Court Homunculus MTG Card


An efficient turn-one creature, it can enhance early-game pressure and fit into instant-speed strategies. While specific in mana cost, its potential grows in artifact-heavy decks, increasing its power. Court Homunculus’s integration with artifacts makes it relevant in certain MTG metas and strategies.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Homunculus
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Court Homunculus gets +1/+1 as long as you control another artifact.

Mages of Esper measure their wealth and status by the number of servants in their retinues.


Understanding Court Homunculus

Court Homunculus holds a unique position in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, embodying the synergy between artifact density and creature strength. This one-mana creature gets a power boost for each artifact you control, making it a substantial early-game play in artifact-heavy decks. Drawing parallels to other modestly costed creatures, Court Homunculus can quickly outpace its counterparts through the simple act of playing artifacts.

Cards like Court Homunculus

When evaluating Court Homunculus, it’s instructive to consider Signal Pest as a similar early-game contender. Signal Pest, albeit not a boost recipient from artifacts, can potentialize an army with its battle cry ability, giving other attacking creatures a buff. Master of Etherium presents another comparison, scaling in both size and power-enhancing effect for other artifacts, thriving in an environment rich with them just like Court Homunculus. Ornithopter, free to cast and with flying, complements an artifact strategy but lacks the inherent potential for power increase that Court Homunculus possesses.

Exploring the nuances of these creatures, it’s clear that Court Homunculus’s strength lies in its early game potential and seamless integration with artifact-centered strategies. Whether as a standalone threat or a synergistic piece in a larger artifact puzzle, Court Homunculus stands ready to serve in the sculpted landscape of Magic: The Gathering’s strategic card play.

Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Master of Etherium - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Master of Etherium - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions

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Esper Sentinel - MTG Card versions
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Arcbound Javelineer - MTG Card versions
Immovable Rod - MTG Card versions
Portable Hole - MTG Card versions
Hedgewitch's Mask - MTG Card versions
Hotshot Mechanic - MTG Card versions
Inchblade Companion - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Drawbridge - MTG Card versions
T.A.P.P.E.R. - MTG Card versions
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Yotian Frontliner - MTG Card versions
Swooping Lookout - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Court Homunculus. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Azorius MidrangeAzorius Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024
Azorius AggroAzorius Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Court Homunculus itself may not directly generate card advantage, its low casting cost allows players to deploy other hand resources more liberally. This low commitment on the board means that playing Court Homunculus early keeps your hand flexible for subsequent plays.

Resource Acceleration: Court Homunculus isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration like mana dorks or rocks. However, its efficiency as a turn-one play can be seen as a form of tempo acceleration, allowing players to start applying pressure almost immediately and potentially leading to an accelerated victory.

Instant Speed: Although Court Homunculus doesn’t have an instant speed ability, it fits well in decks that operate at instant speed. The card’s simplicity and efficiency mean that you can establish an early board presence while still holding up mana for instant speed interactions on your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Court Homunculus requires a white mana, which restricts its inclusion to decks running Plains or mana-fixing abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not expensive, there are other one-mana creatures providing greater impact or versatility, making Court Homunculus less attractive for some strategies.

Discard Requirement: Should the card combo or deck synergy require discarding, Court Homunculus offers no inherent benefits to this action, potentially rendering it less useful in certain build types.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Court Homunculus excels in decks that are heavy on artifacts. As an early-game play, its power can grow rapidly, making it a potent threat in both aggressive and synergistic artifact-centric strategies.

Combo Potential: Situations where the board is populated with artifacts, Court Homunculus becomes increasingly potent. It can be a foundational piece in combos, especially in conjunction with effects that care about artifact count or creature strength.

Meta-Relevance: With many players utilizing artifact strategies, the Court Homunculus finds its place in the meta. Its ability to be a cost-effective creature that scales with your game plan makes it a smart inclusion for those looking to harness the power of artifacts.


How to beat

The Court Homunculus is an artifact creature that thrives in decks that capitalize on artifact synergy. This one-drop creature gets a power and toughness boost for each artifact under your command, which can be surprisingly potent in the early-game. When facing this card, it’s critical to disrupt the artifact ecosystem that fuels its strength. Consider using removal spells that can target artifacts, like Abrade or Shatter, to whittle down the resources buffing the Homunculus. Another effective strategy is to utilize board wipes, such as Day of Judgment or Wrath of God, to reset the playing field. It’s worth noting that the sooner you disrupt the artifact synergy, the less likely you are to face a towering Homunculus, which can become quite the hurdle if left unchecked.

Additionally, you can employ more proactive means by pressuring your opponent with aggressive creatures or deploying your own impactful threats they must answer. Ultimately, staying vigilant and keeping their artifact count low will make the Court Homunculus much less of a threat, rendering it a minor roadblock on your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Court Homunculus MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Modern Masters, 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 Court Homunculus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Court Homunculus Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2021-05-27. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 62003NormalBlackMatt Cavotta
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 112003NormalBlackMatt Cavotta
32015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 132015NormalBlackMatt Cavotta
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 632015NormalBlackMatt Cavotta
52020-09-26The ListPLST MM2-132015NormalBlackMatt Cavotta
62021-05-27Historic Anthology 5HA5 12015NormalBlackMatt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Court Homunculus has restrictions

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