Timbermaw Larva MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	189
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Timbermaw Larva excels in decks with many Forests, enhancing board threat without depleting your hand.
It applies pressure, indirectly enabling resource advantage by forcing opponent responses.
Instant-speed spells enhance the Larva’s power, creating surprise combat advantages.

Text of card

Whenever Timbermaw Larva attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each Forest you control.

"You can't trust your eyes. A tree might look healthy, but its insides tell a different tale." —Zahr Gada, Halimar expedition leader

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Timbermaw Larva thrives in decks that have a substantial number of Forests, ensuring that each attack phase where it’s not blocked, you’re effectively increasing the threat on the board without expending additional cards from your hand. As the Larva gets stronger with each Forest, it places the onus on your opponent to deal with it, possibly leading them to expend more resources than you.

Resource Acceleration: While Timbermaw Larva doesn’t directly affect your mana pool, its very presence can accelerate your gameplay by demanding answers from your opponents. This pressure can lead to a more resource-intensive response from them, indirectly benefiting your mana curve and your overall board state in the later turns.

Instant Speed: Timbermaw Larva isn’t an instant itself, but its synergies become apparent when played in combination with instant-speed spells that allow you to fetch Forests during your opponent’s turn or before damage calculation. This can create sudden changes in its power, catching an opponent off-guard during the attack phase and potentially leading to advantageous trades or unexpected amounts of damage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside to Timbermaw Larva is the necessity to discard another card, which could put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand size is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green and generic mana, this card’s cost is not as flexible as mono-colored options, posing a restriction in decks that might struggle with mana diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is relatively steep for its base stats, you may find that there are other creatures or spells which offer greater value or impact upon the game at a similar cost threshold.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Timbermaw Larva seamlessly slots into a variety of green-centric decks, particularly in formats that support ramp or landfall mechanics. Its ability to grow larger with each land you play makes it a constantly escalating threat on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with decks that emphasize land plays. Pairing Timbermaw Larva with cards that allow multiple land drops in a turn can magnify its power rapidly, presenting a formidable force that must be addressed by opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where slower, ramp-based strategies are prevalent, Timbermaw Larva can become a critical piece. It demands an answer early on, and if left unchecked, it can dominate the game as you continually bolster its strength with additional lands.

How to beat

Timbermaw Larva is a unique creature in the realm of MTG, bringing a land-focused dynamic to the battlefield. This card grows stronger with each Forest you control, making it a potential threat in green-centric decks. To effectively counter this growing menace, the key is to limit the number of Forests in play. Land destruction spells or land-interaction spells can be your best allies here. Cards like Acidic Slime or Ghost Quarter disrupt your opponent’s land base, stunting the Larva’s growth and keeping it manageable.

Additionally, since Timbermaw Larva requires a Forest to be tapped to boost its power, instant-speed removal can be particularly effective. Using removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push after the Forest has been tapped but before the damage phase, ensures that this creature can be taken care of before it becomes too large. It’s also worth noting that keeping Forests untapped is a strategy some players might adopt, so having a flexible removal strategy is key.

Controlling the pace of the game is essential when facing a card like Timbermaw Larva. Combining land control with timely creature removal allows you to stay ahead, preventing the setup of a dominant board presence by your opponent and ensuring your place in the game remains secure.

Cards like Timbermaw Larva

Timbermaw Larva is a unique creature that evolves as land enters the battlefield under your control, making it a valuable asset for MTG decks that favor landfall mechanics. Llanowar Scout is a creature that shares a similar idea of benefitting from land playing, as it allows you to put an additional land on the battlefield each turn. Though the Scout doesn’t grow in power like the Larva, it directly contributes to accelerating your mana resources.

Looking at another leaf from the same deck, we encounter Undergrowth Champion. This creature also prospers each time a land comes into play, acquiring +1/+1 counters. Moreover, it showcases an ability to prevent damage by removing those counters, interlacing defense with its growing strength. Unlike Timbermaw Larva, Undergrowth Champion offers immediate board impact with its robustness and resilience.

In essence, Timbermaw Larva stands out in green decks for its simplicity and synergy with land ramp strategies. While it does not offer the land-placement capability of Llanowar Scout or the defensive versatility of Undergrowth Champion, its potential for exponential growth can threaten opponents if left unchecked on the battlefield.

Undergrowth Champion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Timbermaw Larva by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

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Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Timbermaw Larva MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Timbermaw Larva and other MTG cards: