Imaginary Friends MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 7
2021-08-20 - Number 7
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery — Arcane |
Text of card
Create three 0/0 white Spirit creature tokens with flying.
Cards like Imaginary Friends
Imaginary Friends is a unique entry within the plethora of creature cards in the MTG universe. It’s often likened to creatures like Tilonalli’s Summoner that also allows for an expanding board presence. However, Imaginary Friends stands out because it offers a steady stream of token creature generation without the need for an attack phase, unlike Tilonalli’s Summoner, which demands a combat commitment for its ability to trigger.
Another card worth considering is Loyal Apprentice. Similar to Imaginary Friends, it has the ability to produce token creatures — in this case, Thopter tokens with flying. Though Loyal Apprentice requires the presence of your commander to activate the ability, whereas Imaginary Friends allows for token generation autonomously. This distinction empowers Imaginary Friends to be a consistent token generator in environments where your commander might not be available.
Ultimately, Imaginary Friends shines with its independence and reliability in creature token production. Whether in Commander or casual play, it provides players a resilient way to maintain board presence, setting it apart from other cards that strive to achieve similar outcomes.
Cards similar to Imaginary Friends by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Imaginary Friends offers a dynamic edge by granting you access to additional creatures on the board. With its unique ability to generate token representations of itself, it bolsters your army and helps sustain your dominance by outnumbering opponents, ensuring you’re never at a card disadvantage.
Resource Acceleration: This card shines in decks that thrive on the synergy of creatures. Each token created is an opportunity for mana ramp, particularly in strategies that convert creature presence into mana or other resources. The ability to accelerate your resource pool can be a game-changer, propelling your gameplay forward swiftly.
Instant Speed: The real power of Imaginary Friends lies in its flexibility. Being an instant, this card can be deployed at the most opportune moments, enabling you to react to opponents’ actions effectively. Whether it’s during their end step or in response to a threat, its instant speed ensures that you always have the upper hand in the pacing of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Imaginary Friends card necessitates the player to sacrifice another card from their hand to unleash its potential. In circumstances where your hand is already depleted, this requirement can be quite taxing, potentially costing you valuable momentum or leaving you unable to respond to an opponent’s threats.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a particular combination of mana sources to cast, which may not always align with the mana base of many decks. Players who don’t have a reliable mana fixing strategy might find it challenging to meet the casting requirements consistently, impacting its overall versatility in a variety of strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side when compared to other options in its category, Imaginary Friends may not always be the most efficient choice. Players may find themselves opting for alternate cards that provide similar functionality at a lower cost, preserving their mana resources for other critical plays throughout the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Imaginary Friends is an adaptable card that can slide into a variety of decks, particularly those that leverage synergies with creature tokens or benefit from flicker effects to reuse enter-the-battlefield abilities. Its flexibility in deployment makes it an asset in both casual and competitive play.
Combo Potential: This card has a natural affinity for combos, easily fitting into engines that exploit token generation or sacrifice mechanics. It enhances strategies revolving around multiplying your forces or fueling spellcasting with additional creatures on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with creature-based strategies, Imaginary Friends holds its ground. It can provide defensive value as well as offensive opportunities, making it a relevant choice for adapting to the spate of current and emerging MTG deck archetypes.
How to beat
Imaginary Friends is a unique card that can present a challenge to opponents in Magic: The Gathering due to its potential for creating copies of creatures. The imaginative aspect of this card lies in its ability to harness token generation, providing a strategic edge in creature-based decks. To effectively counter Imaginary Friends, focusing on removal spells that can target more than one creature at once, such as board wipes, can be extremely beneficial.
Spot removal could be less efficient against Imaginary Friends, considering the card’s capacity to multiply creature tokens, which could easily overwhelm a single-target strategy. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation are effective choices as they clear all creatures off the board, nullifying the advantage gained from token duplication. Additionally, spells that prevent token creation altogether, like Cursed Totem or Illness in the Ranks, can thwart the strategic use of Imaginary Friends before it can affect the game state.
By incorporating these tactics, players can anticipate and dismantle the advantages offered by Imaginary Friends, ensuring a more level playing field and increasing their chances of securing victory against opponents who wield this imaginative card in their deck.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Imaginary Friends MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Imaginary Friends 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
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Printings
The Imaginary Friends Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Daniel Holt.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Holt | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Holt |