Forum Familiar MTG Card


Forum Familiar ensures a well-stocked hand by enabling card draw upon its sacrifice, crucial for maintaining momentum. It unlocks synergistic plays, potentially accelerating resources by interacting with graveyard strategies effectively. While versatile, it requires careful hand management due to its discard activation cost and specific mana demands.
Forum Familiar - Murders at Karlov Manor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Cat
Abilities Disguise
Released2024-02-09
Set symbol
Set nameMurders at Karlov Manor
Set codeMKM
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number16
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byIlse Gort

Text of card

Disguise (You may cast this card face down for as a 2/2 creature with ward . Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.) When Forum Familiar is turned face up, return another target permanent you control to its owner's hand and put a +1/+1 counter on Forum Familiar.


Cards like Forum Familiar

Forum Familiar is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing some common ground with staple mana dorks like Llanowar Elves. Both creatures are low-cost and can be used to ramp up your mana resources early in the game. However, Forum Familiar stands out with its ability to offer card selection by allowing you to draw a card when it dies. Unlike Llanowar Elves, it does not directly tap for mana.

Birds of Paradise is another comparison-worthy card, renowned for delivering any color of mana which makes it highly versatile in multicolored decks. While Forum Familiar doesn’t provide this color-fixing advantage, it compensates by supporting strategies that benefit from creature death. In this aspect, Solemn Simulacrum is slightly akin to Forum Familiar, with both triggering a card draw upon leaving the battlefield. Nonetheless, Solemn Simulacrum costs more and brings a land card directly onto the battlefield when it enters play.

Ultimately, Forum Familiar’s strength lies in its role within decks that utilize death triggers and its card draw mechanic, marking it as a prominent option for players who value resilience and card advantage in their strategies.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Solemn Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Solemn Simulacrum - MTG Card versions

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Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
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Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Forum Familiar. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formUOL MKM Sealed League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Forum Familiar shines in letting players cycle through their deck efficiently. When Forum Familiar is sacrificed, it offers the opportunity to draw a card, ensuring you keep your hand stocked with options. This can be particularly advantageous when you’re searching for answers or need to maintain pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The real gem comes in when Forum Familiar is paired with decks that benefit from or can exploit the act of sacrifice itself. It can become a form of resource acceleration by enabling various strategies that thrive off putting creatures into the graveyard, thus potentially unlocking new avenues for mana generation or other synergistic effects.

Instant Speed: Even though Forum Familiar itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its sacrificial ability can be utilized at any time, offering a layer of versatility to response plays. This feature allows you to adeptly navigate through your opponent’s turns, capitalizing on the best moment to deploy your strategy and obtain that valuable card draw.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Forum Familiar demands the player to discard a card as part of its activation requirement. In game scenarios where your hand is already depleted, having to let go of another potentially crucial card can be detrimental, potentially compromising your position further.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card comes with a color-specific mana demand, necessitating a blue mana to cast. This specificity can restrict its inclusion in decks, particularly those that operate on a multicolor strategy or prefer to keep their mana base flexible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Forum Familiar has a mana value that could be considered steep compared to other creatures with similar abilities or power levels. As players scrutinize their curve for optimal play, they might opt for alternatives providing similar benefits for a reduced mana investment.


Reasons to Include Forum Familiar in Your Collection

Versatility: Forum Familiar can be a flexible addition to an array of deck builds, notably those that gain from having creatures that can reliably block early game threats or support life gain strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can work well with decks aiming to exploit death triggers or looking to benefit from repeatable sacrifice outlets, adding substantial value to your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive decks, Forum Familiar offers a dependable way to mitigate early damage and establish board presence while setting up your game-winning tactics.


How to beat

Forum Familiar, a card known for its strategic advantage in Magic: The Gathering, presents a challenge that many players will face. With its ability to ward off defeat by sacrificing other permanents, it becomes essential to mitigate its presence creatively. To over rule Forum Familiar, pinpoint removal spells that do not target, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can effectively clear the board without giving your opponent the chance to sacrifice it. These spells are powerful tools because they can overcome the Familiar’s protective ability by not targeting it specifically.

Another method is employing graveyard disruption techniques. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can remove Forum Familiar from the game entirely after it’s been sacked, nullifying any opportunity for recursion. This strategic approach ensures that once it leaves the battlefield, it stays away for good. Utilizing these strategies will help players dismantle the defensive strength of Forum Familiar, ensuring it doesn’t become a recurrent nuisance on their path to victory. By keeping these tactics in mind, players can confidently tackle decks featuring this persistent card and maintain command of the match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forum Familiar MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Forum Familiar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forum Familiar has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal