Hellhole Flailer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Ogre Warrior |
| Abilities | Unleash |
| Released | 2012-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Return to Ravnica |
| Set code | RTR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 167 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Prescott |
Text of card
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.) , Sacrifice Hellhole Flailer: Hellhole Flailer deals damage equal to its power to target player.
Cards like Hellhole Flailer
Hellhole Flailer holds a unique position in the array of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Rakdos Cackler, which also boasts the Unleash ability – enabling it to enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter at the slight cost of not being able to block. However, Hellhole Flailer goes beyond by offering an offensive edge with its ability to deal damage equal to its power to a player or planeswalker by sacrificing itself.
Analogous to Hellhole Flailer in the damage-dealing department is Ember Hauler – a creature that can also be sacrificed to deal damage. While Ember Hauler requires less mana investment and deals a flat two damage, Hellhole Flailer’s potential damage output scales with its power, potentially resulting in a greater impact on the game’s outcome. Another peer in this space is Flamewake Phoenix, which has the ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield, providing repeated offensive capabilities, although it lacks the direct damage ability both Hellhole Flailer and Ember Hauler possess.
In sum, within the fiery realms of creature-based direct damage, Hellhole Flailer offers an imposing blend of power enhancement and self-sacrifice for impact, carving its niche in aggressive MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Hellhole Flailer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Hellhole Flailer doesn’t explicitly allow you to draw more cards, its Unleash mechanic aids in maintaining card pressure on the battlefield. By opting to enter with a +1/+1 counter, the increased power means it can potentially eliminate larger threats or survive longer, often forcing your opponent to deal with it and potentially giving you a card advantage as they expend resources to handle the threat.
Resource Acceleration: Hellhole Flailer isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, yet its ability to be sacrificed for direct damage translates to resource conversion. This conversion of a creature on the board to an immediate impact on your opponent’s life total is a tactical shift of resources, potentially accelerating the clock towards your win condition without the need for additional combat phases.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Hellhole Flailer to deal damage equal to its power at instant speed provides a level of versatility during play. You can pass your turn without attacking and still pose a threat to your opponent’s life total. This can lead to advantageous plays, where you wait for your opponent to commit to an action before deciding the optimal time to unleash Hellhole Flailer’s ability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Hellhole Flailer is its Unleash ability, which might be less optimal when your strategy doesn’t favor aggressive tactics or if creatures with +1/+1 counters face specific removal in the meta.
Specific Mana Cost: Hellhole Flailer demands a precise combination of colored mana to deploy, costing one black, one red, and two generic mana. This can be restrictive, particularly in formats that celebrate multicolor decks or those with a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While offering a solid body and the potential for direct damage, the card’s four mana cost is an investment. Considering the pacing of the game, other creatures or spells could provide immediate impact or greater board presence for the same or less investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Hellhole Flailer offers flexibility in deck building, fitting naturally into Rakdos aggro strategies and providing a reliable body that can take a punch and deal substantial damage. Its ability to provide an edge in both dealing damage and utilizing unspent mana makes it a sound choice for players who like to keep their opponents guessing.
Combo Potential: With its unique Unleash mechanic, Hellhole Flailer can become significantly more formidable, and when combined with sacrifice synergies or effects that trigger upon creature death, it can be an explosive finisher. The card’s versatility in combos is complemented by its secondary ability, allowing for direct life total strategies.
Meta-Relevance: As aggro decks continue to maintain a presence in various metas, Hellhole Flailer’s ability to apply early pressure then transition to a late-game threat showcases its relevancy. The card can be particularly useful when the battlefield is stalled, providing an alternative route to victory against control-heavy opponents.
How to beat
Hellhole Flailer is an intriguing creature in MTG that not only deals damage on the battlefield but can also be unleashed for direct damage to your opponent. Its ability to both attack as a formidable creature and be sacrificed for that final burst of damage makes it a versatile threat that requires strategic planning to overcome. To beat Hellhole Flailer, efficient removal is key. Creature removal spells that can target it before its sacrifice ability is activated are highly effective.
Another tactic is countering the Flailer’s unleash ability. This could involve using spells that negate activated abilities or employing creature abilities that prevent the Flailer from being sacrificed. Since Hellhole Flailer’s ability costs mana and a sacrifice, being proactive by pressuring your opponent’s mana sources or keeping their creature count low can hinder their ability to use this feature.
Overall, dealing with Hellhole Flailer involves anticipation and readiness. Disrupting your opponent’s strategy, maintaining open mana for instant-speed responses, and recognizing the right moment to neutralize threats are all important aspects of mitigating the damage Helhole Flailer can inflict on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hellhole Flailer MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Hellhole Flailer 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hellhole Flailer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hellhole Flailer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-10-01 | The damage dealt by the last ability is equal to Hellhole Flailer’s power when it was last on the battlefield. For example, if it had a +1/+1 counter on it, it will deal 4 damage. |
| 2013-04-15 | A creature with unleash can’t block if it has any +1/+1 counter on it, not just one put on it by the unleash ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block. |
| 2013-04-15 | The unleash ability applies no matter where the creature is entering the battlefield from. |
| 2013-04-15 | You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example. |