Fan Bearer MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 12
2018-11-16 - Number 12
2020-08-13 - Number 17
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Fan Bearer controls the board by tapping key creatures, indirectly contributing to card advantage.
- Instant speed activation allows for tactical plays during combat, enhancing game flexibility.
- Resource efficiency with its ability aids in board development while managing threats.
Text of card
, : Tap target creature.
Rest sometimes requires the right prompting.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Despite not directly offering card draw, Fan Bearer indirectly contributes to card advantage by controlling the board. It can repeatedly disable an opponent’s key creature, leading to potential two-for-ones as your other spells become more effective.
Resource Acceleration: While Fan Bearer itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its cost-effective ability allows you to use your mana efficiently each turn. This enables you to develop your board while still interacting with your opponent’s threats.
Instant Speed: Fan Bearer’s tap ability can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn. This instant action leaves your options open and can disrupt opposing strategies at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Fan Bearer of MTG places a significant emphasis on having ample cards in hand as it does not provide a card advantage. Requiring a steady flow of cards to maintain its ability’s activation can challenge your deck’s momentum, especially in prolonged gameplay where resources become scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: Although the casting cost is low, the activation cost demands one white mana each time, tying it specifically to white-affinity or multicolored decks. Consequently, this can restrict the card’s utility in a game that hinges on adaptable mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Relative to its utility, the continuous investment of mana to tap a single creature can prove inefficient. In environments where tempo plays a critical role, the repetitive mana requirement to only temporarily hinder your opponent’s creature may not be the optimal use of your resources.
Reasons to Include Fan Bearer in Your Collection
Versatility: Fan Bearer offers utility in a variety of deck archetypes by serving as a reliable mana sink. Its ability to tap down potential threats transcends specific strategies, making it an adaptable choice for many decks.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that capitalize on tapping creatures, whether to amplify damage with inspired mechanics or control combat outcomes to your advantage. Fan Bearer’s simple tap ability can be part of larger, more complex in-game maneuvers.
Meta-Relevance: Since the game often swings on creature combat, having a tool like Fan Bearer that can manipulate blockers or attackers each turn provides a strategic edge. It’s especially pertinent in metas where tempo plays a critical role in achieving victory.
How to Beat
Fan Bearer is a utility creature that often finds its way into control decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to tap any opposing creature for just two mana can be a thorn in the side of aggressive and tempo-focused strategies. Confronting a Fan Bearer can be tricky if unprepared, considering it disrupts combat and blocks efficiently.
To effectively counter this card, removal spells are key. Direct damage or destruction spells can take the Fan Bearer out before it manages to establish control on the board. Considering its low toughness, spells like Shock or Fatal Push are cost-effective answers. Enchantment-based removal or exile effects bypass its tap ability and can remove it without triggering abilities that might activate upon death.
Additionally, having your own creatures with vigilance or untapping abilities helps mitigate Fan Bearer’s influence. By keeping your creatures ready for both attack and defense, you’re less impacted by its tapping ability. Incorporating counterspells like Negate in your deck also helps, ensuring Fan Bearer never hits the field in the first place. Combining these strategies will help reclaim the tempo and turn the tides in your favor against Fan Bearer decks.
Cards like Fan Bearer
Fan Bearer stands out as a unique creature control card in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Gideon’s Lawkeeper, which also provides a tap ability that can be a game-changer in stalling opponents’ creatures. Fan Bearer has the advantage of being playable in any deck, thanks to its colorless tapping ability. Gideon’s Lawkeeper requires white mana, which somewhat restricts its deck inclusion options.
Another card in the same realm is Decision Paralysis, which not only taps but also prevents two target creatures from untapping during their controller’s next untap step. While Decision Paralysis has a broader impact when it resolves, it is a one-off effect, unlike Fan Bearer’s repeatable ability. Where Fan Bearer requires a continuous mana investment to use its ability every turn, Decision Paralysis is a more immediate solution to pressing threats.
In the landscape of control cards, Fan Bearer offers a steady and reliable option within Magic: The Gathering. Its capability to repeatedly neutralize key creatures makes it a noteworthy inclusion in many decks aiming to hinder their opponent’s battlefield presence effectively.
Cards similar to Fan Bearer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fan Bearer MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Game Night, 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 Fan Bearer and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Fan Bearer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo | |
| 2 | 2018-11-16 | Game Night | GNT | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fan Bearer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
