First Little Pig MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Boar |
| Released | 2023-10-10 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine |
| Set code | YWOE |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 18 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Josiah "Jo" Cameron |
Text of card
{G/W}: Exile target artifact or enchantment. Activate only once.
Cards like First Little Pig
The First Little Pig marks an intriguing entry in the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to other creature cards such as Young Wolf, which also boasts the undying ability. This characteristic allows both creatures to return to the battlefield stronger after they’ve been dealt with, reinforcing presence on the board. Despite this, Young Wolf lacks the adaptive trait that makes First Little Pig shine, the ability to potentialize its power depending on the spells you cast afterwards.
Similar to the First Little Pig is Strangleroot Geist, another creature card with undying. It comes with the package of haste, allowing it to be a more aggressive play option from the get-go. But where Strangleroot Geist is immediately powerful, it doesn’t share the First Little Pig’s capability to grow in power with successive spells. Tukatongue Thallid presents another comparison, giving you a Saproling token when it dies, yet it doesn’t benefit from rebounding back onto the battlefield like the First Little Pig.
As we analyze the characteristics and weigh the strategic uses of different creature cards, First Little Pig stands out for its resilience and scalability, making it a card that could potentially evolve as a game progresses.
Cards similar to First Little Pig by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using First Little Pig. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Tempo | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Naya Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Azorius Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Temur Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Gruul Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
| Gruul Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
| Bant Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Abzan Planeswalkers | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 13 2024 | |
| Mono-Green Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the First Little Pig card, you essentialy bring a two-for-one deal into play, as it allows you not just to introduce a potent creature to the battlefield but also potentially draw into more strategic pieces, bolstering your hand and giving you the upper hand during crucial moments.
Resource Acceleration: The capability of this card to grant additional resources is unparalleled. Not only do you place a creature on the board, but it comes with abilities that can increase your mana pool, pushing you ahead in the race for dominance by enabling quicker deployment of high-impact spells or creatures in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: Reactivity is the name of the game here. First Little Pig can be cast at instant speed, offering you the flexibility to adapt to the evolving game state. This allows savvy players to preserve mana for reactions on an opponent’s turn or to surprise an adversary with a blocker or strategic play they didn’t account for.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of the First Little Pig card is the prerequisite of discarding another card to unlock its potential. This condition could prove detrimental when your hand is already stretched thin, providing a challenge in maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Designed with a particular mana alignment, the First Little Pig calls for a specific mix of mana types to be cast. This requirement may reduce its versatility, limiting its integration solely to decks that can reliably generate the necessary mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While garnering unique abilities, the First Little Pig comes with a mana cost that’s on the higher side when juxtaposed with alternate cards with similar effects. Costly mana demands may lead strategists to consider other cards that achieve comparable outcomes without the heavy mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: First Little Pig offers a flexible role in creature-based and token strategies, adept at fitting into a variety of decks that can capitalize on its unique abilities.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in synergistic plays, particularly with mechanics that benefit from summoning creature tokens or require creatures to activate certain abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current gameplay dynamics, First Little Pig can present a significant advantage, especially in metas where building board presence quickly is crucial.
How to beat
The First Little Pig is a unique card that potentially builds momentum over time in MTG. Comparable to other creature cards that grow in power, First Little Pig is similar in needing several turns to become a significant threat. To effectively counter it, timing and the right strategy are critical.
Removal spells are your best friend when facing cards like First Little Pig. Efficiently using a removal spell before it becomes too large can prevent an opponent from gaining value. Cards like Fatal Push or Swords to Plowshares are prime examples that can handle this situation well. Additionally, counter spells like Mana Leak or Negate applied during the casting of First Little Pig can be equally effective, stopping the threat before it even hits the battlefield.
In summary, the key to defeating First Little Pig lies in disrupting the opponent’s game plan early. By employing timely removal or counters, you prevent the accumulation of resources and growth of threats that could otherwise overwhelm you in the long run. This proactive approach is essential in handling cards that escalate in power with each passing turn.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase First Little Pig MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine, 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 First Little Pig and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where First Little Pig has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |