Fog Elemental MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 40
1999-04-21 - Number 69
2000-10-01 - Number 7
2007-07-13 - Number 85★
2007-07-13 - Number 85
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying If Fog Elemental attacks or blocks, bury it at end of combat.
"I've seen fog so thick you could cut it, but none that could cut me." —Tahngarth of the *Weatherlight*
Cards like Fog Elemental
Fog Elemental is an intriguing creature choice within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to creatures like Cloud Elemental, which also boasts flying. However, Fog Elemental is distinctive due to its sacrifice clause upon blocking or being blocked, a trait absent in Cloud Elemental. Despite this, both share the trait of being susceptible to ground-based blocking restrictions.
Equally noteworthy is Mist Elemental, which also carries the stipulation of being sacrificed under certain combat conditions. While Mist Elemental is more flexible in avoiding sacrifice compared to Fog Elemental, it does so at the cost of returning to its owner’s hand. Comparatively, Fog Elemental allows for a one-time guaranteed block, albeit at the expense of its existence on the battlefield.
Therefore, when delving into the mechanics and strategic potential of these cards, Fog Elemental presents a unique option. Its forced sacrifice may be seen as a drawback, but it offers a reliable airborne defense which could be pivotal in certain game scenarios. A careful consideration of its self-sacrificial nature can make Fog Elemental an unexpected but effective choice in a player’s MTG deck.
Cards similar to Fog Elemental by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fog Elemental provides a unique nuance in deck strategy as it can return to a player’s hand when it comes into contact with fog. This recyclable nature ensures you can repeatedly block significant threats while maintaining your hand size, offering an intriguing way to preserve advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While Fog Elemental itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its ability to bounce back to your hand could synergize with cards that benefit from casting spells or returning creatures to the hand. This allows for indirect resource acceleration as you make the most out of every play, optimizing your mana and card interactions to keep pressure on your opponent.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Fog Elemental’s inherent trait of vanishing in ‘fog’ circumstances can act as a surprise mechanism. In combination with instant speed spells that create actual ‘fog’ effects—preventing all combat damage that would be dealt this turn—you can craft a protective veil at critical moments, preserving your Elemental for an unexpected defense.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Fog Elemental doesn’t explicitly mandate a discard, it does have a return-to-hand mechanic upon activating its ability which can indirectly result in a discarded card if your hand is already full. This can feel like a setback, especially when you’re aiming to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Fog Elemental has a specific mana requirement that can restrict its inclusion to decks tightly aligned with its blue mana cost. For players running multi-color decks, ensuring the right mana available at the right time can sometimes be tricky, leading to potential delays or inability to play the card when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, including two blue, the Fog Elemental’s expense might be considered steep for its fragility. Given that MTG is a game with countless options, there are lower costed creatures that offer similar or better protections, or creatures with a sturdier presence on the board at the same mana value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Fog Elemental can be a fitting addition to blue decks that capitalize on defensive strategies. It serves as a deterrent for opponents considering an attack, given its ability to effectively block incoming threats.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that grant indestructibility or prevent sacrifice, Fog Elemental can become a persisting force on the battlefield, surviving past its innate limitation after blocking.
Meta-Relevance: Although its presence may be niche, Fog Elemental can be particularly effective in a meta swarming with aggressive strategies. By thwarting early attacks, it provides blue decks the much-needed time to establish control and edge towards late-game dominance.
How to beat
Fog Elemental is a unique card that brings a specific strategic challenge to players in the Magic: The Gathering landscape. As an airborne creature, it already demands an answer, and its return to hand ability when buttoned down by Fog is no less tricky. However, there are a few clever ways to counteract it.
One of the most straightforward strategies is to employ spells that can directly remove it from play. Instant-speed removal like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can dispatch the Fog Elemental before it ever gets a chance to return to a player’s hand. Another tactic is to manipulate the battlefield conditions to prevent fog. Playing creatures with reach or those with flying can engage it in combat, setting you up to knock it out of the skies. Utilizing spells or abilities that prevent the active player from casting spells during the combat phase can also ensure Fog Elemental faces its demise, denying the conditions for its safety-based trigger.
It comes down to being one step ahead of Fog Elemental’s capabilities. A combination of removal, battlefield control, and timing is key to ensure that this mist-shrouded creature doesn’t cloud your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fog Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Fog Elemental and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Fog Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Jon J Muth.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 40 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jon J Muth | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 69 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jon J Muth | |
| 3 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 7 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jon J Muth | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 85★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jon J Muth | |
| 5 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 85 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jon J Muth |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fog Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |