Laccolith Whelp MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	91
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Dorman

Key Takeaways

Laccolith Whelp fosters card advantage by making opponents exhaust resources to answer its growing threat.
While not directly accelerating resources, it deters attacks, indirectly solidifying your board control.
The Whelp’s abilities reward strategic combat planning, enhancing flexibility in your tactical plays.

Text of card

Whenever Laccolith Whelp becomes blocked, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature. If you do, Laccolith Whelp deals no combat damage this turn.

They don't feed; they stoke.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Laccolith Whelp doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but it supports card advantage by threatening to become a larger threat, forcing opponents to deal with it. This can lead to a situation where your opponent must use their removal spells on your Whelp, thus preserving your more valuable creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Laccolith Whelp doesn’t provide mana acceleration in the traditional sense, its presence can indirectly accelerate your resources by deterring attacks. Opponents may hold back creatures to avoid the Whelp’s power-up ability, allowing you to maintain a stable battlefield and develop your board without pressure.

Instant Speed: The Whelp’s activated ability may not be cast at instant speed, but engaging it becomes a strategic move during the combat phase. The ability to potentially pump it after blockers are declared allows for a tactical advantage, aligning with the benefits of instant-speed actions by providing flexibility and surprise within the combat phase’s structure.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the context of Laccolith Whelp, it’s important to note that some cards in MTG require a player to discard in order to trigger certain abilities or enter the battle. Although Laccolith Whelp does not have a discard requirement, this aspect can be a downside for cards in the same category, as it may deplete a player’s hand when they need to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Laccolith Whelp demands a distinct mana combination to cast. Needing one red and three generic mana, it could pose a challenge in multicolored decks that might struggle with consistency in generating the required mana types, especially early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a creature that offers a modest effect, players might find Laccolith Whelp less appealing compared to other creatures at the same cost that could provide more significant board presence or offer additional abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Laccolith Whelp’s niche ability to deal damage to creatures while blocking or being blocked allows for tactical defensive plays that can shift the tide in creature-heavy matchups. Its inclusion adds a nuanced layer of strategy in deck designs where creature combat is frequent.

Combo Potential: Coupled with cards that can increase its power, Laccolith Whelp has the capacity to eliminate larger threats on the board. This can link up with strategies that revolve around damage distribution and combat manipulation for surprising in-game advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive creature strategies proliferate, having Laccolith Whelp can serve as a deterrent against such decks. Its presence can stave off small attackers and even act as a removal tool against specific threats, aligning well with a meta that appreciates creature control.

How to beat

Laccolith Whelp presents a unique challenge when facing it in the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its key trait is that when it becomes blocked, it bestows a +1/+1 counter onto another creature you control. What makes it tricky to handle is its ability to gradually enhance your opponents’ creatures, making them increasingly more formidable as the game progresses.

Countering Laccolith Whelp requires a strategic approach. Direct removal spells are one’s best bet, with options ranging from Murder to Path to Exile, which can dispatch it before it starts shifting the balance. Creature abilities like Deathtouch can also deter your opponent from attacking, thereby stalling the Whelp’s counter distribution. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the playing field, removing not just the Whelp but also the beneficiaries of its ability, leveling the playing field once more.

Handling this creature effectively hinges on preventing the accumulation of counters or dealing with it swiftly, ensuring that the creature enhancements it provides are kept to a minimum or negated entirely. This way, the scale of threat the Laccolith Whelp poses can be effectively mitigated, preserving the balance of the duel in your favor.

Cards like Laccolith Whelp

In looking at the attributes of Laccolith Whelp within Magic: The Gathering, its comparison with other cards offers interesting insights. The whelp shares traits with Fire Whip, which can also be used to ping creatures or players when attached. However, the Whelp stands out as it doesn’t need to be tied to a creature and automatically fires when blocked. Fire Whip enjoys flexibility but lacks the automatic trigger of the Whelp.

Another card to consider is Goblin Sharpshooter, which similarly pings targets upon tapping but with added utility since it untaps whenever a creature dies. But the Sharpshooter demands a more controlled scenario to unleash its full potential. The Whelp’s passive ability can deter opponents from blocking, potentially allowing it to deal combat damage more frequently.

Then there’s the Cunning Sparkmage, which offers direct damage to any target every turn. Unlike the Laccolith Whelp, the Sparkmage requires no combat interaction to deal its damage. Yet the Whelp’s lower mana cost and the damage output tied to blocking provide a different tactical edge.

Assessing these comparisons, Laccolith Whelp has its unique role in MTG, leveraged by its niche ability to discourage blockers and apply pressure on the opponent’s strategy.

Cards similar to Laccolith Whelp by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Laccolith Whelp MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Laccolith Whelp and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Laccolith Whelp has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Laccolith Whelp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	It can target any creature on the battlefield, not just one of the ones blocking it.
2004-10-04	The ability allows you to deal damage during the declare blockers step of combat, which is well before even first strike creatures deal damage.
2004-10-04	The ability is optional. You can decide to allow it to deal combat damage as normal.
2004-10-04	The ability triggers even if a spell or ability makes it blocked, instead of being blocked by a creature.