Lithophage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Insect
Power 7
Toughness 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Lithophage can deliver card advantage by forcing opponents to expend valuable resources.
  2. Its ability to consume lands offers indirect resource acceleration and can clear the way for other threats.
  3. Strategic deployment enhances Lithophage’s impact, making timing crucial for maximized game plan development.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Lithophage unless you sacrifice a mountain.

It's viciously territorial, destroying every creature on the mountain it has chosen to consume.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lithophage presents an intriguing dynamic, as it often demands an answer from your opponent. Its presence on the battlefield could potentially lead to card advantage as your opponent is forced to deal with it, thus utilizing their removal spells or resources that could have been used elsewhere.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of acceleration, Lithophage’s ability to consume lands for sustenance could indirectly affect resource acceleration. By pressuring opponents to deal with it, the card can pave the way for your other threats to seize control of the game unimpeded.

Instant Speed: While Lithophage itself does not function at instant speed, strategizing its deployment during the late phases of your turn maximizes its impact. By playing it right before your untap step, you allow yourself the flexibility to use its ability wisely, consuming only the lands you can afford to and thus maintaining a steady development of your game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lithophage demands a continuous sacrifice of nonbasic lands which can deplete your crucial resources, potentially setting you back in the game as you struggle to maintain its presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires an exact mana allocation to cast—a total of two generic and two red mana. For players running multicolor decks, particularly those that are mana-intensive, fitting Lithophage seamlessly into the mana curve can be challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Lithophage’s power and toughness may not justify the investment, especially when considering other creatures at the same cost that provide immediate impact or have evasive abilities.


Reasons to Include Lithophage in Your Collection

Versatility: Lithophage offers a unique angle in deck building, thriving in environments where land destruction or land manipulation are part of your strategy. Its ability to potentially become a formidable creature turn after turn makes it an interesting choice for those experimenting with different deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with cards that allow you to use your lands for more than just mana. In situations where you can repeatedly play lands from your graveyard or untap them for additional use, Lithophage can become a consistent threat on the board.

Meta-Relevance: With the right deck, Lithophage can play a key role in metagames that don’t heavily penalize land sacrifice. In such an environment, not only can it become a sizable threat, but it also dodges removal that targets smaller creatures, setting you apart in the current competitive field.


How to beat

Lithophage presents itself as a unique challenge on the battlefield. This sizeable creature harnesses the power of lands – devouring them to sustain itself. Understandably, this can cause a significant setback for an unprepared opponent. To effectively navigate against Lithophage, a focus on land preservation is crucial. Utilizing spells that generate land tokens or quickly fetch lands from your library can help minimize the impact of its consumption. Moreover, integrating removal or control spells into your deck is essential, aiming to disrupt or eliminate Lithophage before its appetite wreaks havoc.

Adapting to the pace of the game against such a monstrosity can also turn the tide in your favor. Speedy mana acceleration might enable you to deploy threats that outweigh Lithophage’s presence sooner rather than later. In addition, consider cards that penalize or restrict your opponent for sacrificing lands, thereby deterring the digestion-driven strategy. With careful strategizing and the right combination of MTG cards, you can ensure that this formidable rock-eater is more a pebble in your path rather than a boulder blocking your victory.


Cards like Lithophage

Lithophage is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering. It shares traits with other cards that demand sacrifices for massive power. Like Lithophage, Desecration Demon asks for offerings from your opponents, but instead of lands, they sacrifice a creature to tap it. This makes the demon a versatile threat in a multiplayer setting where it can potentially grow stronger each turn.

Another card worth comparing is the, Obsidian Fireheart. It also has a consuming connection to lands, imprinting them to deal damage over time, resembling Lithophage’s repeated need for land sacrifice. However, Obsidian Fireheart’s ability leaves a lasting effect on the board even if the creature is dealt with. Lastly, a look at the likes of Avalanche Riders showcases a different approach to land interaction, offering immediate land destruction with its arrival, compared to the gradual impact of Lithophage, but without the same staying power or size.

Weighing these options, Lithophage presents itself as a unique creature card with a potential for substantial board impact over time, aligning with a specific deck strategy that leverages land resources differently from its counterparts in Magic: The Gathering.

Desecration Demon - MTG Card versions
Obsidian Fireheart - MTG Card versions
Avalanche Riders - MTG Card versions
Desecration Demon - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Obsidian Fireheart - Zendikar (ZEN)
Avalanche Riders - Urza's Legacy (ULG)

Cards similar to Lithophage by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Ravaging Horde - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thundering Giant - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Savage Firecat - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Ravaging Horde - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Thundering Giant - Tenth Edition (10E)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Savage Firecat - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lithophage MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Lithophage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lithophage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by Mike Ploog.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2021997normalblackMike Ploog
22012-03-30Duel Decks: Venser vs. KothDDI 572003normalblackMike Ploog

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lithophage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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