Sneaky Homunculus MTG Card


Offers battlefield presence with an unblockable edge, requiring opponents to strategize around its sneaky nature. Its low casting cost aids in resource management, allowing for potential powerful plays in subsequent turns. Despite certain limitations, it can synergize with decks that leverage unblockable creatures or deceptive strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Homunculus Illusion
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Sneaky Homunculus can't block or be blocked by creatures with power 2 or greater.

Keep watch only for the giants and you'll be eaten by the ants.


Cards like Sneaky Homunculus

The Sneaky Homunculus might often go unnoticed in the vast sea of blue creatures in Magic: The Gathering, but it holds some unique traits that are worth discussing. This card shares similarities with cards like Sage of Lat-Nam, both being 1/1 blue creatures for two mana. While Sage of Lat-Nam allows you to sacrifice artifacts to draw cards, Sneaky Homunculus has an innate ability to be unblockable as long as defending player controls an untapped land.

Another card that echoes the stealth aspect of Sneaky Homunculus is Merfolk Spy. The Spy also costs two mana and has a 1/1 stat line. It has the added benefit of milling your opponent when it attacks and isn’t blocked, aligning with the blue color’s theme of information disruption. However, unlike our sneaky friend, Merfolk Spy doesn’t have any built-in mechanism to make it harder to block.

Looking across the board, Sneaky Homunculus brings to the game an intriguing mix of low-cost and evasion. This gives it a subtle edge in decks that capitalize on unblockable creatures. While it isn’t a powerhouse in terms of raw stats, the Homunculus is a cost-effective way to chip away an opponent’s life total, especially in the early stages of the game.

Sage of Lat-Nam - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Spy - MTG Card versions
Sage of Lat-Nam - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Spy - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sneaky Homunculus by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Sneaky Homunculus might not directly offer card draw, but being a creature means it serves as both a potential blocker and an attacker. Its presence adds to the battlefield, subtly bolstering your side and demanding an answer from your opponent, potentially leading to advantageous trades.

Resource Acceleration: Though Sneaky Homunculus itself doesn’t accelerate your resources, it’s low casting cost allows you to keep mana open for other cards and abilities. This supports an efficient use of resources and can lead to more powerful game states in future turns.

Instant Speed: While Sneaky Homunculus isn’t cast at instant speed, its ability to only be blocked by creatures with strength 2 or greater can create surprising combat scenarios in your favor. This generates a form of reactive play that can catch an opponent off-guard during combat, much like the flexibility offered by instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sneaky Homunculus doesn’t directly require discarding, its low impact on the game might force players to cycle it out of their hand, creating an indirect discard effect, particularly in fast-paced games where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Sneaky Homunculus asks for a precise mana setup, one blue and one colorless, which could be restrictive when constructing a multi-colored deck or trying to maintain a flexible mana base during gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its two mana cost, Sneaky Homunculus’s stats and abilities are less favorable compared to other creatures at similar cost points. Players may find better value in creatures with greater impact, additional abilities, or lower summoning costs, which could contribute to a more strategically diverse and economical game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sneaky Homunculus can be a subtle yet effective addition to blue decks that focus on illusions or deceptive strategies. Its ability to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or greater allows it to chip away at opponents’ life totals unimpeded.

Combo Potential: This card can sync well with various cards that reward players for successful combat damage to an opponent, such as enabling card draws or untapping lands, thus fueling further plays within the turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where smaller creatures dominate the battlefield, Sneaky Homunculus can serve as a consistent threat. It becomes particularly relevant in setups that discourage opponents from using larger creatures, thereby giving it a greater chance to remain effectively unblockable.


How to beat Sneaky Homunculus

Sneaky Homunculus may seem like a minor threat, but its inability to be blocked by creatures with power 2 or greater makes it a slippery opponent in MTG. Despite its sly nature, there are effective strategies to counteract the Homunculus. One way is to use spells that can target and destroy it regardless of its power, such as Shock or Fatal Push. These instant-speed removals can handle the Homunculus before it can chip away at your life total.

Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God clear out all creatures, sneaky or not, maintaining a clean slate. Even if you don’t have removals or sweeps, you can always outflank Sneaky Homunculus with creatures that have flying or reach, providing a line of defense or a counterattack that it cannot block. Stay vigilant, and remember that while Homunculus can avoid some creatures, it can’t outmaneuver targeted removals, board control spells, or aerial defenders. With the right moves, the Homunculus becomes much less daunting.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sneaky Homunculus MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and Eighth Edition, 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 Sneaky Homunculus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sneaky Homunculus Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-02-14NemesisNEM 441997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 101★2003NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1012003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sneaky Homunculus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal