Hellfire Mongrel MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 130
2011-09-02 - Number 48
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Dog |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if that player has two or fewer cards in hand, Hellfire Mongrel deals 2 damage to him or her.
There is no fondness between the hound and its master. There is only a common appreciation of the hunt.
Cards like Hellfire Mongrel
Hellfire Mongrel presents an intriguing angle in the realm of damage-dealing creatures of Magic: The Gathering. It bears some resemblance to cards like Scab-Clan Berserker, which also punishes the opponent under certain conditions. Hellfire Mongrel deals damage to the opponent during their upkeep if they hold four or more cards, reinforcing the strategy of forcing opponents to either play or discard their hand quickly.
Another card worth mentioning is Lobber Crew, which similarly inflicts consistent damage but instead can be activated each turn irrespective of the opponent’s hand size. However, Hellfire Mongrel doesn’t require tapping to use its ability, which makes it a passive and consistent threat. In comparison, Rakdos, Lord of Riots, can also restrict opponent actions by making spells cost more unless they’ve been hurt during the turn, a more aggressive tactic that rewards dealing damage early on.
Assessing these comparisons, Hellfire Mongrel has its niche in MTG gameplay. It seamlessly fits into decks looking to passively pressure opponents and complements strategies that capitalize on reducing the opponent’s options. This subtle yet persistent form of pressure can tip the scales in a close game, especially when combined with other hand disruption mechanics.
Cards similar to Hellfire Mongrel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Hellfire Mongrel doesn’t provide a direct way to draw cards, it puts continuous pressure on your opponent, potentially forcing them to discard or play cards prematurely to maintain a healthier life total. This sort of psychological advantage can indirectly translate into card advantage as your opponent struggles to address the threat.
Resource Acceleration: Hellfire Mongrel itself does not provide resource acceleration in the form of mana or tokens. However, its low mana cost allows for a quick deployment on the battlefield. This enables you to allocate resources to other spells earlier in the game, keeping the pressure on and advancing your board state while draining your opponent’s resources and life.
Instant Speed: Though the Hellfire Mongrel operates at sorcery speed, its ability activates automatically at the beginning of each opponent’s upkeep. This ensures that even when it’s not your turn, the card is actively contributing to your game plan, disrupting your opponent’s play, and presenting a threat that needs to be dealt with immediately.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Hellfire Mongrel demands constant hand-size management to avoid self-inflicted damage. Each turn’s end inconsistency can leave you vulnerable, taxing your ability to be flexible with card usage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s requirement for both colorless and red mana restricts deck-building options, making it less versatile in multi-color decks that might struggle to provide the necessary red sources consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With multiple options available for the three-mana slot, the Mongrel’s mana cost can be seen as steep, especially when considering creatures of similar cost that provide immediate impact or more resilient bodies on the board.
Reasons to Include Hellfire Mongrel in Your Collection
Versatility: Hellfire Mongrel is a flexible card that wedges nicely into red aggro or burn decks. Its ability to punish opponents during their upkeep increases its effectiveness across various formats.
Combo Potential: This creature syncs well with strategies that force the opponent to hold a large hand size, or within decks utilizing damage multipliers to amplify the pain Hellfire Mongrel can dish out.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where passive damage can tip the scales, Hellfire Mongrel’s consistent damage output keeps opponents on a clock, particularly punishing in metas heavy with slower, control-based decks.
How to Beat Hellfire Mongrel
Hellfire Mongrel presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, emitting a constant pressure that can whittle down an opponent’s life total during the upkeep phase. Navigating around this inherent threat requires a careful game plan and well-timed responses. Efficient removal spells are the key to neutralizing Hellfire Mongrel. Considering its moderate toughness, simple direct damage spells like Shock or Lightning Bolt can dispatch it promptly, ensuring you don’t suffer the life loss on your upkeep.
An alternative strategy involves taking advantage of the mongrel’s effect, which is contingent on the number of cards in your hand. By playing spells on your turns and keeping your hand size small, you can mitigate the damage it deals. Controlling the pace of the game and emptying your hand when Hellfire Mongrel is in play can turn its intimidating effect into a negligible one.
Moreover, counteracting the life loss with life gain elements is another viable approach. Incorporating cards that provide consistent life gain helps counterbalance Hellfire Mongrel’s burn, allowing you to maintain a healthy life total while dealing with the mongrel or executing your winning strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hellfire Mongrel MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, 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 Hellfire Mongrel 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 Hellfire Mongrel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2011-09-02. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 130 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 2 | 2011-09-02 | Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas | DDH | 48 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hellfire Mongrel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hellfire Mongrel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Hellfire Mongrel’s triggered ability has an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” That means (1) the ability won’t trigger at all unless the opponent whose turn it is has two or fewer cards in hand as their upkeep starts, and (2) the ability will do nothing if that player has three or more cards in hand by the time it resolves. |
| 2009-10-01 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, this ability will potentially trigger twice at the beginning of the opposing team’s upkeep — once for each player on that team. |