Grim Lavamancer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Grim Lavamancer effectively turns graveyard contents into repeatable direct damage against opponents.
  2. Its instant speed action allows strategic flexibility and disruption during an opponent’s turn.
  3. The card’s demand for red mana and graveyard resources can limit its use in varied decks.

Text of card

o R, oc T, Remove two cards in your graveyard from the game: Grim Lavamancer deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

"Fools dig for water, corpses, or gold. The earth's real treasure is far deeper."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grim Lavamancer provides a strong utility to transform graveyard resources into direct damage, offering sustained card advantage by converting past plays into a potent burn.

Resource Acceleration: By using spent spells and creatures that are otherwise inactive in your graveyard, Grim Lavamancer accelerates your gameplay by offering an additional venue to utilize those resources effectively.

Instant Speed: Grim Lavamancer’s ability to deal damage at instant speed gives players the flexibility to disrupt opponents’ strategies during their turn and potentially removing key creatures right before a pivotal combat or end step.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Grim Lavamancer is the need to discard cards from your graveyard to activate its ability. This can deplete your graveyard resources, potentially limiting the effectiveness of strategies reliant on a stocked graveyard.

Specific Mana Cost: Grim Lavamancer’s ability requires red mana, which means it can’t be seamlessly integrated into decks without a red mana base. This specific mana requirement narrows its versatility and can complicate mana fixing in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one red mana to cast, consistently using Grim Lavamancer’s ability may require a substantial mana investment over time. In some scenarios, other cards might offer similar effects without the ongoing cost, rendering those choices potentially more mana-efficient in the long run.


Reasons to Include Grim Lavamancer in Your Collection

Versatility: Grim Lavamancer slots into a variety of red-centric decks, from fast-paced aggro to more controlling builds. Its ability to deal damage directly allows it to serve as both a threat to opponents and a way to manage creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that cycle through their cards quickly or fill the graveyard with fetch lands and spells, providing a consistent source of damage. It can synergize with many cards that benefit from graveyard interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where small creatures and utility targets are prevalent, Grim Lavamancer proves its worth by keeping the board in check. Its presence can deter opponents from playing key low-toughness creatures and can disrupt various combo pieces pivotal to their strategies.


How to beat

Overcoming Grim Lavamancer requires strategic consideration due to its ability to deal direct damage while offering great utility in any deck that can fuel its graveyard demands. To best this fiery adversary, denying resources is key. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze can efficiently remove fuel for the Lavamancer’s activated ability, rendering the card less threatening. Swift removal spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are also effective in swiftly dispatching the creature before it can accumulate too much value.

Another tactic is to outpace the incremental damage by gaining life or deploying creatures with toughness greater than Grim Lavamancer’s output capability. This way, you can mitigate the damage dealt and maintain a stronger board presence. Consider also the benefits of using counterspells to prevent the Lavamancer from hitting the battlefield in the first place, thereby stopping the problem at its source. Adapting your battlefield strategy to these dynamics can shift the game in your favor against a player relying on Grim Lavamancer.


Cards like Grim Lavamancer

Grim Lavamancer is a standout card in MTG for its ability to turn graveyard resources into direct damage. Its closest relative in terms of function is Scorched Rusalka, which also offers a method of trading resources—specifically creatures—for the ability to deal damage to opponents. However, Scorched Rusalka does not make use of the graveyard, making it less favorable for decks centered around graveyard synergy.

Another peer in this category is Firebrand Archer, which rewards players for playing noncreature spells by dealing damage to opponents. While Firebrand Archer can potentially trigger multiple times in a turn, it lacks the direct control over its ability that Grim Lavamancer provides. Additionally, Goblin Sharpshooter which can untap and deal damage after creatures die, presents a similar strategy, but it is much more contingent on board states to effectuate its damage dealing capacity.

In the broader scope of MTG’s direct damage cards, Grim Lavamancer offers an exceptional combination of graveyard manipulation and targeted removal, solidifying its reputation as a highly versatile and reliable choice for players aiming to optimize their deck’s direct damage potential.

Scorched Rusalka - MTG Card versions
Firebrand Archer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sharpshooter - MTG Card versions
Scorched Rusalka - Guildpact (GPT)
Firebrand Archer - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Goblin Sharpshooter - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Grim Lavamancer by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Frenzied Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Goblin Digging Team - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Goblin Artisans - Rinascimento (RIN)
Gorilla Shaman - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Roc Hatchling - Weatherlight (WTH)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Enslaved Dwarf - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Frenzied Goblin - Magic 2015 (M15)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grim Lavamancer MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Magic Online Promos, 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 Grim Lavamancer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grim Lavamancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-02-04TormentTOR 1001997normalblackJim Nelson
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 314892003normalblackMichael Sutfin
32006-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2006G06 22003normalblackMichael Sutfin
42011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1452003normalblackMichael Sutfin
52017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 502015normalblackMichael Sutfin
62020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3312015normalblackMichael Sutfin
72020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1292015normalblackMichael Sutfin
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4342015normalborderlessPaolo Parente
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1262015normalblackMichael Sutfin
102023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3241997normalblackMichael Sutfin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grim Lavamancer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 The two cards are exiled as the cost of Grim Lavamancer’s ability is paid. Players can’t respond to the paying of costs by trying to move those cards to another zone.

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