Foul Renewal MTG Card

Offers both a creature return and instant removal, boosting strategic play and resource advantage in MTG. Requires a creature in the graveyard for use, limiting early game potential and deck flexibility. Its versatility and combo potential make it a meta-relevant card worth adding to collections.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Number	101
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Filip Burburan

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the toughness of the card returned this way.

The cycle of life and death is rarely pretty.

Exploring the Depths of Card Reanimation

Foul Renewal stands out as a compelling reanimation spell within the broader context of Magic: The Gathering. This spell provides a double-edged tactic, allowing the user to return a creature card from their graveyard to their hand and then, as an added bonus, dispatches an opponent’s creature based on the returned card’s toughness. This dual functionality echoes the attributes of spells like Zombify, which purely focuses on reanimating a creature from the graveyard to the battlefield, though without the added utility of removal.

Cards like Foul Renewal

Foul Renewal shares its graveyard interaction characteristics with other cards but with a unique assassination twist. Necromantic Summons also retrieves a creature from the graveyard, yet sweetens the deal with an additional +1/+1 counter for each instance of Spell Mastery. Unlike Foul Renewal, it lacks the direct removal component. Rise from the Grave is another alternative that not only brings back a creature but also turns it into a black Zombie, however, it favors a more thematic approach rather than the tactical removal advantage Foul Renewal offers.

Disentomb and Raise Dead also target creature retrieval from the graveyard, but are limited to the action of return without the capacity to affect the opponent’s board like Foul Renewal. By considering the strategic benefits of reanimation paired with removal, Foul Renewal undoubtedly claims its unique spot among its peers in Magic: The Gathering for those looking to upset the battlefield dynamic.

Cards similar to Foul Renewal by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Foul Renewal offers a unique twist by potentially returning a creature from your graveyard to your hand and eliminating an opponent’s creature on the battlefield. This two-in-one deal maintains your momentum and puts you ahead in terms of resources.

Resource Acceleration: Though Foul Renewal doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, its ability to bring back a powerhouse creature from your graveyard can effectively accelerate your board presence and resource development, bypassing the need for additional mana expenditure to cast another creature.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Foul Renewal provides a strategic advantage, allowing you to react to your opponent’s plays during their turn. Swiftly revitalizing your board state while disrupting theirs can be a pivotal move that shifts the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of Foul Renewal is the stipulation that you must have a creature card in your graveyard to use it. This requirement can be cumbersome, particularly in the early stages of the game when your graveyard may not be well-stocked.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Foul Renewal is quite specific, necessitating both black mana and generic mana. This can be restrictive for decks that are not tuned to produce the right mana combination consistently, potentially making the card less viable in multi-colored or mana-tight decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s somewhat on the higher side for its effect, some players might find Foul Renewal less tempting compared to other removal or reanimation options on the market. There are alternatives that offer either aspect – removal or reanimation – at a lower cost, providing competition for deck slots in finely-tuned builds.

Reasons to Include Foul Renewal in Your Collection

Versatility: Foul Renewal showcases a unique blend of creature reanimation and removal, allowing players to retrieve a creature from their graveyard while simultaneously destroying an opponent’s creature. This dual functionality makes it a powerful choice for any deck that churns through its creatures, whether it’s for sacrifice fodder or complex battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: This card’s return-to-hand effect opens up numerous combo possibilities, particularly in decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield or death triggers. By reanimating a creature with a potent ability, players can set off a chain reaction of advantageous effects while disrupting opponents’ plans.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with creature-based strategies, Foul Renewal can act as a significant disruptor. Its reactive nature means it can effectively answer key threats while simultaneously advancing your board state, making it a clever tool in adapting to and outmaneuvering such an environment.

How to beat

Foul Renewal is a unique instant spell that can be quite tricky to navigate around in MTG. It stands out for its ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand while simultaneously eliminating an opponent’s creature based on the returned card’s toughness. This dual function provides not just creature recovery but also a robust removal option in one card.

To effectively counter Foul Renewal, it’s essential to limit the targets for its removal aspect. This means deploying creatures with toughness higher than the deadliest creatures in your graveyard or utilizing indestructible creatures that can withstand the targeted destruction. Additionally, employing graveyard hate strategies, such as cards that exile target cards from graveyards or those that keep graveyards empty, can drastically reduce Foul Renewal’s impact. Graveyard manipulation not only stifles the card’s retrieval capacity but also mitigates the potential threat of having your own creatures turned against you. Ensuring a strong defensive line while keeping these tactics in mind can help you outmaneuver the complications posed by Foul Renewal in the game.

Overall, understanding and disrupting the synergy that Foul Renewal relies on is key to overcoming its advantages on the battlefield. Effective graveyard management and a strategic creature deployment can turn the tide against opponents relying on this powerful spell.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Foul Renewal MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Renewal and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Foul Renewal has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-02-25	You must target a creature card in your graveyard and a creature on the battlefield to cast Foul Renewal. If the creature becomes an illegal target before Foul Renewal resolves, you’ll still return the creature card to your hand. If the creature card in your graveyard becomes an illegal target, the creature on the battlefield will be unaffected as there is no “card returned this way.”