Ghitu Lavarunner MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 127
2019-11-07 - Number 947
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-127
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
As long as there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, Ghitu Lavarunner gets +1/+0 and has haste.
Tolarians teach the theory of pyromancy. The Ghitu prefer applied research.
Cards like Ghitu Lavarunner
Ghitu Lavarunner is a solid contender in the roster of one-drop creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It holds similarities to other creatures such as Monastery Swiftspear, which is also known for its prowess ability and low casting cost. However, Ghitu Lavarunner brings its own unique twist to the table. With the stipulation of having two or more instant and sorcery cards in the graveyard, Ghitu Lavarunner shifts from a modest 1/2 to a more formidable 2/2 with haste, offering a swift offense early in the game.
Analogous to Ghitu Lavarunner in terms of rapid aggression is the Vexing Devil. Although the Vexing Devil presents a higher power with a significant 4/3 on turn one, it allows opponents the choice to sacrifice life to prevent it from seeing play. Conversely, Ghitu Lavarunner guarantees presence on the board without giving opponents such decisions. Similarly, Rakdos Cackler is another one-mana creature that can become a 2/2 by unleashing, but it lacks the potential haste provided by Ghitu Lavarunner, restricting immediate impact.
When comparing these cards, Ghitu Lavarunner provides a valuable mix of proactive board development and late-game relevance, enhancing decks that capitalize on spellslinger strategies.
Cards similar to Ghitu Lavarunner by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ghitu Lavarunner. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Aggro | Pioneer | Gruul Aggro | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
 | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Ghitu Lavarunner itself doesn’t draw cards, its interaction with cards in the graveyard can indirectly affect card advantage. In a deck built around spells, having a Ghitu Lavarunner on the field transforms all past instant and sorcery cards into a resource that powers up your creature.
Resource Acceleration: Ghitu Lavarunner’s low casting cost contributes to a faster and more efficient early game. By expending only one red mana, players can deploy a threat that quickly evolves into a 2/2 as their graveyard fills up, making room for other pivotal plays with remaining resources.
Instant Speed: While Ghitu Lavarunner doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant spells. The card rewards you for playing instants by becoming stronger as more instants and sorceries are incorporated into your graveyard, thus celebrating a deck that operates on reactive and quick maneuvers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ghitu Lavarunner doesn’t require discarding itself, its prowess depends highly on having a plentiful graveyard, particularly filled with instant and sorcery cards. Decks that can’t consistently fuel the yard may find the Lavarunner less impactful.
Specific Mana Cost: Ghitu Lavarunner demands a red mana, making it a less flexible option for decks not heavily invested in red mana sources. This can restrict its inclusion only to mono-red or red-centric decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its initial low cost, to truly harness Ghitu Lavarunner’s potential, additional cards need to be played beforehand which indirectly increases the overall mana investment to maximize its effectiveness – a subtler but real cost compared to options that are efficient from the get-go.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ghitu Lavarunner works well in a variety of decks, particularly those looking to capitalize on early aggression. Its ability to quickly turn into a 2/2 with haste makes it a reliable option for red ‘burn’ or ‘aggro’ strategies.
Combo Potential: As a wizard, Ghitu Lavarunner can strengthen synergies within a Wizard tribal deck or with cards that benefit from wizards or spells being cast. It helps enable spell-based combos by potentially reducing the cost of your instants and sorceries with cards like “Goblin Electromancer.”
Meta-Relevance: In metagames heavy with slow decks or control archetypes, a quick card like Ghitu Lavarunner can apply pressure from the very beginning. Given that red decks often need a fast start to outpace more methodical strategies, including it could give your deck the zest it needs to dominate early game board states.
How to beat
Ghitu Lavarunner has been known to set pace in the early stages of MTG games, particularly in aggressive red decks. This hasty creature can transform from a relatively harmless 1/2 to a formidable 2/2 with just a few instants or sorceries in the graveyard, essentially rewarding players for playing a spell-slinging strategy. But how can you counter this quick-footed threat?
To neutralize the Lavarunner’s fiery sprints, it’s essential to prevent it from reaching its potential by limiting the graveyard fuel it thrives on. Tactics to shrink the graveyard, such as cards allowing exile effects, specifically target this kind of strategy. Moreover, standard removal spells are highly effective as they are generally more resource-efficient than the spells required to boost Ghitu Lavarunner. Even better, timing the removal spell for when the opponent is aiming to convert the Lavarunner into a 2/2, can disrupt their momentum and leave them mana-starved for the turn, providing a crucial advantage in the race for board control.
Essentially, dealing with Ghitu Lavarunner boils down to interruption and graveyard disruption. Early control can drastically reduce the impact that this card can have, thereby preserving the balance of the match in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ghitu Lavarunner MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria 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 Ghitu Lavarunner and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Printings
The Ghitu Lavarunner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 127 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 947 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-127 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ghitu Lavarunner has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ghitu Lavarunner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | If Ghitu Lavarunner loses haste after being declared as an attacker on the turn it comes under your control, it will continue to attack. It won’t be removed from combat. On the other hand, if it loses haste before your declare attackers step, it won’t be able to attack. |