Flying Men MTG Card

Flying Men offers consistent early damage, subtly forcing opponents to overcommit resources. Complements strategies that focus on speed, flexibly fitting into decks with flying synergy. Though simple, it requires discard and specific mana considerations, which can limit deck building.

Arabian Nights (ARN)
1993-12-17 - Number 14

Flying Men - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
2006-10-06 - Number 20

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human
Abilities	Flying
Power	1
Toughness	1

Text of card

Flying

Saffiyah clapped her hands and twenty flying men appeared at her side, each well trained in the art of combat.

Cards like Flying Men

The allure of Flying Men in Magic: The Gathering rests in its simplicity and efficiency. As a one-mana blue creature, it offers an immediate aerial threat that can be difficult for opponents to block in the early stages of the game. This card often finds its counterparts in other low-cost flyers such as Judge’s Familiar and Faerie Seer, each with its own perks.

Judge’s Familiar also costs one mana but brings a little more to the table with its ability to sacrifice for countering a spell, unless its controller pays one extra mana. Faerie Seer, meanwhile, comes with the added bonus of scrying two when it enters the battlefield, which helps to set up future draws. Although neither of the two has the pure simplicity of Flying Men, their additional functionalities provide players with strategic options.

Comparatively, the classic appeal of Flying Men is in its unadorned approach to dealing damage quickly and evasively. For players looking to streamline their deck with efficient creatures, this card stands as a testament to the power of straightforward and early board presence in the air.

Cards similar to Flying Men by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite its simplicity, the Flying Men card offers an under-the-radar form of card advantage. This one-cost creature leaps into play and gets under bigger, clunkier spells, giving you a consistent attack vector in the early game. Its capacity to continually deal damage can force opponents to dedicate more resources to deal with it than they might strictly prefer.

Resource Acceleration: Though the Flying Men card itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, it synergizes well with cards providing buffs or that benefit from the presence of flyers. This blue-aligned creature seamlessly fits into strategies that capitalise on cheap flyers, adequately supporting an overall game plan that values efficiency and speed.

Instant Speed: Being a creature, Flying Men naturally doesn’t have instant speed, but its low cost and flying ability allow players to maintain mana flexibility. It’s just as effective when played on your turn as when held back to bluff counterspells or flash creatures until the last possible moment, making it a strategic early-game play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players relying on Flying Men often face the obstacle of discarding precious cards from their hand to utilize various synergies or effects. This becomes a drawback when your hand size dwindles and each card becomes a vital component to maintain your aerial assault.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Flying Men requires blue mana, a necessity that can potentially hinder deck versatility. This may not be an issue in mono-blue or dual color decks, but in multicolor decks, it can make for a challenging fit, demanding a finely tuned mana base to ensure its timely play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its usability, Flying Men comes at a mana cost that may not align with the efficiency of other one-drop creatures within the same vein. When mana efficiency is key, especially in formats like Legacy where every mana point matters, there are alternative creatures that might provide equal or greater value at a similar, if not cheaper, cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flying Men is a card that seamlessly slots into aggressive blue strategies, serving as an early threat that can often fly under the radar, evading many common blockers effortlessly.

Combo Potential: This one-drop creature can be a critical piece in decks that capitalize on evasive creatures. Combined with equipment or auras that beef up its power, Flying Men can turn into a significant threat unexpectedly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on the ground, Flying Men shines by being an early game aerial menace. In addition, due to its low casting cost, it also synergizes well with tempo plays, helping maintain pressure on the opponent while building your board presence.

How to beat

Flying Men is a classic card in Magic: The Gathering, renowned for its simplicity and efficiency. As a one mana creature with evasion, it slips under the radar, chipping away at an opponent’s life total while often avoiding ground-based blockers. Its resilience in the early game can set the pace, but it is not unbeatable.

To effectively counter Flying Men, players should focus on flexible removal spells or creatures with reach that offer a sturdy line of defense. Spot removal like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can dispatch the 1/1 flyer without significant resource investment. Including versatile sweepers that can clear multiple threats, including creatures with flying, can also be advantageous. Ensnaring Bridge, due to its ability to prevent creatures with greater power from attacking, effectively neutralizes Flying Men, since it rarely presents a power above the threshold. Board control and targeted disruption are key in maintaining an upper hand.

Ultimately, while Flying Men presents a seemingly modest threat, its capacity to trigger islandwalk or benefit from buffs makes it a card to remain vigilant against. Smart deck building that includes answers to flying creatures will keep this agile adversary in check.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flying Men MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Flying Men and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Flying Men Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2006-10-06. Illustrated by Christopher Rush.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1993-12-17	Arabian Nights	ARN		14	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
2	2006-10-06	Time Spiral Timeshifted	TSB		20	1997	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flying Men has restrictions

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