Laughing Hyena MTG Card

Unhinged (UNH)
2004-11-19 - Number 103★

Unhinged (UNH)
2004-11-19 - Number 103

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Hyena
Power	2
Toughness	2
Un-set :-)	This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

Laughing Hyena adds whimsy and tactical depth to games, favoring decks that capitalize on hand size and instant speed plays.
Its demand for specific mana and a discard to activate may challenge deck builders and impact in-game strategies.
A light-hearted choice for collections, this card thrives in social settings, offering a fun twist with its unique mechanics.

Text of card

Gotcha — If an opponent laughs, you may say "Gotcha!" When you do, return Laughing Hyena from your graveyard to your hand.

"Two muffins are baking in an oven. One muffin says to the other muffin, 'It's getting hot in here, huh?' The other muffin says, 'Aagh! A talking muffin'"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Laughing Hyena can be a subtle yet effective addition to decks focused on drawing additional cards. With the right setup, this creature can transform apparent whimsy into tactical depth, giving you an edge in maintaining your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana, Laughing Hyena can be part of synergistic mechanics that accelerate your resource management. By ensuring creature presence on the board, it helps to fortify strategies that rely on creature counts for various benefits.

Instant Speed: The ability to morph Laughing Hyena at instant speed grants flexibility during gameplay. It allows a player to adapt to the unfolding situation, potentially surprising an opponent with an unexpected blocker or attacker after they’ve committed to their own strategy for the turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Foresight in deck design is crucial as Laughing Hyena demands a discard to generate its effect. Should your hand be scarce, deciding which card to forfeit could put you at an unexpected disadvantage in key moments of gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: To summon Laughing Hyena, players must tap into an exact mana combination. This requirement can present a challenge, particularly in multi-color decks that may lack the consistency in mana sources to summon the Hyena reliably on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing its abilities against its mana expense, Laughing Hyena may not always hit the mark for value. In competitive play, the pace is paramount, and cards with a lower cost could be a better fit, bringing similar or even greater impact to the battlefield, thereby overshadowing the strategic utility of the Laughing Hyena.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Laughing Hyena card is not restricted to a single deck archetype, lending itself well to casual and themed animal decks. Its varied utility in these types of casual play makes it a fun addition to a collection that values diversity in deck strategies.

Combo Potential: While not a combo powerhouse, Laughing Hyena’s unassuming nature allows it to slide under the radar in social games. Its potential in ‘joke’ or ‘pun’ decks, while niche, can offer a surprising twist when paired with certain cards that play off the humorous aspect of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a competitive sense, Laughing Hyena may not shake the meta, but in a local game store or kitchen table environment, the joy and laughter it brings to the table can disrupt the usual seriousness of gameplay, making it a meta-relevant choice for those looking to inject some spirited fun into their games.

How to beat

The Laughing Hyena is a unique creature in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering that can present a quirky challenge to players. This particular card becomes a source of amusement for any player who can trigger its ability to force an opponent to laugh or lose life. While it may not be the most formidable card in competitive play, overcoming it requires a strategic approach.

To successfully navigate against the Laughing Hyena, you need to maintain focus on the broader game, prioritizing your life total and board presence over the distractions this card creates. It’s important to establish a firm defense, capitalize on efficient removal spells, or simply keep your composure if confronted with its ability in a casual setting. The key is to understand that despite its humor-infused design, the Laughing Hyena can be addressed just like any other creature—through tactical play, smart use of resources, and a solid game plan.

Ultimately, when faced with such a distinctive card, it’s the combination of skillful management and sometimes just a bit of humor that will ensure the Laughing Hyena merely contributes to the fun of the game rather than disrupting your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Laughing Hyena MTG card by a specific set like Unhinged and Unhinged, 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 Laughing Hyena and other MTG cards: