Fry MTG Card


Removes threats instantly without risking counterplay, streamlining your victory path. Demands precise mana, fitting mainly in red or red-hybrid decks. Meta-relevant card, especially potent against prevalent white and blue forces.
Fry - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Number140
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTomasz Jedruszek

Text of card

This spell can't be countered. Fry deals 5 damage to target creature or planeswalker that's white or blue.

"I'm afraid your dinner got a little . . . overcooked." —Marlan Farthwald, innkeeper


Cards like Fry

Fry commands a unique spot in the realm of red removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It holds a clear edge over spells like Lightning Strike and Shock, due to its ability to unconditionally deal 5 damage to a creature or planeswalker that’s white or blue. While Lightning Strike and Shock are versatile against any target, they fall short in damage output compared to Fry’s specialized might.

Assessing the full landscape, there’s Lava Coil, which excels at removing creatures with its 4 damage and exile twist. However, Fry outshines it by also targeting planeswalkers—a capability Lava Coil lacks. On the contrasting side, we see a robust contender in Scorching Dragonfire offering similar exile benefits at instant speed, but again, its 3 damage limit is no match for Fry’s higher damage threshold.

Considering utility, Fry holds a strategic place for players facing white or blue-heavy metas. It wields a powerful, targeted effect against prevalent archetypes, lodging itself as a worthy sideboard candidate. It’s a specialized tool that, when used adeptly, effectively counters specific threats in Magic: The Gathering’s ever-evolving landscape.

Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lava Coil - MTG Card versions
Scorching Dragonfire - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lava Coil - MTG Card versions
Scorching Dragonfire - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fry offers the ability to remove a powerful threat from the board without the concern of it being regenerated or countered if it’s white or blue. This can lead to a pivotal shift in the tide of the game by effectively dealing with a key creature, thereby preserving your own hand and board state for future strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While Fry itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, effectively removing a blocker or a creature with a powerful ability can pave the way for your own creatures to attack successfully. An open board can accelerate the damage you are able to inflict on your opponent, bringing you closer to victory.

Instant Speed: One of Fry’s strengths is its casting speed. Being able to cast it at instant speed provides a significant tactical advantage. It allows players to act on their opponent’s turn, making it harder for the opponent to plan and execute their strategy. This flexibility can force your opponent to play more defensively, potentially leading to mistakes or suboptimal plays on their part.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fry, despite its effectiveness against certain threats, does not impose a discard requirement, thereby offering no inherent drawback in this regard.

Specific Mana Cost: Fry necessitates a precise mana investment, demanding one red and one colorless mana. This could potentially restrict its integration solely within red-inclusive decks, possibly excluding it from a broader deck diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Fry’s mana cost isn’t exorbitant, it’s important to evaluate whether its utility justifies its two-mana spot on your curve, particularly when other removal options might offer similar effects at a potentially lower expenditure of resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fry offers targeted removal that bypasses protection mechanisms commonly found on white and blue creatures, giving players a reliable way to deal with otherwise tricky threats in a variety of deck builds.

Combo Potential: This instant spell not only dispatches a creature or planeswalker but can also support strategies revolving around spell synergies and damaging opponents indirectly through various red spells-matter deck themes.

Meta-Relevance: With many powerful white and blue creatures and planeswalkers prevalent in competitive play, Fry stands out as an essential sideboard card to tilt the matchup in your favor during crucial games.


How to beat

Fry is a red instant card from Magic: The Gathering that serves as a precise tool to deal with daunting creatures and Planeswalkers. This card can deliver a decisive blow with its ability to inflict 5 damage to target creature or Planeswalker that’s white or blue. Its formidable power comes with an added advantage—it can’t be countered by spells or abilities, making it a reliable choice in a tightly contested match.

To effectively counter Fry, it’s wise to diversify the color palette of your deck. Including creatures and Planeswalkers outside the white or blue spectrum ensures that Fry’s targeting restrictions minimize its potential impact on your battlefield. Another key strategy involves using indestructible creatures, as they remain unfazed by Fry’s attempted damage. Additionally, leveraging spells that grant hexproof or protection from red to your key assets can safeguard them against this potent spell. Further foresight involves keeping versatile counterspells or instant-speed removal to preemptively manage Fry before it disrupts your strategy.

Diligent deck building and strategic planning hold the keys to outplaying Fry. By anticipating this card’s fiery arrival and preparing appropriate defenses, players can maintain control over the game, minimizing the impact of this powerful and direct removal tool.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fry MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Fry and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fry has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 A spell or ability that counters spells can still target Fry. When that spell or ability resolves, Fry won’t be countered, but any additional effects of that spell or ability will still happen.
2019-07-12 If the target creature or planeswalker is an illegal target by the time Fry tries to resolve, the spell won’t resolve and will be put into its owner’s graveyard with no effect. This is true even though it can’t be countered.