Fade Away MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 1998-06-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Exodus |
| Set code | EXO |
| Number | 34 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeff Miracola |
Text of card
For each creature, that creature's controller pays o1 or sacrifices a permanent.
"Consider the fable of the greedy herder. As her flock grew, so did her weariness; she slept, and the sheep wandered off." —Karn, silver golem
Cards like Fade Away
Fade Away is a unique spell in MTG that invokes a challenge to opponents through its demand for sacrifice. This card harkens back to mechanics similar to that found in Balancing Act, which forces players to equalize the number of lands and creatures they possess with the player who has the least. Unlike Fade Away, Balancing Act doesn’t differentiate between lands and creatures, nor does it consider the number of cards in a player’s hand.
In comparing Fade Away to a card like Perish the Thought, it’s evident that both cards affect the resources of opponents, but they do it quite differently. Perish the Thought targets the opponent’s hand directly, forcing a potential strategic disadvantage, while Fade Away targets their board presence, which indirectly could affect their hand as they decide what resources to keep. Clinging Mists is another parallel, with its potential to alter the pace of the game, but it’s focused more on stalling combat, contrasting with Fade Away’s resource depletion theme.
Overall, Fade Away offers a distinct approach to disrupting opponents by challenging their resource allocation strategies. It may not be as direct as some other cards, but it shines in its ability to pressure the opponent’s decisions during the game.
Cards similar to Fade Away by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fade Away challenges each opponent to commit resources or sacrifice nonland permanents, potentially stripping them of crucial assets while bolstering your strategic position.
Resource Acceleration: By forcing opponents to pay for their creatures, Fade Away can slow down opponents’ development, hindering their ability to cast expensive spells and thus giving you a tempo advantage.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Fade Away sets the stage for your next move by clearing the board during your main phase, allowing you to plan your turn without the pressure of responding to immediate threats.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Fade Away demands that each player discards a card for each creature they control, which can backfire if you’re also commanding a wide board of creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes two blue mana, necessitating a strong commitment to blue mana sources and potentially limiting its inclusion in multi-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, of which two are specifically blue, Fade Away’s potential in fast-paced games might be overshadowed by lower-cost spells with more immediate board impact.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Fade Away offers a unique approach to crowd control, able to dismantle an opponent’s board presence by exploiting their available resources, making it adaptable in decks that aim to control the pace of the game.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies designed to limit opponent’s resources – for example, pairing it with land destruction or tapping effects can force tough decisions, thereby amplifying its disruptive power.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where players tend to commit a lot of creatures to the board or in multiplayer settings, Fade Away can be a game-changer by punishing overextended plays and creating significant card advantage for the controller.
How to beat
Fade Away is a unique blue spell in Magic: The Gathering, challenging players with its requirement to sacrifice permanents unless they pay one mana for each nonland permanent they control. This card can catch many opponents off guard, especially those that have extended themselves by casting numerous creatures or artifacts early on.
To successfully navigate against Fade Away, conservation of resources is key. Adequate mana availability is crucial when this spell is cast so that you can pay and retain your pivotal pieces on the board. Utilizing instants and activated abilities that generate mana or untap lands can provide the necessary resources to counteract the effect. Players can also maintain card advantage by playing fewer creatures and other permanents or by having redundancy in permanents, mitigating the impact of any single loss.
Finally, having counterspells ready or cards that can grant hexproof or indestructible to your permanents can nullify the threat posed by Fade Away. By anticipating it and adjusting your strategy accordingly, you can turn the tides in your favor, keeping your board state secure and minimizing the disruption caused by this potent control card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fade Away MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Fade Away and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fade Away has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fade Away card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | At the beginning of the resolution, each player counts up the number of creatures they control, then they make the required number of payments and/or sacrifices. The active player announces their choices first followed by the other players, but all the sacrifices are done at the same time. Because of this, you can’t sacrifice one creature in order to pay for another and thereby avoid payment for the first. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can activate mana abilities during the resolution if you decide to pay mana. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can choose to pay some mana and sacrifice some permanents if you have more than one creature. |