Homunculus

About Homunculus

Homunculus, Retainer, designed by Bryon Wackwitz first released in August 1994 in the set Jyhad and was printed exactly in 6 different ways.

Homunculus fits a **superior Protean wall deck**, especially one that wants the same vampire available to block on several players’ turns and can afford to spend blood doing so. It is less attractive at inferior Protean: one life makes the retainer easier to remove, while each unlock still costs the employer a blood. For most defensive decks, **On the Qui Vive** or **Wake with Evening’s Freshness** are more efficient ways to make a locked vampire available to block; a Protean deck that wants to unlock after combat should also consider **Earth Meld**. Homunculus is worth a slot only if your deck reliably benefits from its repeatable, cross-turn unlocks—preferably with vampires that have superior Protean and a good blood supply. It is a niche card, not a general staple.