Laccolith Grunt is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Whenever this creature becomes blocked, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature. If you do, this creature assigns no combat damage this turn.
Complete guide
Laccolith Grunt is a red Beast that turns the tables on your opponent's blocking strategy. Instead of clashing directly with defenders, it can sniped away threats before they have a chance to strike back.
Tactical Redirection
Laccolith Grunt features a triggered ability that activates the moment it becomes blocked. Unlike standard combat, this allows the Beast to deal damage equal to its power to any target creature on the battlefield, even if that creature isn't the one blocking it. This ability triggers during the Declare Blockers step, meaning the damage is dealt long before the Combat Damage step occurs.
Resolution Step by Step
First, you declare Laccolith Grunt as an attacker. When your opponent declares one or more blockers for it, the ability triggers and goes on the stack. You choose a target creature for the ability. As the ability resolves, you choose whether or not to use it. If you do, Laccolith Grunt deals damage to the target. Consequently, it will not assign any combat damage later that turn, regardless of whether it is still blocked or whether the target survived.
Strategic Timing and Choices
A common mistake is thinking you must target the blocker; you are free to target a utility creature your opponent is keeping safe in the back. Note that if you choose to use the ability, Laccolith Grunt deals no combat damage at all, even if it has Trample or if the target creature leaves the battlefield before the damage is dealt.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou attack with Laccolith Grunt, and your opponent blocks with a 1/1 token. You target your opponent's Solemn Simulacrum with the Grunt's ability. The Grunt deals 2 damage to the Simulacrum, destroying it during the Declare Blockers step. Because you used the ability, the Grunt deals no combat damage to the 1/1 token, but it remains blocked.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Beast', Laccolith Grunt's ability triggers twice when blocked. You can target two different creatures (or the same one twice). If you choose to apply the effect for either trigger, the Grunt deals no combat damage, but you can effectively deal 4 damage spread across the board before the Combat Damage step even begins.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Laccolith Grunt
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The ability triggers even if a spell or ability makes it blocked, instead of being blocked by a creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
It can target any creature on the battlefield, not just one of the ones blocking it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The ability allows you to deal damage during the declare blockers step of combat, which is well before even first strike creatures deal damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The ability is optional. You can decide to allow it to deal combat damage as normal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Laccolith Grunt
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.