Monastery Flock MTG Card


The morph ability of Monastery Flock provides strategic advantages and unexpected defenses against opponents. Its trait as a flying blocker makes it a tactical asset in decks that struggle against aerial threats. While versatile, the discard requirement and specific blue mana cost can limit its effectiveness in some decks.
Monastery Flock - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Defender,Flying,Morph
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Power 0
Toughness 5
Number47
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohn Avon

Text of card

Defender, flying Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

"The arrow strikes one bird down, but the flock remains." —Jeskai teaching


Cards like Monastery Flock

Monastery Flock has its unique space in Magic: The Gathering as a multifaceted defender card. Its closest comparison might be to creatures like Wall of Frost, which also offer a strong defensive presence. Yet, Monastery Flock holds an edge with its morph ability, allowing for a sudden transformation that can surprise opponents and block potential threats. Wall of Frost, lacks the element of surprise but makes up for it by ensuring tapped creatures don’t untap during the next untap step.

Another card to consider in this realm is Dragon’s Eye Savants. Much like Monastery Flock, this card also operates with a morph mechanic, initially hidden as a morphed 2/2 creature. Both cards share the ability to be played face down and turned up at a moment’s notice, adding an unseen depth to gameplay strategy. However, Dragon’s Eye Savants provides an additional benefit upon flipping, revealing an opponent’s hand, which can be invaluable.

Comparing these cards underlines Monastery Flock’s versatility, especially within decks that capitalize on the element of secrecy and defense. The ability to shift roles from innocuous facedown card to potential blocker gives it a tactical advantage in many gameplay scenarios, especially for those looking to keep their strategies concealed.

Wall of Frost - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Eye Savants - MTG Card versions
Wall of Frost - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Eye Savants - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Monastery Flock by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
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Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Monastery Flock’s morph ability gives you an element of surprise and can lead to advantageous trades on the battlefield, essentially providing card advantage as your opponent may waste removal on a lesser threat.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, its low cost and morph ability can serve as a protective measure, allowing for a more efficient allocation of resources in the early to mid-game phases.

Instant Speed: While Monastery Flock itself is not an instant, its morph feature can be turned face up at instant speed, offering the flexibility to use your mana to react to your opponent’s moves and potentially saving crucial turns by blocking flying creatures when needed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Monastery Flock requires you to discard a card if you want to unlock its morph ability. This can be seen as a significant downside when your hand is already depleted or if you’re forced to toss a crucial piece of your strategy prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Monastery Flock is exclusively blue mana, which might not be easily deployable in multicolored decks that don’t prioritize blue mana sources. This limits the card’s flexibility and can hinder your mana curve if the color isn’t a primary aspect of your deck composition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its base stats of 0/5, Monastery Flock’s mana cost may seem disproportionate compared to other creatures in the format. When faced against aggressive decks, its utility may not justify the cost when quicker, more impactful plays are necessary for maintaining a competitive stance.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Monastery Flock’s morph ability allows it to adapt to various game situations. It can be a surprise blocker, morphed when you need to protect yourself, or turned face up for a decent fly blocker against aerial threats.

Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies that pivot around morph and unmorph mechanics. Its synergies with cards that trigger when creatures are turned face up can be a game-changer, offering not just defense but also combo opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are dominant, Monastery Flock can be a valuable sideboard card. Its capacity to transform into a 0/5 flyer gives any deck a defensive edge against popular flying threats.


How to beat

Monastery Flock presents a unique challenge on the battlefield as a card in Magic: The Gathering. This creature stands out with its morph ability, allowing it to be played face down as a 2/2 creature for three generic mana, then turned face up any time for its morph cost—whiffing targeted spells and confounding your opponent’s strategy. Additionally, as a strong blocker with a defense of five, it can effectively wall off many threats.

To overcome Monastery Flock, players should consider shifting to removal spells that don’t require targeting a single creature, such as board wipes or spells that deal damage to all creatures. Alternatively, employing flyers or creatures with trample can surpass Monastery Flock’s formidable defense. Engaging combat tricks that boost your creature’s power or using spells that can bypass creature combat entirely, like direct damage spells to the opponent, can also serve as a workaround. In conclusion, while Monastery Flock can be a surprising obstacle for MTG players, various strategies exist to navigate around its defenses and secure victory on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Monastery Flock MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Monastery Flock and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Monastery Flock has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Monastery Flock card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-09-20 A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected.
2014-09-20 Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
2014-09-20 At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
2014-09-20 Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
2014-09-20 If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
2014-09-20 If an attacking face-down Monastery Flock is turned face up, it will continue to be attacking even though it will have defender. If it’s turned face up before blockers are declared, then creatures without flying or reach won’t be able to block it.
2014-09-20 Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
2014-09-20 The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a converted mana cost of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
2014-09-20 When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a converted mana cost of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
2014-09-20 You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.