Lathnu Hellion 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
Haste When this creature enters, you get(two energy counters). At the beginning of your end step, sacrifice this creature unless you pay
Complete guide
Lathnu Hellion is a high-speed, high-impact creature that rewards players for managing their energy resources. This volatile Hellion can end games quickly, provided you have the energy counters to keep it on the battlefield. Understanding how to generate and spend energy is key to harnessing its full potential.
What It Does
Lathnu Hellion is a 4/4 creature with Haste for only three mana, making it an aggressive threat. When it enters the battlefield, you receive two energy counters ({E}{E}). However, this power comes at a cost: at the beginning of your end step, you must pay two energy counters or sacrifice the Hellion.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, when Lathnu Hellion enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, you gain two energy counters, which are placed on you, the player. Second, during your end step, a second triggered ability occurs. As this resolves, you choose whether to pay two energy counters from your current total. If you cannot or choose not to pay, you must sacrifice the Hellion. Note that energy counters do not expire at the end of turns or phases.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is treating energy counters like mana; they are actually a type of counter held by the player and do not disappear until spent. Another mistake is forgetting that you can use energy counters gained from other cards to pay for the Hellion's upkeep. Additionally, if the Hellion leaves the battlefield before the end step, you still keep the two energy counters it provided upon entry.
When to Play It
Play Lathnu Hellion when you need immediate pressure. Because it has Haste, it can attack the same turn it is cast. It is most effective in decks that can generate additional energy to sustain it for multiple turns, or in aggressive builds where a single 4/4 swing is enough to secure a victory.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Hellion' chosen as the creature type, Lathnu Hellion's entry trigger will trigger twice. You will gain four energy counters instead of two, allowing you to keep the Hellion around for two end steps without needing other energy sources.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you cast Lathnu Hellion while you have zero energy, it enters and gives you two energy counters. You attack for 4 damage. At your end step, you can pay those two energy counters to keep it. If you then trade your Solemn Simulacrum in combat later, it doesn't help the Hellion, but you've already used the Hellion's own energy to survive the first night.
Energy ReserveWhen Lathnu Hellion enters, you receive two energy counters. You can use an Energy Reserve card as a physical reminder on the table to track these counters using dice or beads. During your end step, you remove two counters from the reserve to satisfy the Hellion's maintenance cost.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Lathnu Hellion
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They're not associated with any specific permanents.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Keep track of how many energy counters each player has. Potential ways to track this include writing theme down on paper or using dice, but any method that is clear and mutually agreeable is fine. (At higher levels of tournament play, dice may not be allowed for tracking counters that players have.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect says you get one or more
, you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. You can't pay more energy counters than you have. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Energy counters aren't mana. They don't go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana "of any type" can't give you energy counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Some triggered abilities state that you "may pay" a certain amount of
. You can't pay that amount multiple times to multiply the effect. You simply choose whether or not to pay that amount of as the ability resolves.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Some triggered abilities that state that you "may pay" a certain amount of
describe an effect that happens "If you do." In that case, no player may take actions to try to stop the ability's effect after you make your choice. If the payment is followed by the phrase "When you do," then you'll choose any targets for that reflexive triggered ability and put it on the stack before players can take actions.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability with one or more targets states that you "may pay" some amount of
, and each permanent that it targets has become an illegal target, the spell or ability won't resolve. You can't pay any even if you want to.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that give you
may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't get any .No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Lathnu Hellion
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