Everything can be killed by something, so I don't think that dying to Lightning Bolt is such a huge drawback (though I do wish that it was a 2/4). Rather, this card usually demands a removal spell before your opponent casts a Rancor on it on his next turn and swings for immense damage.
At 4 mana, some might find Timbermaw Larva expensive, but when you consider the fact that its power & toughness depends on the amount of Forests you control, you'd usually think that people running these have rigged their decks to get a lot of lands onto the battlefield quickly. Khalni Heart-Expedition, Cultivate and Harrow can all help you get your lands quickly, especially when backed up by a playset of Llanowar Elves or its ilk.
Timbermaw Larva also fits nicely with other cards that depends on Forests or lands in general, such as Howl of the Night Pack... (see all)
Posted By:
GrimjawxRULES
(8/16/2010 2:05:49 PM)
I can't believe how amazing he can be. Managed a turn 4 win with this guy. Llanowar Elves, 2 Culitvates, and 2 Primal Bellows.
Posted By:
instauraresacra
(2/17/2011 8:56:22 PM)
I had a game recently where I naturalized a clone shell I owned for a Bellowing Tanglewurm, had this guy out already equipped with a Strata Scythe, and played a Primal Bellow. I had 6 forests, so that's a 20/20 Intimidate attacker.
Good-ole "I can die happy now" win.
Posted By:
SeiberTross
(4/11/2011 8:19:14 AM)
You might want to run Lightning Greaves in the same deck. So When this comes down turn4 (or any turn) you can immediately crash the party and not worry too much about removal.
Posted By:
Kiro
(5/18/2011 10:04:33 AM)
Since when were larva beasts and not insects?
Posted By:
occamsrazorwit
(10/31/2011 6:12:37 PM)
A buddy that I play with runs 4 of these, and I had to make a black creature removal deck, just to beat that deck.
Yes, it was worth it.
Posted By:
SquirePath
(12/15/2011 5:04:10 PM)
When I was introduced to this game, it was during Zendikar/Scars standard, and of course, being a complete newb I gravitated to being a Timmy, and Timmy meant big big green. This thing was an all-star in my first deck ever, which was just ramp, Overruns, Howl of the Night Packs, and 4 of these babies. Sure, it didn't have finesse, but the guy who introduced me to the game came to regret it when I would regularly kill his fancy blue decks by swinging in for 10 or so with a Timbermaw Larva.
This card is still one of my favorite cards, and I find excuses to use it everywhere I can.
Posted By:
General_Naga
(7/7/2012 10:59:42 AM)
Perma-Primal Bellow is nice, though the lack of defensive utility kills this card for me.
Also, what in the HELL is going on with this cards name, art, and type? I just...what?
@Mortipede: If you have no forests out, Dungrove is a 0/0 and dies. If you have no forests you, Timbermaw is a 2/2 and doesn't care. In fact, Timbermaw will always attack for more than Dungrove in the same board, so your "strictly" statement is quite wrong. Learn what that word means.
Posted By:
DoragonShinzui
(10/30/2012 9:33:25 PM)
I'd be careful around that vag-maw if I were you. It has teeth.
Posted By:
MtG_Perv
(4/14/2013 3:33:38 PM)
By all accounts I've heard, this is a very popular common. And honestly, it's so nicely balanced that it should be.
Posted By:
Goatllama
(4/29/2013 6:36:40 AM)