Fateful Absence MTG Card


Fateful Absence offers potent instant-speed removal against creatures or planeswalkers, crucial in tight matches. Efficient mana cost and versatile targeting make it an adaptable choice in many decks. Despite its utility, careful play is needed to counterbalance the advantage given to opponents.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Investigate

Text of card

Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Its controller investigates. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Sensing a plot, Sorin raced to his grandfather's resting-crypt. But someone else had gotten there first.


Cards like Fateful Absence

Fateful Absence is a notable addition to the suite of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels with cards like Swords to Plowshares, which also offers an instant-speed answer to creatures, but Fateful Absence brings about versatility by targeting planeswalkers as well. Although Swords to Plowshares is more mana efficient, costing only one white mana, Fateful Absence grants the targeted opponent a Clue token, which slightly offsets this advantage by giving the opponent a potential card draw.

Another card to compare with is Declaration in Stone, similar because it can address multiple creatures at once, at the cost of giving Clue tokens to the opponent for each exiled creature. However, unlike Fateful Absence, Declaration in Stone acts at sorcery speed, which could be less optimal in games where timing is critical. Finally, there’s Path to Exile, a removal spell that is a strong contender with its lower cost and instant-speed. Yet, it gifts the opponent an untapped land, which could expedite their game plan.

While each of these cards offers a different approach to creature and planeswalker removal, Fateful Absence remains a powerful choice for Magic: The Gathering players due to its dual targeting ability and instant-speed execution, balancing the scales somewhat with the drawback of giving an opponent a Clue token.

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Declaration in Stone - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Declaration in Stone - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fateful Absence by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Razor Barrier - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Razor Barrier - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Fateful Absence. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Azorius Artifact AggroAzorius Artifact Aggro StandardAzorius Artifact AggroTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 15, 2024
Azorius ComboAzorius Combo ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
Azorius TempoAzorius Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Boros TokensBoros Tokens GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Jeskai TempoJeskai Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 14 2024
Orzhov AngelsOrzhov Angels GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024
Azorius ControlAzorius Control GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024
Naya MidrangeNaya Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fateful Absence provides a direct path to eliminating key threats on the battlefield, often removing creatures or planeswalkers that could otherwise dominate the game. While it does give the opponent a Clue token, which can be sacrificed to draw a card, the immediate removal of a critical threat typically outweighs this downside, preserving the delicate balance of power.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, the low mana cost of Fateful Absence ensures that your resources are efficiently used. With just two mana, one of which is generic, you’re able to address threats early on or keep up the momentum in the later stages of the game without compromising your ability to play other spells.

Instant Speed: The utility of using Fateful Absence at instant speed cannot be understated. This flexibility allows players to adapt to the most threatening board states their opponents can create, interrupting combos or removing attackers and blockers during combat to swing the game in their favor. This versatility is crucial for maintaining control of the pace and flow of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Fateful Absence doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, using it efficiently often means having to hold up mana and potentially not deploying other threats or answers, acting as an indirect resource drain.

Specific Mana Cost: Fateful Absence requires both white mana and another unspecified color, which can pigeonhole it into two or more colored decks, potentially limiting its flexibility in a single-colored deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana may seem low, but in a format with other one-mana removal options, Fateful Absence can be less mana-efficient, affecting your ability to respond fluidly in a fast-paced game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fateful Absence is a highly adaptable removal spell that can be slotted into a variety of white decks. Its ability to target any creature or planeswalker makes it a valuable asset for dealing with a wide range of threats across multiple game situations.

Combo Potential: While not a combo enabler in the traditional sense, Fateful Absence works well within sets that appreciate instant-speed interaction. This card sets the stage for decks running Snapcaster Mage or other recursion strategies to gain repeated value from a single instance of removal.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of planeswalkers and creature-based strategies in many current formats, Fateful Absence provides a direct and efficient answer. Its place in the format is secured by its ability to efficiently handle many of the threats found in today’s competitive play.


How to beat

Fateful Absence has emerged as a prominent removal card within the MTG landscape due to its ability to target creatures or planeswalkers at instant speed. This versatility makes it a must-have for players seeking to deal with sudden threats swiftly. The drawback, giving the permanent’s controller a Clue token, can be a fair trade when eliminating a crucial threat. However, the actual challenge lies in mitigating the opponent’s advantage due to the additional card draw possibility offered by the Clue.

To counteract Fateful Absence effectively, it’s wise to play around it by not over-committing valuable creatures or planeswalkers when the opponent has untapped mana, indicating they might be holding up removal. Additionally, employing hexproof or indestructible creatures can render Fateful Absence useless against your key permanents. Moreover, leveraging cards that benefit from being targeted or responding to the destruction of your own assets can help turn the tables on an opponent relying on Fateful Absence as a keystone of their strategy.

Understanding the fine balance of resource management and timing can make all the difference when facing off against this versatile removal card. Skilled players will recognize the pivotal moments to apply pressure or hold back, ensuring that they maintain advantage even when Fateful Absence is in play.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic nuances of MTG come alive with cards like Fateful Absence, where knowing when and what to remove can dictate the tide of a match. Appreciating its strengths and awareness of its disadvantages boosts your gameplay, transforming challenges into opportunities. Our deep dive into Fateful Absence reveals its place in the meta and the intricacies of using it to your advantage. Are you ready to refine your deck as well as your approach to the game? Dive deeper with us and discover how to make Fateful Absence a defining card in your collection. Your journey towards strategic mastery in MTG awaits.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fateful Absence MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos, 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 Fateful Absence and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Fateful Absence Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-03-05. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 939022015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 18s2015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 18p2015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
42021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 182015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
52021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3282015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
62022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 182015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
72022-03-05Wizards Play Network 2022PW22 22015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fateful Absence has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal