Fangren Firstborn MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 75
2005-08-22 - Number K13
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Whenever Fangren Firstborn attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on each attacking creature.
In the Tangle, bad is often followed by worse.
Cards like Fangren Firstborn
Fangren Firstborn is a quintessential card for players looking to boost their creatures on the battlefield in MTG. It bears some resemblance to cards like Ridgeline Rager, which provides a strength boost to your creatures each time it attacks. However, Fangren Firstborn offers a more sustainable advantage by permanently placing +1/+1 counters on each attacking creature, as opposed to the temporary buff granted by the Rager.
When comparing to cards like Oran-Rief, the Vastwood, there’s a key difference in strategy. While Oran-Rief also adds +1/+1 counters, it does so in a way that requires a tap and can only be used at the end of your turn. This makes Fangren Firstborn more aggressive and immediate. Another similar card is Tuskguard Captain, which not only grants +1/+1 counters when it attacks with a bolster mechanic but also gives those creatures with counters trample, enhancing their combat potential significantly. However, Fangren Firstborn does not require other conditions to be fulfilled, giving all your attackers the bonus without extra steps.
Analysing these options, Fangren Firstborn emerges as a strong choice for driving aggressive strategies, thanks to its capacity to continually enhance your army of creatures with every assault.
Cards similar to Fangren Firstborn by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fangren Firstborn can give you a strong position in the game each time it attacks. As it bolsters every other attacking creature with additional +1/+1 counters, it can transform a modest creature army into a formidable force. This ability to progressively enhance your creatures can lead to card advantage, as each of your creatures becomes a more valuable asset on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Fangren Firstborn itself doesn’t directly provide mana, the increasing power and toughness of your creatures effectively accelerate your resources. By improving the stats of attackers, you require less mana to cast additional spells or creatures to maintain a strong board presence, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Although Fangren Firstborn operates at sorcery speed, its continuous effect provides an advantage similar to what instant speed interactions offer. Its ability to enhance creatures mid-combat can catch opponents off guard, forcing them to reconsider blocks or spells since the calculations of damage and toughness alter with each attack phase where Fangren Firstborn is involved.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Fangren Firstborn does not intrinsically demand discarding, it may indirectly lead to this downside. In decks that prioritize casting creatures quickly, Fangren Firstborn’s initial mana investment could cause you to deplete your hand faster, potentially leaving you in a position where you must discard to maintain pace.
Specific Mana Cost: Fangren Firstborn comes with a strict mana requirement of one green and three generic mana, which means it’s predominantly suitable for decks heavily invested in green mana sources. This limitation can hamper its utility in multi-colored decks that may struggle to meet the color-specific mana condition, especially early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana required to summon Fangren Firstborn is considerable, especially considering that MTG is rich with a plethora of three-mana creatures that can have an immediate impact on the board state. The card competes in a slot where players may opt for other creatures or spells that provide more immediate or versatile advantages at the same or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Fangren Firstborn in Your Collection
Versatility: Fangren Firstborn shows its adaptability by complementing a wide variety of green deck strategies. It shines in decks that favor creature-based combat, increasing the potency of your creatures with each attack.
Combo Potential: With every swing, Fangren Firstborn provides +1/+1 counters, setting the stage for synergies with mechanics like proliferate or cards that thrive on counters, multiplying their impact exponentially.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape often fluctuates with creature-heavy decks gaining traction, Fangren Firstborn becomes a card that can turn the tide of battle by enhancing your board presence with permanent stat boosts.
How to beat
Fangren Firstborn is a notable creature card that can be a challenge to tackle in Magic: The Gathering. It boasts an ability that grants +1/+1 counters to attacking creatures, which can quickly escalate the power level on the board. Ideally, to counter this potent effect, players should consider removal spells. Instant speed spells like Murder or Path to Exile work well as they can be cast directly in response to attacks, preventing the counter accumulation.
Ensnaring removal options such as Pacifism or Arrest can also be effective. They neutralize Fangren Firstborn without having to send it to the graveyard, which could be beneficial if your opponent has ways to recur creatures from their graveyard. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation are excellent resets when facing a board bolstered by Fangren Firstborn’s ability, clearing all creatures and setting the stage anew.
It’s important to act swiftly against Fangren Firstborn, as the counters it distributes can make opposing creatures formidable. Understanding the right timing and having these countermeasures ready can ensure Fangren Firstborn’s impact is minimal and manageable throughout the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fangren Firstborn MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Salvat 2005, 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 Fangren Firstborn 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
Printings
The Fangren Firstborn Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Tim Hildebrandt.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 75 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | K13 | 2003 | Normal | White | Tim Hildebrandt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fangren Firstborn has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |