Fleeting Spirit MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 14
2022-01-28 - Number 281
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Strategic discarding with Fleeting Spirit enables graveyard synergy and evasive gameplay, enhancing deck versatility.
- Mutually beneficial for both offense and defense, maintaining tempo and maximizing mana efficiency each turn.
- Superior adaptability against targeted removal, keeping Fleeting Spirit relevant in various competitive metagames.
Text of card
, Exile three cards from your graveyard: Fleeting Spirit gains first strike until end of turn. Discard a card: Exile Fleeting Spirit. Return it to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fleeting Spirit offers a unique form of card selection by allowing you to discard a card to then exile Fleeting Spirit and return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner’s control. This can be utilized to set up graveyard strategies or dodge removal, effectively protecting your investment.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing traditional resource acceleration, the ability to recur Fleeting Spirit can translate into a form of mana efficiency over time. By ensuring that you always have a blocker or an attacker when needed, you’re maximizing your resources each turn.
Instant Speed: The ability of Fleeting Spirit to exile itself at instant speed adds a layer of versatility to your gameplay. This can disrupt your opponent’s plans by removing a target for their spells or abilities in response, thereby allowing you to maintain the tempo and control of the match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Fleeting Spirit necessitates discarding a card to utilize its evasion ability. This can be a tricky proposition, especially if your hand is already running low on cards, potentially leading to a disadvantageous state where you’re sacrificing crucial resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Fleeting Spirit demands a specific mana alignment, needing both white and generic mana to be cast. This can be prohibitive in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary white mana available at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for the stats and abilities it provides, Fleeting Spirit faces stiff competition from other creatures in a similar mana range. Savvy players may opt for alternatives that provide a more impactful presence on the battlefield for the same investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Fleeting Spirit showcases adaptability by fitting seamlessly into various deck archetypes, especially those requiring creature-based strategies with an evasion mechanism.
Combo Potential: This spirit offers interactions with numerous cards that capitalize on discard mechanics, paving the way for unexpected combos and synergies in gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to dodge targeted removal, Fleeting Spirit holds relevance in metas with heavy spot removal presence, and may be particularly useful in disrupting opponents’ strategies.
How to beat
Fleeting Spirit adds an intriguing dynamic to the game for MTG players, with its ability to escape removal spells by simply discarding a card. This kind of resilience is reminiscent of certain self-protecting creatures but usually comes with a higher cost. The essence of this particular spirit lies in its low-cost evasiveness that makes it a tricky target on the battlefield.
However, taking down Fleeting Spirit relies on clever strategy rather than brute force. For instance, cards that restrict an opponent’s ability to draw or discard can effectively neutralize the threat by preventing the activation of its evasion ability. Similarly, well-timed mass removal spells can outpace Fleeting Spirit’s escape mechanism, particularly if the opponent’s hand is low on resources. Lastly, taking advantage of moments when the opponent is tapped out or their card supply is too scant to facilitate a discard is key to successfully retiring this wily specter from play.
Overall, while this spirit might seem difficult to pin down, a calculated approach that targets the player’s resource management or employs global effects that circumvent targeted removal can ensure that Fleeting Spirit is only a fleeting concern in the game.
Cards like Fleeting Spirit
Fleeting Spirit is an intriguing card that offers crafty evasion tactics to Magic: The Gathering decks. It’s similar to cards like Tormented Soul, which can be unblockable but does not have the adaptability that Fleeting Spirit provides with its unique ability to escape targeted spells by discarding a card. Unlike Tormented Soul, Fleeting Spirit can essentially dodge removal spells, making it a persistent threat on the battlefield.
Mist-Cloaked Herald is another creature that comes to mind when thinking about evasive one-drops. Like Fleeting Spirit, it’s difficult for opponents to block, thanks to being unblockable. However, Fleeting Spirit carries the added benefit of interacting with the graveyard, potentially offering more strategic depth to gameplay.
Overall, Fleeting Spirit stands out among the few elusive creature cards for its defending player interaction, which can lead to critical in-game decisions. By combining elements of offense and defense, it pushes the envelope in terms of a creature’s role on the battlefield, and this duality makes Fleeting Spirit a versatile card worth considering in MTG decks that aim to maintain a relentless presence.
Cards similar to Fleeting Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fleeting Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Fleeting Spirit and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Fleeting Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Evyn Fong.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 14 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Evyn Fong | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Evyn Fong |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fleeting Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fleeting Spirit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | If you activate Fleeting Spirit's first ability to give it first strike, you can later activate its last ability to remove it from combat after first strike combat damage is dealt but before normal combat damage is dealt. |
