Faerie Impostor MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 39
2014-09-05 - Number 43
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Faerie Rogue |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying When Faerie Impostor enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you return another creature you control to its owner's hand.
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Cards like Faerie Impostor
Faerie Impostor adds a unique dynamic to the roster of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, inviting comparison to other cards that favorably affect the battlefield presence. One such card is Quickling, which also requires the return of a creature you control to your hand when it enters the battlefield. Quickling offers the advantage of flash, allowing it to be played at instant speed, which Faerie Impostor lacks. However, Faerie Impostor’s one lower mana cost gives it an edge in earlier plays.
Cloudshift is another card that interacts with creatures on the battlefield by exiling one and returning it to play, effectively saving it from harm or reactivating enter-the-battlefield effects. Although not a creature itself, it provides a similar benefit to Faerie Impostor when it comes to reuse of enter-the-battlefield abilities without the necessity of a creature slot in your deck. Lastly, there’s Ninja of the Deep Hours—a creature that returns another attacker to your hand when it enters the battlefield for its Ninjutsu cost, potentially providing card draw on top of the creature bouncing effect.
While Faerie Impostor doesn’t offer direct card draw or flash capability, it does provide a low-cost, airborne asset that can be strategically used to re-utilize valuable enter-the-battlefield abilities of other creatures, situating it as an economical and tactical choice in Magic: The Gathering gameplay strategies.
Cards similar to Faerie Impostor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Faerie Impostor, the ability to return another creature you control to your hand can be leveraged as an advantage. This synergizes well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects, allowing you to reuse those powerful abilities.
Resource Acceleration: A key aspect of Faerie Impostor’s appeal is its low casting cost which can lead to a faster tempo, enabling the casting of multiple spells in a turn. By bouncing a creature with a higher mana cost, you effectively accelerate your resource deployment.
Instant Speed: While Faerie Impostor itself is not an instant, its effect can set up plays at instant speed. When combined with flash creatures or other effects that can be activated at instant speed, Faerie Impostor enhances your ability to respond dynamically to the state of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Faerie Impostor requires you to return a creature you control to your hand. This can lead to a loss of board presence, particularly if you don’t have another creature to play or if returning a creature diminishes your strategic setup.
Specific Mana Cost: Faerie Impostor’s cost is specifically one blue mana. This makes it less flexible for decks that aren’t centered around blue mana sources, potentially limiting its inclusion only to those with a strong blue mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only one blue mana might seem efficient, the added requirement of returning a creature to your hand can be seen as an indirect increase to its cost. In situations where tempo is crucial, there may be other cards that maintain or advance board state without such a setback.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Faerie Impostor serves as a multifaceted tool in decks that capitalize on entered-the-battlefield effects or require a cheap flyer. Its low mana cost allows it to fit seamlessly into various blue-centric strategies.
Combo Potential: This card pairs exceptionally well with creatures with enter-the-battlefield triggers. When played right, it can create loops that generate massive value, or it can reset creatures whose abilities are needed once more.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, Faerie Impostor gains substantial value. Particularly in a meta where tempo plays can swing games in your favor, the ability to reuse key creatures or disrupt your opponent’s board can be game-changing.
How to Beat Faerie Impostor
Faerie Impostor shines as a unique utility creature in Magic: The Gathering, fitting seamlessly into decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. Its strength lies in the combination of a low mana cost and the ability to return another creature to its owner’s hand, setting the stage for reusing valuable ETB abilities. However, this same characteristic can be manipulated to your advantage in a duel against it.
To counter Faerie Impostor effectively, consider employing strategies that limit its ability to bounce creatures back. Use cards that restrict casting, such as Torpor Orb, which neutralizes ETB triggers, or employ instant-speed removal spells to eliminate it before its ability activates. Moreover, you could turn the tide by including cards that punish your opponent for returning creatures to their hand, like Liliana’s Triumph, to force discards when they least expect it. Timing and precision are key when dealing with Faerie Impostor — strike wisely and turn this trickster’s ploy into a disadvantage for your opponent.
Ultimately, understanding when and how to disrupt your adversary’s strategy against Faerie Impostor can ensure you’re not caught off guard by this deceptive flyer. With the right counters in play, you can transform what appears to be a disadvantageous situation into a strategic win.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Faerie Impostor MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning, 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 Faerie Impostor 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
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Printings
The Faerie Impostor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2014-09-05. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 39 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 2 | 2014-09-05 | Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning | DDN | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Faerie Impostor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Faerie Impostor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-10-01 | Returning another creature you control to its owner’s hand is optional. You may choose to sacrifice Faerie Impostor, even if you could return a creature. |