Falling Star MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 1994-06-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Legends |
| Set code | LEG |
| Number | 145 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Douglas Shuler |
Key Takeaways
- The card offers a board-impacting advantage by engaging multiple creatures at once.
- Its high-risk flipping mechanic adds an element of skill and unpredictability.
- Despite its strengths, Falling Star’s utility varies significantly by format.
Text of card
Flip Star onto the playing area from a height of at least one foot. Star must turn at least 360 degrees or it has no effect. When Falling Star lands, Falling Star does 3 damage to each creature that it touches. Any creatures damaged by Falling Star that are not destroyed become tapped.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Falling Star offers a unique interaction that can potentially deal with multiple creatures on the board, disrupting your opponent’s strategy while conserving resources in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly a resource acceleration card, Falling Star can pave the way for quicker victory, eliminating blockers or key creatures that impede your board development.
Instant Speed: Despite being a sorcery, the strategy in placing and flipping Falling Star mimics the surprise element of instant speed spells, catching opponents off guard and potentially turning the tide of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Falling Star necessitates a level of skill and positioning as you must place the card onto the battlefield from a height of at least one foot. This unique method can often backfire if you are unable to hit your intended targets, potentially losing you valuable tactical advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one red and two other mana, the card’s colored mana restriction makes it less flexible and more demanding in deck construction to ensure the correct mana availability, limiting its integration into multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, Falling Star offers a damage spread that may not align with its cost, particularly when considering the precision needed for its effect. Cards exist that deal damage more reliably and for a comparable or lower mana investment, questioning Falling Star’s efficiency in a fast-paced game.
Reasons to Include Falling Star in Your Collection
Versatility: Falling Star offers a unique approach to gameplay. As a card that demands precise physical placement on the battlefield, it can interact with numerous creatures at once, making it a fascinating inclusion for players who enjoy cards with unconventional mechanics.
Combo Potential: This card holds the potential to turn the tide by combining its unique flipping method to deal damage with cards that manipulate or benefit from the position of creatures on the board.
Meta-Relevance: While Falling Star is not legal in every MTG format, its presence in casual or vintage collections can lead to interesting and memorable plays that capitalize on the current landscape of creature-heavy decks.
How to beat
Falling Star is an intriguing card that invites strategies around its unique flipping mechanic. When facing this card in a game of MTG, it’s essential to be aware of its board-altering potential, especially when dealing with multiple creatures. To effectively counteract Falling Star, players should consider their battlefield layout, keeping creatures spread out to minimize the impact of the card’s area effect.
Another tactic is to employ cards with hexproof or shroud, rendering them untargetable by such targeted abilities. Bringing in instant-speed removal or bounce effects can also be a preemptive way to save key creatures from Falling Star’s potential damage. Managing the number of creatures on the board and being judicious about when to play them can also mitigate the impact of Falling Star, as it restricts the number of targets available.
Ultimately, understanding the nature of Falling Star’s limited window of use—given its status as a sorcery card—is crucial. By deploying the right combination of board management and protective spells, players can ensure that this powerful card doesn’t drastically tilt the balance of the game in their opponent’s favor.
Cards like Falling Star
Falling Star is a unique entry in the roster of Magic: The Gathering sorceries, famously known for its distinct flipping mechanic during the casting action. When looking at parallels, Chaos Orb is often the first that comes to mind due to its similar flip to destroy ability. Unlike Chaos Orb which has the potential to obliterate any single target, Falling Star allows for a strategic sweep, potentially hitting multiple creatures and adjusting combat math in your favor.
Another comparable card is Goblin Grenade, a spell that also deals damage to multiple creatures or can target a player directly. While both cards can change the course of the game, Goblin Grenade does not offer the tactile flip mechanic and requires sacrificing a goblin, introducing a cost not present with Falling Star.
Assessing these similarities and differences, it’s clear that Falling Star occupies a niche position. Its physical interaction and broader impact range grant it a special status, drawing attention from collectors and players intrigued by its one-of-a-kind gameplay interaction and the challenge it presents in casting effectively.
Cards similar to Falling Star by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Falling Star MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Falling Star 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Falling Star has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Vintage | Banned |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Banned |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Falling Star card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | It must flip like a coin and not like a Frisbee. |
| 2004-10-04 | Only cards touched when it stops moving are affected. Not ones touched while it is moving. |
