Fleshformer MTG Card

Fleshformer excels in board manipulation, offering transformative control at instant speed. Despite its power, the card’s activation cost requires a strategic mana base and hand management. Its niche lies within decks that value counter play and creature adaptability for long-term advantage.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	2009-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Conflux
Set code	CON
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	45
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Kendall

Text of card

: Fleshformer gets +2/+2 and gains fear until end of turn. Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. Play this ability only during your turn.

Necromancers who discovered the new sources of mana were quick to dream up new nightmares with them.

Cards like Fleshformer

Fleshformer, with its unique blend of creature evolution and control, holds an intriguing place in MTG’s array of transformative cards. Comparable to fellow card Wickerbough Elder, which also arrives on the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter and can utilize it to destroy other permanents. The distinction lies in Fleshformer’s ability to not only eliminate competing threats but to also grow in strength, transitioning from a utility piece to a formidable combatant.

Hungry for More is another card that tantalizes players searching for an immediate on-field presence. While it does not evolve like Fleshformer, it compensates by creating a powerful Vampire token with haste and lifelink. This grants an immediate payoff, albeit without the scaling threat that Fleshformer promises over multiple turns. Conversely, Carrion Feeder emerges as a single-mana investment, with a perpetual capacity to gain strength via sacrifice, a pivotal feature Fleshformer can’t imitate.

Thus, in evaluating MTG’s multifaceted card options, Fleshformer finds its niche as a flexible and escalating threat. It’s a card that rewards long-term strategy and board manipulation, establishing itself as a distinctly versatile asset amongst MTG’s transformative cards.

Cards similar to Fleshformer by color, type and mana cost

Sisay, Weatherlight Captain - MTG Card versions

Najeela, the Blade-Blossom - MTG Card versions

Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge - MTG Card versions

Paragon of the Amesha - MTG Card versions

Tazri, Stalwart Survivor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fleshformer offers a versatile ability that lets you manipulate the board by turning any creature into a Horror, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy and creating favorable match-ups for you in the process.

Resource Acceleration: As part of its transforming mechanism, Fleshformer provides a built-in mana sink, giving you an avenue to utilize excess mana effectively. This efficiency can be crucial in the late game where resources can dictate the winner.

Instant Speed: The adaptability offered by Fleshformer’s activation at instant speed cannot be understated. This allows players to react swiftly to the evolving state of the game, transforming creatures on an as-needed basis during either player’s turn and catching opponents off-guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fleshformer necessitates discarding a card to activate its ability, which can deplete your hand and leave you at a disadvantage in the resource game.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost for Fleshformer’s ability includes black mana, demanding a deck tailored around that color or a well-built mana base to go off without a hitch.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined cost in mana and card resources to transform into an ideal creature, players might find the investment hefty when other options could bring creatures into play more efficiently.

Reasons to Include Fleshformer in Your Collection

Versatility: Fleshformer offers a unique adaptability to any deck that focuses on counters and versatility in creature abilities. Its ability to become a 3/3 with wither complements various strategies and can be a surprise blocker or attacker in a pinch.

Combo Potential: With its ability to place -1/-1 counters on creatures, Fleshformer can synergize with other cards that manipulate or benefit from those counters, enabling interesting and unexpected combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Given the presence of creatures-based strategies in many formats, Fleshformer’s creature control aspect is especially relevant, allowing you to handle threats by shrinking opponents’ creatures while progressively strengthening your board position.

How to beat

Fleshformer is a unique creature card that belongs to the vast array of transformative options available in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out with its ability to become larger and gain the fear ability, which can present a challenge to opponents who are unprepared. Facing such versatility requires a special approach to maintain control of the gameplay.

To effectively counter Fleshformer, one strategy includes hold removal spells until it attempts to transform. This timing is crucial, as removing it in response to its activation wastes the opponent’s mana and nullifies their turn’s investment. Moreover, utilizing cards that can exile it from the graveyard ensures that it won’t make a return later in the game, thwarting strategies reliant on creature recursion.

However, if Fleshformer does manage to transform, it’s essential to have blockers that are immune to fear. Artifacts and colorless creatures make excellent candidates for this task. The diversified strategies in your deck should keep you prepared and adaptable, allowing you to mitigate the threat posed by Fleshformer and overcome the hurdles it creates on the battlefield. Overall, understanding your opponent’s potential moves and maintaining an agile, well-thought-out counter-strategy will be key to outmaneuvering Fleshformer.

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fleshformer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-02-01	Fleshformer can target itself with its ability. The result is that Fleshformer gains fear, since the +2/+2 and -2/-2 parts of the effect will balance each other out. (Fleshformer’s power and toughness will each momentarily go up by 2, in case anything cares about that.)
2009-02-01	Fleshformer’s ability has only one target: the creature. If that creature becomes an illegal target by the time Fleshformer’s ability would resolve, the entire ability doesn’t resolve. Fleshformer won’t get +2/+2 and won’t gain fear.