Arctic Foxes MTG Card


Arctic Foxes - Ice Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Fox
Released1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameIce Age
Set codeICE
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number2
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMark Poole

Key Takeaways

  1. Arctic Foxes provide card advantage by leveraging snow turns to empower your strategic options.
  2. Resource acceleration from snow lands enhances tempo, putting you ahead of the curve.
  3. Instant speed actions of Arctic Foxes offer flexibility and real-time response to threats.

Text of card

If defending player controls any snow-covered lands, no creature with power greater than 1 may be assigned to block Arctic Foxes.

"Those Foxes are wily, swift, and ferocious. They are the warriors of the snows." —General Jarkeld, the Arctic Fox


Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the world of deck building, the Arctic Foxes card can equip you with a distinct strategic edge. Equally adept at supporting a robust defense or propelling an aggressive strategy, Arctic Foxes allow you to gain influential card advantage under specific conditions, such as during snowy turns, bolstering your hand and opening up more avenues for tactical play.

Resource Acceleration: Unleashing this wintry creature onto the battlefield can offer more than just raw power. Resource acceleration is yet another facet of this card’s capabilities. By synergizing with snow lands, you can potentially ramp up your resources and overtake opponents by bringing high-cost cards into play much sooner than anticipated, keeping the tempo of the game firmly in your control.

Instant Speed: Arctic Foxes’ intrinsic value is further enhanced by its ability to operate at instant speed, providing crucial flexibility. You can deftly navigate around your opponents’ actions, waiting for the opportune moment to deploy these frosty creatures. This benefit extends beyond mere surprise–it allows for strategic depth, as you can respond to adversaries’ threats in real time, potentially altering the course of the game with rapid, decisive moves.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness its full potential, Arctic Foxes demands a card to be discarded, which can put you at a disadvantage should your hand size decrease especially during the critical end game stages.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Arctic Foxes includes snow mana, necessitating a deck with snow lands thus limiting its integration into a variety of decks and potentially constraining deck-building creativity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its abilities, the mana investment for Arctic Foxes is on the higher side. Players might find other creatures or spells that provide a better cost-to-benefit ratio and adapt more fluidly into different stages of the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arctic Foxes can operate effectively in various deck archetypes, particularly in environments where cold-themed mechanics play a significant role. Its ability to be unblockable under specific conditions makes it a reliable creature in both offensive and defensive plays.

Combo Potential: With its synergistic qualities in snow-centric builds, Arctic Foxes can enhance strategies that revolve around snow mana and benefit from having a steady board presence that frequently evades blockers.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the card’s unique interaction with snow-covered lands, it can be a strategic inclusion in your collection if the current meta includes decks that indirectly benefit from snow synergies or need evasion capabilities.


How to beat

The allure of Arctic Foxes in MTG lies in their resilience in the frosty battlefield. With the unique ability to become unblockable as long as the opponent controls a snow land, they present a tricky challenge. To effectively neutralize the advantage that Arctic Foxes offer, consider altering the landscape of the game—quite literally. Removing or transforming opponents’ snow lands will invalidate the Foxes’ unblockability. Cards like Magus of the Moon can turn treacherous snow lands into basic mountains, instantly lifting the veil of immunity that Arctic Foxes enjoy.

Another countermeasure against these elusive creatures is to employ cards that negate the consequences of being unblockable. Look for spells that don’t target creatures directly, such as board wipes like Wrath of God or global enchantments akin to Ghostly Prison, which impose costs for attacking regardless of blockability. There’s also the option to take a more aggressive stance—focusing on strengthening one’s own offensive capabilities to outpace the damage Arctic Foxes could deal. In short, beating Arctic Foxes in MTG becomes a matter of strategy adaptation—either denying their unique ability to bypass defences or overwhelming the opponent before their advantage can be capitalised.


Cards like Arctic Foxes

Arctic Foxes holds a unique place amongst creature cards in MTG. Its kinship with other cards like Snow Hound reveals a shared attribute of protection from creatures with non-snow abilities. Snow Hound, similarly, offers valuable blocking tactics against non-snow creatures. However, what positions Arctic Foxes a step ahead is its notable ability to be unblockable as long as defending player controls a snow land. This subtle nuance can turn the tide in a snow-themed deck.

Moving to Boreal Griffin, we recognize a resemblance with its snow land dependent abilities. While both creatures benefit from the presence of snow lands, Boreal Griffin offers flying instead of unblockability, a trade-off that each player needs to asses based on their strategy. Icy Manipulator is another comparative card but instead of taking a defensive stance, this artifact allows you to dictate the pace by tapping potential threats or resources.

Assessing Arctic Foxes in the broader scope of MTG creature cards, its snow-centric unblockability is a gem for decks exploiting snow synergies. The card excels in a niche setup, making it a strategic piece for enthusiasts looking to leverage the icy terrains to their advantage.

Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Boreal Griffin - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Boreal Griffin - Coldsnap (CSP)
Icy Manipulator - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Arctic Foxes by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
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Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
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Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Aspirant - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Royal Falcon - Starter 2000 (S00)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Soltari Priest - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Luminarch Aspirant - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arctic Foxes MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Arctic Foxes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arctic Foxes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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