to consider their roster without this jesting creature.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells vying for a spot in your deck, the Jeering Homunculus’ cost seems steep for what it offers. For the same investment, many alternatives could provide more power or more impactful abilities, giving you more bang for your mana buck.


Reasons to Include Jeering Homunculus in Your Collection

Versatility: Jeering Homunculus is a flexible card that can be utilized in a variety of decks focusing on creature-based strategies or needing a cost-effective way to disrupt opponents.

Combo Potential: As a creature that forces opponents to focus their attacks away from more valuable targets, it can be paired with cards that benefit from forced attacks, enabling synergistic deck strategies and board control.

Meta-Relevance: In environments heavy on targeted removal or with opponents that rely on grounding their offense in strategic striking, Jeering Homunculus offers an unexpected wrench in their plans, increasing its utility and strategic value in certain metas.


How to beat

Jeering Homunculus is a quirky creature card that brings a unique dynamic to the Magic: The Gathering battlefield. Its ability to force an opponent’s creature to attack can disrupt their strategy, potentially leading to unfavorable trades or exposing their defenses. Its modest cost and stats make it a card that sits well in decks looking to steer the battle on their terms.

To successfully navigate around Jeering Homunculus, it’s essential to consider cards or strategies that negate forced attacks or don’t rely heavily on combat. Look towards employing cards that grant your creatures vigilance, thus allowing them to attack and still block during your opponent’s turn. Alternatively, control decks that focus on countering creatures and spells or removal spells that can easily eliminate low-toughness creatures without expending significant resources can counteract the influence of Jeering Homunculus effectively.

Creatures with tap abilities that don’t require them to attack also minimize the disruption caused by the Homunculus. Finally, having a deck with robust blockers or creatures that benefit from being tapped can turn the tables on an opponent using Jeering Homunculus, making their strategy work in your favor.


Cards like Jeering Homunculus

Jeering Homunculus offers a whimsical twist in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels with cards like Norwood Priestess, offering different strategic advantages. While Jeering Homunculus is known for its ability to provoke opponents, forcing them to attack if able, Norwood Priestess lets you put a green creature onto the battlefield, bypassing the need for mana.

Exploring similar mechanics, cards like Goblin Diplomats also manipulate combat phases by compelling every creature to attack if able. Although the Homunculus is less aggressive with a smaller power stat, the diplomatic goblins double as both a deterrent and a catalyst for battle, fueling the game’s tempo. Then, there’s Humble Defector, which offers a trade of allegiance for card advantage. Unlike the Homunculus, it doesn’t influence the combat directly, but it’s an impactful card for strategic plays, captivating players with a choice of gaining favor in exchange for resources.

Delving into creature-based strategies in MTG, Jeering Homunculus is modest yet provocative. Its ability to disrupt the battlefield provides a level of control, cementing its value as an amusing yet tactically viable card amidst its counterparts.

Norwood Priestess - MTG Card versions
Goblin Diplomats - MTG Card versions
Humble Defector - MTG Card versions
Norwood Priestess - Portal Second Age (P02)
Goblin Diplomats - Magic 2014 Promos (PM14)
Humble Defector - Fate Reforged (FRF)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jeering Homunculus MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown 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 Jeering Homunculus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jeering Homunculus Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 332015normalblackSteve Prescott
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4092015normalblackSteve Prescott
32020-09-26The ListPLST CN2-332015normalblackSteve Prescott
42022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 312015normalblackSteve Prescott
52024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 882015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jeering Homunculus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jeering Homunculus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-08-23 Attacking with a goaded creature doesn’t cause it to stop being goaded. If there is an additional combat phase that turn, or if another player gains control of it before it stops being goaded, it must attack again if able.
2016-08-23 Being goaded isn’t an ability the creature has. Once it’s been goaded, it must attack as detailed above even if it loses all abilities.
2016-08-23 If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents that hasn’t goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, you choose which opponent it attacks.
2016-08-23 If the creature doesn’t meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than the controller of the spell or ability that goaded it if able. It the creature can’t attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack an opposing planeswalker (controlled by any opponent) or the player that goaded it.
2016-08-23 If, during a player’s declare attackers step, a creature that player controls that’s been goaded is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under that player’s control continuously since the turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having a creature attack a player, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either.

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