Obstinate Familiar MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Lizard
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	210
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Obstinate Familiar excels in control by limiting unwanted draws, crucial against mill decks.
Its instant-speed sacrifice adds adaptability and tactical depth to in-game decisions.
Effective in specific MTG decks, yet can be restrictive due to its singular red mana cost.

Text of card

If you would draw a card, you may skip that draw instead.

"Lizards make excellent familiars. They never know when they've lost." —Matoc, lavamancer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Obstinate Familiar’s ability to prevent you from drawing cards can be an advantage in scenarios where drawing additional cards would be detrimental, such as when facing decks that force overdraw and mill strategies. This unique control over your draw step can ensure your strategy remains unaffected by the common pitfall of decking out.

Resource Acceleration: Although Obstinate Familiar itself does not accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows players to keep mana available for other spells and strategies. Its presence can shape the way the game is played from an early stage, enabling resource acceleration indirectly.

Instant Speed: Obstinate Familiar can be sacrificed at instant speed, which means you can react immediately to the actions of your opponents. It allows you to adjust your strategy and decide whether you want the next card or would prefer to skip it in an instant. This ability can be critical when timing is essential, and informational control is the key to victory.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obstinate Familiar requires players to make a significant choice when it comes to preserving their library. Although it can prevent unwanted decking, it hinges on being in play, which may not always coincide with critical draw phases.

Specific Mana Cost: This peculiar creature requires a single red mana to be played. This narrow mana cost could potentially limit the card to red-centric or specific multicolored decks, reducing its flexibility in a broad range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Familiar costs only a single red mana, its utility versus cost balance might not be favorable compared to other cards at similar or lower mana costs that could provide more immediate board presence or impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Obstinate Familiar serves as a unique safeguard to prevent unwanted draws in the late game, easily slipping into deck archetypes that prioritize specific card synergies or graveyard strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s capacity to opt out of draw effects can be tactically paired with high-risk, high-reward plays, opening avenues for combos with cards that have detrimental draw conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state saturated with forced draw effects or mill strategies, Obstinate Familiar offers a strategic edge, ensuring that players maintain control over their deck’s draw mechanics, a subtle yet potent tool in competitive play.

How to Beat Obstinate Familiar

Obstinate Familiar carries a unique ability in the realm of Magic: The Gathering – it allows players to opt out of drawing a card. This control over the draw can be a double-edged sword. On one hand it protects against mill strategies, but on the other, it can hinder a player’s access to new resources if not used wisely.

Defeating a player using Obstinate Familiar hinges on capitalizing on the latter point. Encourage overreliance on its ability to skip draws, thus stymying your opponent’s card flow. Furthermore, use cards that cause the player to draw multiple cards when they might not wish to, circumventing the Familiar’s singular draw denial. As Obstinate Familiar has a low toughness, keep removal spells handy to dispatch it directly and reopen the channel of mandatory draws for your adversary.

Lastly, consider using strategies that don’t rely on forcing the opponent to draw or mill cards. Instead, focus on building board presence and applying pressure with creature advantage. By doing so, Obstinate Familiar becomes an irrelevant piece on the board, unable to significantly influence the tide of the game in your opponent’s favor.

Cards like Obstinate Familiar

Obstinate Familiar offers a unique twist in the pantheon of creatures within Magic the Gathering. Much like other creatures designed to protect a player’s strategy, such as Wharf Infiltrator, it allows you to skip draw steps to prevent milling yourself out. However, the Familiar is unique in its ability to consistently prevent unwanted draws throughout the game. Wharf Infiltrator, alternatively, has skulk and creates tokens, offering a different tactical advantage.

Laboratory Maniac, on the other hand, takes a completely opposite approach. Instead of preventing deck out, the Maniac turns a potential loss from ‘no cards left to draw’ into a win condition. Similarly, Jace, Wielder of Mysteries offers both a win condition like the Maniac and draw manipulation by allowing you to draw cards, showing the diverse ways creatures and planeswalkers can interact with a player’s library.

Ultimately, Obstinate Familiar stands out for its proactive defense against involuntary draw and mill strategies. It’s a creature that serves a specific function and fits into niche decks that other similar cards might not cater to as effectively. This distinction makes Obstinate Familiar a card that can be critical in the right MTG deck composition.

Jace, Wielder of Mysteries - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Obstinate Familiar by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obstinate Familiar 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 Obstinate Familiar and other MTG cards: