Fateful Handoff MTG Card


Offers card advantage and instant-speed flexibility, augmenting your strategic options during play. Demands precise mana and presents high costs, which may limit its inclusion in varied decks. Can function as a pivotal card within your collection, unleashing new combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Draw cards equal to the mana value of target artifact or creature you control. An opponent gains control of that permanent.


Cards like Fateful Handoff

Fateful Handoff introduces a unique twist to the array of creature-impacting spells in MTG. It draws a comparison to cards like Act of Treason, which offers the ability to snatch control of an opponent’s creature temporarily. Fateful Handoff not only allows a player to gain control of a creature but also includes the added drama of targeting a player who then may select the creature to be taken. This creates strategic depth and unexpected outcomes, differing markedly from the predictability of Act of Treason.

Another card that echoes this trait of commandeering creatures is Hijack. While Hijack extends its reach to artifacts as well as creatures, it does so without the creative play that Fateful Handoff enables, by letting an opponent make a critical choice. The element of choice introduces a psychological underpinning to Fateful Handoff, adding another layer to its gameplay.

Critical to evaluating Fateful Handoff’s strategic value is understanding the unexpected alliances or rivalries it can forge. As players navigate these treacherous waters, Fateful Handoff stands out for its ability to impact the board and the minds of opponents, showcasing its place in MTG’s vast landscape of control-altering spells.

Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Hijack - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Hijack - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fateful Handoff by color, type and mana cost

Stench of Evil - MTG Card versions
Fatal Lore - MTG Card versions
Mind Warp - MTG Card versions
Final Strike - MTG Card versions
Persecute - MTG Card versions
Ancient Craving - MTG Card versions
Unmask - MTG Card versions
Reprocess - MTG Card versions
Befoul - MTG Card versions
Mutilate - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Cranial Extraction - MTG Card versions
Aphetto Dredging - MTG Card versions
Agonizing Memories - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Memoricide - MTG Card versions
Massacre - MTG Card versions
All Hallow's Eve - MTG Card versions
Stench of Evil - MTG Card versions
Fatal Lore - MTG Card versions
Mind Warp - MTG Card versions
Final Strike - MTG Card versions
Persecute - MTG Card versions
Ancient Craving - MTG Card versions
Unmask - MTG Card versions
Reprocess - MTG Card versions
Befoul - MTG Card versions
Mutilate - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Cranial Extraction - MTG Card versions
Aphetto Dredging - MTG Card versions
Agonizing Memories - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Memoricide - MTG Card versions
Massacre - MTG Card versions
All Hallow's Eve - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Fateful Handoff. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black AggroMono-Black Aggro PioneerMono-Black MidrangePeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fateful Handoff can be a game-changer by offering the ability to transfer control of one of your creatures to an opponent then draw two cards. This maneuver is not only surprising but can drastically shift the tide by padding your hand with additional options.

Resource Acceleration: The unique effect of Fateful Handoff enables strategic plays that can accelerate your resources. For example, transferring a creature with a powerful effect or one your opponent can’t easily get rid of can put you in a more favorable position without using up your mana resources for the turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Fateful Handoff at instant speed adds a layer of unpredictability and flexibility. It allows you to react to your opponent’s actions, potentially disrupting their strategy and optimizing the timing of your plays to maintain the upper hand during the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Fateful Handoff requires players to discard a card, a step that might strain your hand especially when facing resource depletion. This attribute demands players to weigh their options carefully before activating the ability.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Fateful Handoff is particularly color-weighted, necessitating two blue mana. This specificity can make it challenging to include in multicolored decks or those that don’t prioritize blue mana generation, thus reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost is on the higher end for instant spells offering similar effects. In MTG, where mana efficiency is key, players might find cards with lower mana requirements or with broader impacts more useful for their deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include Fateful Handoff in Your Collection

Versatility: Fateful Handoff offers a unique twist to gameplay by allowing you to donate one of your own creatures to an opponent. This card can fit into strategies that take advantage of handing over liabilities or creatures with detrimental effects at the right moment.

Combo Potential: This card shines with creatures that have negative effects for the controller or those that synergize with leaving the battlefield. It opens up possibilities for inventive interactions and unexpected plays that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic nature of the MTG meta, Fateful Handoff can become a crucial part of a strategy. It’s particularly effective against decks that rely on creature control and can unexpectedly undermine an opponent’s game plan.


How to beat

Fateful Handoff is a unique spell that adds an intriguing dynamic to gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to transfer control of one of your creatures to an opponent, along with a power boost, it creates complex strategic considerations. To effectively neutralize the impact of Fateful Handoff, it’s essential to adopt a strategy that minimizes the benefits your opponent can reap from the creature they receive.

One approach is to maintain a board state with creatures that have less strategic value, thus ensuring that any transferred creature won’t significantly tilt the game in your opponent’s favor. Direct removal spells are also a valuable countermeasure, allowing you to dispose of the enhanced creature as soon as it shifts sides. Alternatively, employing counterspells can prevent Fateful Handoff from resolving altogether, preserving your creature lineup and stymying your opponent’s plans. By implementing these tactics, you’ll be better positioned to mitigate the effects of Fateful Handoff and maintain control over the battlefield.

Conclusively, while Fateful Handoff can swing the momentum of a match, a prepared player with removal options and preventive measures can effectively contain and overcome the challenges this card presents in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fateful Handoff MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The Brothers' War, 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 Fateful Handoff and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fateful Handoff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Gaboleps.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1057142015NormalBlackGaboleps
22022-11-18The Brothers' WarBRO 3252015NormalBlackGaboleps
32022-11-18The Brothers' WarBRO 942015NormalBlackGaboleps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fateful Handoff has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-10-14 If an artifact or creature on the battlefield has in its mana cost, X is 0.
2022-10-14 The mana value of an artifact creature that was cast as a prototype is based on the prototype mana cost rather than the card's usual mana cost.