Flay MTG Card

Flay provides card advantage and can unexpectedly turn the tide of a game with instant-speed plays. Although powerful, Flay’s need for discarding and specific mana may limit its use across various decks. Flay’s uniqueness lies in its combo potential and adaptability, making it a meta-relevant card.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	65
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Text of card

Target player discards a card at random from his or her hand. Then that player discards another card at random from his or her hand unless he or she pays o1.

The Keldons would never admit it, but Greel unsettles them, too.

Cards like Flay

Flay is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of damage-dealing spells within Magic: The Gathering. When assessing its counterparts, Chandra’s Outrage stands out as it deals damage to both a creature and its controller. While Chandra’s Outrage has a higher damage output, Flay is unique in its potential to deal direct damage to a player contingent on the sacrifice of a creature with power 4 or greater.

Moving to a spell like Lightning Strike, we tap into a simpler yet effective means of sending damage to any target with its lower mana cost. It doesn’t require a creature sacrifice, offering its caster more straightforward utility. Then, looking to Staggershock, which provides a form of recurring damage with its rebound ability. Unlike Flay, Staggershock spreads its damage over two turns, potentially affecting board state twice if not countered.

Examining these nuances, Flay illustrates a unique niche within Magic: The Gathering’s extensive library of damage spells. Its specific dependence on creature sacrifice positions it as a more situational play, resonating with players who appreciate strategic depth and the dramatic shift in board dynamics it can introduce.

Cards similar to Flay by color, type and mana cost

Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When engaging with Flay in your gameplay, you gain a distinct upper hand through its capacity to disrupt your adversary’s strategy, seizing valuable creatures from their deck to strengthen your position.

Resource Acceleration: Deploying Flay can prove to be a game-changer, as it not only removes a crucial creature from your opponent’s forthcoming plays but also supplies you with a copy ready for immediate action featuring haste, essentially outpacing your opponent’s board development.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Flay is unmatched as it can be deployed at instant speed. This quality allows savvy players to make optimal decisions based on their opponent’s moves, maintaining a reactive stance until just the right moment, and ensuring that tempo stays in their favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Flay necessitates the discarding of a card to initiate its effect. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted, potentially putting you at a further strategic disadvantage in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has the requirement of black mana in its cost, which could restrict its compatibility mainly to black or multicolored decks. This makes Flay less versatile for players who prefer monocolored or other color combinations in their builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that requires more mana than some other removal options available in the game, Flay might not be the most mana-efficient choice. Players might opt for alternatives that offer a similar effect at a lower cost, enhancing their mana curve and allowing for a more streamlined gameplay experience.

Reasons to Include Flay in Your Collection

Versatility: Flay is a flexible option for players building a controlling or mid-range deck. Its ability to deal significant damage to creatures or planeswalkers allows it to adapt to varied board conditions.

Combo Potential: Due to its damage-dealing effect, Flay can complement strategies aiming to manage the board state or work in conjunction with spells that capitalize on damaging opponents’ resources.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving landscape of MTG, including cards like Flay that offer direct interaction and removal options keep decks competitive against a wide range of threats.

How to Beat

Flay is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card that allows players to inflict considerable damage based on the number of cards in their opponent’s hand. As a spell focused on punishment and control, overcoming Flay requires a strategic approach. To mitigate the impact of Flay, players should closely manage their hand size. Keeping your hand size small reduces the potential damage that Flay can deal. This can be accomplished by playing cards at a steady pace, making sure you’re deploying threats and using resources.

Additionally, cards with abilities that provide hexproof or shroud for players are invaluable, as they prevent Flay from targeting you altogether. Counterspell effects are also key in stopping Flay before it can wreak havoc. They allow you to negate the spell as it’s cast, provided you have the resources to use them. Lastly, employing discard strategies can be highly effective. By compelling your opponent to discard Flay before they have a chance to use it against you, you remove the threat preemptively, securing your position and reducing the risk to your life total.

In essence, skillfully navigating your hand size, utilizing protective spells, countering effectively, and forcing discards are all solid tactics in nullifying Flay’s power, keeping your life total safe, and maintaining the upper hand in your MTG matchups.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flay MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Flay and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flay has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	The player gets the option to pay when this spell resolves.