Footlight Fiend MTG Card


Footlight Fiend excels in maximizing card value with its damage-dealing death ability, especially when combined with draw triggers. A low mana cost makes it an early-game threat, accelerating your game plan by maintaining board presence and resource efficiency. Despite its potential constraints, its combo prowess and meta relevance make Footlight Fiend a staple in diverse deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Devil
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Footlight Fiend dies, it deals 1 damage to any target.

"This footlight's broken. Get me a stagehand!" —Judith


Cards like Footlight Fiend

The allure of Footlight Fiend lies in its versatility within the realm of one-drop creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable to other red or black one-mana creatures, Footlight Fiend offers a unique exit strategy – dealing one damage upon death. A card like Goblin Arsonist shares this last hurrah ability, yet it’s confined to targeting a player or planeswalker. Footlight Fiend stands out by allowing any target to feel its final blaze, including potential key creatures.

Exploring further, we have Grim Initiate, whose defining trait is the amass mechanic, bolstering your army with additional +1/+1 counters. While it doesn’t guarantee immediate damage like Footlight Fiend, it contributes to board presence over time. Vicious Conquistador is another card that exerts pressure early in the game, chipping away at an opponent’s life total whenever it attacks, although it lacks the direct retaliation damage that makes Footlight Fiend a thorn in the side of attackers and blockers alike.

Weighing the pros and cons, Footlight Fiend holds its place confidently among early game creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deter attackers, push for damage, and serve as both an offensive and defensive asset provides players with a multifaceted pawn in the intricate chess game of MTG.

Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Grim Initiate - MTG Card versions
Vicious Conquistador - MTG Card versions
Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Grim Initiate - MTG Card versions
Vicious Conquistador - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BB PauperPauper League 2023-12-05

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Footlight Fiend provides strategic depth thanks to its ability to deal damage when it dies. This can trigger card draw if you have certain synergies on the board, making it more than just a simple creature.

Resource Acceleration: Although Footlight Fiend doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, its low casting cost facilitates a quicker deployment of other cards. Efficient mana use is crucial and playing this card early can keep the pressure on while you build resources for bigger threats.

Instant Speed: While the card itself is not an instant, Footlight Fiend interacts well at instant speed. Its passive ability can be a game-changer during combat or in reaction to opponent’s spells that try to remove it, allowing you to weave your strategy and react to battlefield changes seamlessly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Footlight Fiend doesn’t demand you discard cards, it may prompt you to rethink your strategy, especially if you’re leveraging mechanics that require card sacrifice for activation.

Specific Mana Cost: Footlight Fiend’s hybrid mana cost, though flexible, still necessitates either red or black mana, potentially constraining deck-building options for those looking to maintain a streamlined mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Footlight Fiend itself is low-costed, its synergy with higher-cost cards to maximize damage upon death can lead to a comparably high overall mana curve in the designed strategy.


Reasons to Include Footlight Fiend in Your Collection

Versatility: Footlight Fiend provides a valuable asset in decks looking to control the board early. Whether used for chip damage or as a blocker that deters attacks, it works effectively in a range of strategies, especially within Rakdos or other aggressive deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: When it dies, it allows for one point of damage to be directed as you see fit, which can combo well with cards that trigger off of death or damage, thereby enabling intricate plays and potential board swings.

Meta-Relevance: With its low cost and ability to interact with death-trigger cards, Footlight Fiend can be especially impactful in a meta filled with x/1 creatures or where life points are particularly precious. Keeping pace with high-speed play, it can be the difference in tight match-ups.


How to beat

Footlight Fiend may seem like a minor threat in MTG, being only a 1/1 creature for one mana, but it has a pesky ability that can be a thorn in your side. Upon its death, it deals 1 damage to any target. It’s an excellent early game nuisance and can be problematic if you are left with low toughness creatures or at a fragile life total.

The trick to outmaneuvering the Footlight Fiend lies in avoiding its death-triggered ability to control the game’s flow. Utilize removal spells that exile it rather than destroy it, such as Path to Exile or Settle the Wreckage, to bypass its last-ditch damage. Another strategy is to employ creatures with high toughness that can withstand the damage, minimizing the Fiend’s effect when it does bite the dust, or simply using your life total as a resource and strategically taking the damage when it’s less impactful.

Ultimately, despite being seen as a small fry, Footlight Fiend requires thoughtful play to beat without conceding its sting. Respect it as a legitimate threat by using the appropriate control techniques, and it will become more of a nuisance than a nightmare in your MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the subtle strengths of Footlight Fiend can greatly enhance your MTG gameplay. With its death-trigger ability to ping any target, it improves your early board presence and offers strategic lethality that can sway the game in your favor. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned player, incorporating cards like Footlight Fiend into your collection can be a game changer. Looking to sharpen your deck-building skills or find new combos? Our space is packed with insights and tips that could give you the edge you need. Deepen your understanding and strategic play—learn more with us and forge the path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Footlight Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Footlight Fiend and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Footlight Fiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 2162015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1812015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
32024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1912015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Footlight Fiend has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal