Hornet Harasser MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Shaman
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	118
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Nils Hamm

Key Takeaways

Hornet Harasser provides card advantage by allowing repeated creature removal without losing hand resources.
Its instant speed play allows for flexible response to threats, enhancing control over the game’s pace.
Demands careful hand and mana management, restricting its use to well-suited decks for effective play.

Text of card

When Hornet Harasser is put into a graveyard from play, target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

"And though she didn't get her honey, Auntie found something far more interesting." —A tale of Auntie Grub

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hornet Harasser gives players the potential for repeated creature removal, providing a continuous threat to opponent’s creatures and persistently tipping the scale in your favor over the course of the game.

Resource Acceleration: When you control a card like Hornet Harasser, you gain the ability to disrupt your opponent’s board state without expending additional cards from your hand, essentially accelerating your resource management by preserving your hand count while depleting theirs.

Instant Speed: The flexibility to cast Hornet Harasser at instant speed means you can adapt to the dynamic battlefield, possibly eliminating a key threat during combat or in response to an opponent’s action, which can drastically influence the pace and outcome of a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hornet Harasser requires a card to be discarded to unleash its potential, putting you at a potential disadvantage should your hand be running on empty.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of green mana to play, thus restricting its inclusion to green-centric or multi-color decks adept at producing such mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana required to bring Hornet Harasser into play is considerable when assessed against other creatures with similar abilities. The cost may be too steep for the benefits it provides, especially in faster-paced games where efficiency is paramount.

Reasons to Include Hornet Harasser in Your Collection

Versatility: Hornet Harasser offers a diverse range of uses on the battlefield. It’s not just a creature; its abilities can disrupt opponent strategies by targeting specific card types in their graveyard.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy possibilities with graveyard manipulation and can be pivotal in decks that exploit the number of creature cards in graveyards, enhancing certain mechanics or enabling powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given that many current decks rely on graveyard strategies, Hornet Harasser can act as an effective counter. In a meta filled with reanimation spells or recursion abilities, having this card could give you the upper hand.

How to beat

Hornet Harasser is an intriguing creature that can pose a real threat to players in the MTG realm. Fending off this insect requires a keen understanding of its weaknesses. Removal spells are a clear-cut solution; options such as Shock or Lightning Bolt can swiftly eliminate Hornet Harasser before its abilities become problematic.

Control decks have an array of answers, including countermagic like Essence Scatter to prevent Hornet Harasser from hitting the battlefield in the first place. It’s also worth considering adjustments to your game plan to minimize the impact of Hornet Harasser’s pesky triggered abilities. Prioritize creatures that can withstand its assault, or use spells that can neutralize it upon entry.

Of course, keeping the battlefield clear of insects can also dampen the card’s effectiveness. Sweepers like Wrath of God ensure Hornet Harasser doesn’t have allies to bolster its presence. Playing strategically and using the right cards at the right time will let you turn the tables on the looming threat of Hornet Harasser.

Cards like Hornet Harasser

Hornet Harasser enriches Magic: The Gathering’s ecosystem of insect creatures with its stingy potential. It echoes the traits of cards like Giant Hornet, presenting a flying aspect combined with the capacity to distribute -1/-1 counters, emulating the concept of insects inflicting damage on opponents. Yet, Hornet Harasser offers a unique twist, demanding an opponent to control more lands than you to unleash its effect, incentivizing strategic land count management.

Balancing out Hornet Harasser’s comparison is Thrummingbird, sharing a similar counter spreading mechanic, but via proliferate after dealing combat damage. While Thrummingbird can multiply an array of different counters, Hornet Harasser focuses on hindering opponent creatures with -1/-1 counters, a more direct and aggressive approach. Furthermore, Sky Scourer also flutters in for a comparison, albeit with a stat-boosting ability rather than counter dispersing, it offers aggressive increases with each spell cast – a different tempo from Hornet Harasser’s more tactical land-dependent trigger.

Analyzing these creatures side by side, Hornet Harasser sits comfortably in Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal with its unique land-centric mechanism, creating both offensive and defensive opportunities that can shape the tide of the game in nuanced ways.

Sky Scourer - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Hornet Harasser by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Gixian Puppeteer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hornet Harasser MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Hornet Harasser and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hornet Harasser has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2007-10-01	Hornet Harasser’s ability is mandatory. If you’re the only player who controls any creatures, you must give one of your own creatures -2/-2.