Flatline MTG Card

Instant speed allows Flatline to disrupt opponents during their turn, shifting the game in your favor. Requires a multicolor mana base and card discard, possibly hindering your gameplay strategy. Its versatility and meta-relevance make Flatline a strong counter to creature-heavy decks.

Doctor Who (WHO)
2023-10-13 - Number 648

Doctor Who (WHO)
2023-10-13 - Number 358

Doctor Who (WHO)
2023-10-13 - Number 43

Doctor Who (WHO)
2023-10-13 - Number 949

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant

Text of card

Creatures your opponents control have base power and toughness 0/1 until end of turn.

"We've found the missing people- they're in the walls!" —The Twelfth Doctor

Cards like Flatline

Flatline makes for an intriguing piece in the puzzle of graveyard management tools within Magic: The Gathering. Echoing the utility of cards such as Tormod’s Crypt, Flatline offers players a strategy to counteract graveyard-based decks. Unlike Tormod’s Crypt, which removes all cards from a single graveyard with no mana cost, Flatline requires a mana investment but compensates with the power to target multiple graveyards simultaneously.

Another similar card in this space is Nihil Spellbomb. This artifact also deals with the opponent’s graveyard, with a one-time activation cost similar to Flatline. However, Spellbomb allows for a card draw when it’s sacrificed, providing a slight card advantage. Conversely, Flatline’s strength lies in its potential for repeatable usage, given the right conditions on the battlefield.

When evaluating its capability to both disrupt opponents and control the game’s pace, Flatline stands out as a versatile option for players looking to maintain dominance over the graveyards. Its unique repeated use mechanic can significantly shape the outcome of matches, particularly in formats where graveyard strategies prevail.

Cards similar to Flatline by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flatline offers a unique edge by potentially disrupting the opponent’s strategy while replenishing your own hand with valuable options.

Resource Acceleration: This card effectively disrupts the opponent’s momentum by isolating key cards while simultaneously ramping up your resources to deploy threats or answers faster.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed grants the flexibility to act on the opponent’s turn, creating a window of opportunity to counteract imminent threats or exploit a moment of weakness.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Flatline demands that you discard a card, which could deplete your hand and reduce your options later in the game, a serious setback especially when facing resource denial strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The precise mana cost of Flatline necessitates a dedicated color commitment, which can be problematic in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the needed mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Flatline’s mana cost is on the higher side, making it a less attractive choice in fast-paced games where lower-cost cards could lead to a quicker board presence or immediate impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Flatline card can seamlessly adapt to diverse playing styles since it offers both control aspects and creature removal abilities. Its dual nature makes it a handy card in many different decks, performing essential functions to deter opponents effectively.

Combo Potential: Flatline can synchronize well with other cards that capitalize on graveyard manipulation or spells that trigger on creature death, providing strategic depth and combo possibilities within your deck construction.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current competitive landscape where creature-based decks are prevalent, the disruptiveness of Flatline’s creature-targeting capability can greatly swing the momentum in your favor and establish a noteworthy presence in the meta.

How to beat

Flatline is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can hold a firm grasp on the game by neutralizing the most threatening creatures on the battlefield. Overcoming a card with such a significant impact requires strategic play and a deep understanding of your deck’s resources. A well-timed removal spell can effectively eliminate the threat of Flatline before its debilitating effects take root. Additionally, cards with hexproof or protection from the color of Flatline offer resilience against its ability to sideline your creatures.

Counterspells also serve as a robust defensive mechanism, halting Flatline before it can land on the field. When playing against a deck harnessing the power of Flatline, it is also crucial to manage your creature deployment. Avoid overextending your board presence, as Flatline can swiftly turn the tide by incapacitating multiple creatures at once. Instead, focus on building a strategy that emphasizes resilience, recovery, or alternative win conditions that do not rely heavily on creature combat. By doing so, you can navigate around the obstacles posed by Flatline and secure victory.

Ultimately, understanding and predicting your opponent’s moves will be your greatest ally in mitigating the formidable control that Flatline exerts in the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flatline MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 Flatline and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Flatline Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Filipe Pagliuso.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2023-10-13	Doctor Who	WHO	648	2015	Normal	Black	Filipe Pagliuso
2	2023-10-13	Doctor Who	WHO	358	2015	Normal	Black	Filipe Pagliuso
3	2023-10-13	Doctor Who	WHO	43	2015	Normal	Black	Filipe Pagliuso
4	2023-10-13	Doctor Who	WHO	949	2015	Normal	Black	Filipe Pagliuso

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flatline has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2023-10-13	Flatline affects only creatures your opponents control at the time it resolves. Creatures they begin to control later in the turn won't change power and toughness.
2023-10-13	Flatline overwrites any effects that set a creature's power and toughness. Any existing effects or counters that raise, lower, or switch a creature's power and/or toughness continue to apply to the creature's newly-set power and toughness.