Lava Hounds MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 109
2003-07-28 - Number 198
2003-07-28 - Number 198★
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dog |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Lava Hounds is unaffected by summoning sickness. When Lava Hounds comes into play, it deals 4 damage to you.
What cats bury, dogs eat. —Urborg aphorism
Cards like Lava Hounds
Lava Hounds in MTG brings a unique flare to the realm of creature cards. At a comparable mana cost, we see Ember Beast, which also requires a commitment of three red mana. Unlike Ember Beast, Lava Hounds presents a noteworthy drawback, obliging players to sacrifice a land upon its arrival. This is a strategic contrast to Ember Beast which does not necessitate such a sacrifice but shares the inability to attack alone.
Diving further into parallels, Ball Lightning stands out with its trample ability and a formidable power of six for the same cost. Yet, it’s designed to be a fleeting threat, vanishing at the end of turn, as opposed to the lasting presence Lava Hounds offer. The analogy extends to Akoum Warrior, a flexible choice as it can enter as a land early game or be a substantial creature later on, providing players with valuable adaptability missing in the more rigid Lava Hounds.
Evaluating these related cards highlights Lava Hounds’ placement within the spectrum of red creatures. Despite its land sacrifice limitation, its potential to exert consistent pressure round after round cements it as a card with both risks and rewards for MTG enthusiasts.
Cards similar to Lava Hounds by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When summoning Lava Hounds, you gain an immediate presence on the board with multiple creatures, which puts you ahead in terms of card economy and the ability to apply pressure or defend.
Resource Acceleration: Lava Hounds can potentially ramp up your available mana. If the card has an ability to untap lands or similar mechanics, it can massively accelerate your resource availability, giving you an edge to cast high-cost spells sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: If Lava Hounds can be cast at instant speed, this provides exceptional flexibility. It allows you to best use your mana, wait for the opportune moment to play your spells, and react promptly to your opponent’s actions, potentially leading to advantageous plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To bring Lava Hounds into play, you’ll often need to sacrifice another card from your hand. This requirement can put you at a card disadvantage and disrupt your game plan, especially when you’re struggling to maintain a strong hand presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Lava Hounds demands a specific combination of mana types. With a need for red mana in its casting cost, it may not be as versatile across all deck types, potentially limiting its inclusion to strictly red or specific multicolor decks with access to red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in with a relatively hefty mana investment, Lava Hounds can be seen as cost-inefficient compared to other creatures you could cast for the same, or even lower, mana cost. This high mana requirement might make it a less optimal choice in fast-paced game environments where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Lava Hounds in Your Collection
Versatility: Lava Hounds offers flexibility as it can serve as a formidable creature in aggressive red decks or as a defensive measure against opponents’ creatures. Its solid four power gives it relevance in various scenarios.
Combo Potential: With its ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield, Lava Hounds can be used in combination with cards that capitalize on dealing direct damage or with those that trigger when creatures come into play.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are commonly seen across different formats, Lava Hounds can be a strategic inclusion to either strengthen your board presence or control the tempo against creature-heavy decks in the meta.
How to Beat Lava Hounds
Overcoming the challenge that Lava Hounds present to players in MTG requires strategic planning and the right choice of spells. The card’s ability to deal damage while offering a formidable creature can disrupt many deck strategies. To effectively counter this, removal spells that can handle creatures with indestructibility or those that can exile, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, are excellent options. These instantly negate the persistent threat of Lava Hounds.
In addition to targeted removal, another successful strategy involves adjusting the tempo of the game. Utilizing countermagic, like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, when Lava Hounds is on the stack provides a preemptive measure to prevent it from entering the battlefield. It’s also beneficial to incorporate enchantments or artifacts that can control or redirect damage to protect your life total and other creatures from Lava Hounds’ fiery assault.
Focusing on these strategic elements allows players to adapt their gameplay and outmaneuver the heat brought by Lava Hounds. Whether it’s through direct removal, controlling the tempo, or shielding valuable targets, skillful play and deck building can combat the raw power that this card offers.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lava Hounds MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Eighth Edition, 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 Lava Hounds 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
Printings
The Lava Hounds Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by Steve White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 109 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steve White | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 198 | 2003 | Normal | White | Steve White | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 198★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve White |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Hounds has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |