Foul Familiar MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 126
2001-12-01 - Number 5
2008-09-22 - Number 90
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Cannot be declared as a blocking creature. oo B Pay 1 life to return Foul Familiar to owner's hand. Effects that prevent or redirect damage cannot be used to counter this loss of life.
"Serve me, and live forever." —Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer
Cards like Foul Familiar
Foul Familiar adds a unique twist to the range of creatures that players can utilize in their MTG decks. Similar to cards like Bloodthirsty Aerialist, it provides a creature that grows stronger under certain conditions. Foul Familiar, with an ability to gain a buff whenever a player gains life, gives a strategic edge in life-gain decks especially compared to Bloodthirsty Aerialist’s dependency on just the controller gaining life for its boost.
Another creature to consider is Ajani’s Pridemate, which also benefits from life-gain but without the need for an activation cost, unlike Foul Familiar that requires mana to unlock its potential. However, Foul Familiar stands out with its built-in evasion through flying. Daxos, Blessed by the Sun offers a similar appeal to life-gain enthusiasts but serves more as a life-gain enabler than a beneficiary.
Looking across similar MTG cards, Foul Familiar’s ability to pose a recurring aerial threat that synergizes with life gain strategies makes it a versatile option. Its capability to consistently enlarge itself in the right deck builds showcases its value among creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Foul Familiar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Foul Familiar offers the advantage of recovering itself from the graveyard to your hand, ensuring that you always have a creature card at the ready. This recursive ability can outpace your opponent by maintaining a steady flow of threats.
Resource Acceleration: Foul Familiar can accelerate your mana resources each time it enters the battlefield. The incidental production of Blood tokens, which can later be cashed in for card draw or other benefits, provides subtle yet continuous value.
Instant Speed: The creature’s ability to return to your hand at instant speed, typically under your control, offers significant flexibility, allowing you to decide the best moment to reintroduce it to the battlefield and optimize your plays accordingly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Foul Familiar’s ability necessitates that you discard a card. This can be particularly taxing during games where every card in your hand is crucial for maintaining board presence or executing your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a black creature card, Foul Familiar requires a dedicated source of black mana. This requirement can potentially restrict deck building, limiting the card’s inclusion to black-centered or compatible multicolor decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, the cost of summoning Foul Familiar may be seen as steep by some players, especially when considering other creatures at similar mana points that might provide better immediate board impact or come with less stringent conditions.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Foul Familiar offers flexibility as it can seamlessly transition between roles in your deck. Its ability to provide consistent graveyard interaction makes it a valuable addition to strategies that thrive on gy synergy.
Combo Potential: This card can work wonders within intricate combo setups. Its peculiar ability can serve as a combo enabler, supporting a myriad of clever deck mechanics and synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the ever-evolving MTG scene, the relevance of Foul Familiar hinges on its adaptability to counter various popular strategies, making it an essential tool for players aiming to stay competitive in the current meta.
How to Beat
Foul Familiar may seem like a resilient threat, recur vs your strategies in MTG due to its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. This little nuisance sticks around even after it seems to have been dealt with, but don’t fret—there are tried-and-true methods to ensure this familiar doesn’t overstay its welcome.
An effective way to triumph over Foul Familiar is by using graveyard hate cards that can exile it from the game, eliminating the possibility of its return. Treatments like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze work wonders in cleaning up persistent creatures that hinge on graveyard mechanics. Alternatively, countering this creature upon cast with spells like Negate or employing exile effects directly with Path to Exile can nip the problem in the bud and leave your opponent’s strategies in disarray.
Remember, adapting your strategy to address not only the creatures on the battlefield but also potential threats from the graveyard is key in MTG. By planning ahead and incorporating answers to recursive creatures like Foul Familiar, you’ll ensure they don’t become a recurring nightmare in your matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Foul Familiar MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Deckmasters, 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 Foul Familiar 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 Foul Familiar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 126 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 5 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 3 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 90 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Foul Familiar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Foul Familiar 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 ability can only be activated while this card is on the battlefield. |