Feign Death MTG Card


Feign Death negates removal spells, maintaining card advantage by saving a targeted creature. Instant speed flexibility allows Feign Death to disrupt opponents’ plays and preserve board presence. While dependent on board state, its strategic value in certain decks makes it worth considering.
Feign Death - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2021-07-23
Set symbol
Set nameAdventures in the Forgotten Realms
Set codeAFR
Number103
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMaria Zolotukhina

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature gains "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it."

A drastic measure for dangerous times.


Cards like Feign Death

Feign Death is an intriguing instant in the world of Magic: The Gathering, designed to protect creatures with a touch of resurrection. When paralleled with other cards that serve a similar purpose, Unearth immediately springs to mind, which also returns a creature to the battlefield. Nevertheless, Unearth permits the choice of any creature card with total mana cost 3 or less from your graveyard, hence offering a broader range. On the contrary, Feign Death is restricted to only trigger when the designated creature dies, presenting a narrower window of opportunity.

Comparing it further, Supernatural Stamina is another card that shares a kinship with Feign Death, giving a creature a second wind after demise, but it adds the benefit of a power boost until end of turn. Although it’s similar in mana cost and effect, the bonus strength provided by Supernatural Stamina could tip the scales in combat scenarios. Lastly, Malakir Rebirth provides the preservation effect with an added layer of flexibility by being a modal double-faced card. As a land on its flip side, it offers versatility that Feign Death lacks.

Assessing these options, Feign Death is a noteworthy option within Magic: The Gathering for safeguarding creatures, albeit with certain limitations compared to its counterparts. Its inexpensive casting cost and surprise element, however, make it a clever tactical choice in the right deck build.

Unearth - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions

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Duh - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Golgari ScamGolgari Scam ModernGolgari ScamModern Showcase Challenge 2024-04-13
Mono-Black ScamMono-Black Scam ModernMono-Black ScamModern League 2024-04-04
Jund ScamJund Scam ModernJund ScamModern Challenge 32 2024-04-09
Rakdos ScamRakdos Scam ModernRakdos ScamDEN24 Sat 9:00 - U.S. Regional Championship - presented by Laughing Dragon
Mardu ShadowMardu Shadow ModernDeath's ShadowGrand Open Qualifier Prague 2024
Jund Death's ShadowJund Death's Shadow ModernDeath's ShadowModern Challenge 64 2024-03-23 (1)
Dimir Deaths ShadowDimir Deaths Shadow ModernDeath's ShadowThe Gathering Showdown Series
RoguesRogues ModernRoguesModern Challenge 32 2024-02-12
Jund GriefJund Grief ModernDomain ZooDEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ
Rakdos GriefRakdos Grief ModernRakdos MidrangeDEN24 Sat 9:00 - U.S. Regional Championship - presented by Laughing Dragon

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Feign Death is that type of spell that could effectively negate a removal spell from an opponent, essentially negating their card and preserving your own. In this way, it can tip the balance of card advantage in your favor as you’ve saved a creature that was otherwise destined for the graveyard.

Resource Acceleration: By keeping your creature on the battlefield, Feign Death indirectly contributes to resource acceleration. Your creature, especially if it’s a mana dork or has a tap ability for generating additional resources, can be used again without the need to re-cast or re-summon it.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Feign Death at instant speed offers significant flexibility during gameplay. You can wait until the last possible moment before your creature would be destroyed to play it, potentially causing your opponent to waste a removal spell, or you can use it in response to a board wipe, assuring that you will still have a presence on the board afterward.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Feign Death’s effectiveness is conditional upon having a creature on the board, thus it requires a specific board state rather than a card from hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Despite its low cost, Feign Death necessitates black mana, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that run black mana sources or have a reliable mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When prioritizing mana efficiency, Feign Death could be seen as less effective compared to other one-mana spells that provide immediate board impact or protection, since its use is reactive and circumstantial.


Reasons to Include Feign Death in Your Collection

Versatility: Feign Death is a low-cost spell that fits seamlessly into decks that thrive on creature survival and tactical play. Its ability to bring creatures back from the brink of destruction makes it a strategic asset across various playstyles.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or death triggers, Feign Death shines by reactivating those abilities. It can be pivotal in combinations that need to recycle creature effects or to save key creatures for intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: With removal spells prevailing in the current meta, a card like Feign Death that protects prized creatures for just one mana can be a game-changer, ensuring your key assets stay on the field to press your advantage.


How to beat

Feign Death represents a unique tool in the arsenal of black Magic: The Gathering strategies, offering substantial resilience to creatures on the battlefield. This spell allows a creature to return to the field with a +1/+1 counter after being destroyed, essentially acting as a fail-safe against removal spells. To effectively counteract this, players can employ exile or bounce effects which sidestep Feign Death’s ability to regenerate creatures. Cards such as Path to Exile or Unsummon not only nullify the benefit of Feign Death but can also deal with the threat without triggering its return ability.

Another approach involves timing. By waiting out the opponent’s mana resources or baiting the use of Feign Death prematurely, your removal spells can become more effective. A strategic play is disrupting your opponent’s tempo by forcing decisions that could cause mismanagement of their Feign Death card. Whenever possible, utilizing instant-speed interactions that can adjust to your opponent’s plays will keep you one step ahead and ensure that Feign Death doesn’t overturn the balance of the game in their favor.

The key to besting the protective charm of Feign Death lies in understanding the mechanics it depends on and smartly circumventing them, keeping your opponent’s creatures at bay for good.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG deck with Feign Death can be a tactical game-changer, especially in a meta where every creature’s survival is crucial. Its ability to thwart removal spells and regain valuable creatures makes it a strategic spell worth considering for any player who values resourcefulness on the battlefield. If controlling the board and maintaining a presence is your playstyle, then understanding the full potential of Feign Death is essential. Dive deeper with us as we explore advanced strategies and deck synergies that can turn this unassuming card into a powerful asset in your MTG collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Feign Death MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Feign Death and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Feign Death has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal