Face of Fear MTG Card


Face of Fear - Odyssey
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Horror
Released2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameOdyssey
Set codeODY
Power 3
Toughness 4
Number134
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

  1. Face of Fear offers card advantage by disrupting the opponent’s hand while informing your strategy.
  2. It can unexpectedly alter in-game dynamics, thanks to its instant speed ability.
  3. The card’s specific mana requirements may limit its integration in multicolor decks.

Text of card

o B, Discard a card from your hand: Face of Fear can't be blocked this turn except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.

"It's only frightened five people to death. Not my best work." —Braids, dementia summoner


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Face of Fear enhances your hand by simultaneously enabling targeted discard, which can disrupt your opponent’s strategy while providing you a peek into their game plan. The ability to potentially eliminate key cards from their hand can be game-changing.

Resource Acceleration: This card is adept at escalating your resources. If you can trigger its ability, you may find yourself swiftly outpacing your opponent in resources, setting up for a decisive lead in the match.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Face of Fear comes from its nature as an instant speed card. It can catch opponents off-guard, disrupting their plays at critical moments, and offering you the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game without committing resources prematurely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Face of Fear commands you to discard another card to harness its ability. This prerequisite can be cumbersome, potentially straining your hand when you can’t afford to lose additional cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting necessitates black mana exclusively, making it less flexible and possibly burdensome for multicolored mana bases aiming for a seamless curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding casting cost, Face of Fear can seem hefty. Alternatives exist that can be played earlier in the game, ultimately influencing the pace and efficiency of your overall strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Face of Fear can be a dynamic addition to many deck builds, as its ability to influence an opponent’s choices during the game is not restricted to a single deck archetype. This card can find its way into control decks as well as more aggressive strategies, aiming to disrupt the opponent’s hand and strategy.

Combo Potential: With its capacity to force discards, Face of Fear can synergize with other cards that capitalize on an opponent’s reduced hand size or cards in their graveyard, creating opportunities for powerful combo interactions within the game.

Meta-Relevance: Face of Fear shines in metagames where hand disruption is key to overcoming certain strategies, making it a tactical inclusion for any player looking to edge out opponents through psychological advantage and strategic card denial.


How to beat

Face of Fear is a unique card that challenges players with its daunting ability to intimidate opponents in Magic: The Gathering. The key to overcoming this card lies in understanding its strengths and identifying its weaknesses. Players best counter this card through precise strategy and carefully curated deck choices. By employing creatures that cannot be blocked by Face of Fear, such as those with flying or unblockable traits, players can circumvent its intimidating presence on the battlefield. Additionally, keeping instant-speed removal spells handy can disrupt an opponent’s plans, allowing you to eliminate Face of Fear before its fear effect becomes a problem.

Enchantment-based removals are also effective, as they can bypass Face of Fear’s protection mechanics and lock it down without requiring a combat scenario. Keeping a diverse set of responses will equip a player to deal with not only Face of Fear but a variety of threats that may emerge during a game. Strategic play, deck versatility, and instant reaction are your best weapons against the terror that Face of Fear represents on the battlefield. This approach will make sure that the only thing to fear is not playing your cards right.


Cards like Face of Fear

Face of Fear is another intriguing addition to the arsenal of control tools available to players in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to creatures such as Ravenous Chupacabra. While Ravenous Chupacabra excels at single-target removal upon entering the battlefield, Face of Fear offers a different angle by potentially disrupting opponents’ strategies with its unique ability set.

Analogous to Face of Fear, the card Shriekmaw also leverages a form of targeted creature removal. Shriekmaw, like Face of Fear, can be a formidable tool for managing the battlefield. The key difference lies in Shriekmaw’s evoke cost as a more immediate, though ephemeral, removal option in contrast to Face of Fear’s more consistent presence on the board.

Shadowborn Demon is another card that presents a comparably potent creature removal effect. Much like Face of Fear, it arrives on the scene ready to impact the game state significantly, but with an added maintenance cost tied to its persistence. As a result, Face of Fear appeals to players looking for a spell that balances immediate impact with longer-term threat management.

Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Shadowborn Demon - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Shriekmaw - Lorwyn (LRW)
Shadowborn Demon - Magic 2014 (M14)

Cards similar to Face of Fear by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Lancer - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Helldozer - MTG Card versions
Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions
Toxic Nim - MTG Card versions
Dark Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Dakmor Lancer - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Grave Titan - Fallout (PIP)
Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Anurid Murkdiver - Onslaught (ONS)
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Nefashu - Scourge (SCG)
Twisted Abomination - Scourge (SCG)
Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yawgmoth Demon - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ascendant Evincar - Tenth Edition (10E)
Bog Hoodlums - Lorwyn (LRW)
Helldozer - Planechase (HOP)
Geth, Lord of the Vault - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Toxic Nim - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Dark Hatchling - Commander 2011 (CMD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Face of Fear MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Face of Fear and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Face of Fear has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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