Leery Fogbeast MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	273
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Leery Fogbeast can deter attacks, indirectly sustaining your creature-based board presence and strategic outlook.
Despite its steep discard cost and specific mana requirements, it offers distinctive tactical advantages.
Its combat mechanics and defensive potential make it a valuable asset in creature-focused metas.

Text of card

Whenever Leery Fogbeast becomes blocked, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

It emerges from the mists only to feed.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Leery Fogbeast itself may not directly provide card advantage, its presence can deter opponents from attacking, which indirectly preserves your resources on the board. This can lead to an advantage over time as you maintain more creatures for block and attack strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Leery Fogbeast doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of producing mana or tokens. However, it can be a vital piece in deck strategies focused around creature count, enabling enchantments or other cards that benefit from a high creature presence to accelerate your game state.

Instant Speed: The Leery Fogbeast operates at sorcery speed, but it’s worth noting the strategic advantage of playing it during your main phase. This allows you to set up your defenses before the late game, remaining reactive to the evolving gameplay and maximizing its potential as a deterrent for incoming threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leery Fogbeast demands the player to discard another creature card in order to harness its full potential. This prerequisite can prove to be a steep price to pay, particularly in game situations where maintaining a strong hand is crucial for outmaneuvering the opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The Leery Fogbeast comes with a color-specific mana requirement which may not seamlessly fit into every deck. Those decks that don’t run heavy in the associated colors might find it challenging to cast this creature consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a sum of both specific colors and generic mana to play, it sits on the higher side of the mana curve. In an environment where tempo plays a pivotal role, the cost of deploying a Leery Fogbeast could be seen as a setback, especially when compared to other creatures that offer similar or better value for a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Leery Fogbeast can adapt to various deck strategies, working well in environments that appreciate a creature with a defensive edge. Its capacity to fog an attacking creature adds a layer of tactical depth, aligning with both offensive and defensive playstyles.

Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy with effects that benefit from creatures becoming tapped without being declared as an attacker, or the requirement of having a creature with evasion. Integrating this card could enhance the intricacy of your plays, enabling new interactions in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Particularly in a creature-heavy meta, Leery Fogbeast can prove to be a crucial inclusion. It can protect you from detrimental attacks, prolonging the game until you’re able to establish a winning board state. Its unique ability can disrupt opponents’ plans and turn the tide in your favor.

How to beat

Leery Fogbeast introduces a unique dynamic to combat in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card comes with an intriguing ability that prevents it from being blocked except by creatures with defender. This gives it a certain evasiveness, enabling it to sneak through the opponent’s defenses with relative ease. To effectively counter this characteristic, one needs a game plan that includes creatures with defender or abilities that can override or remove the Fogbeast’s combat restrictions.

Consider utilizing spells that can either target Leery Fogbeast directly or alter the combat phase to your advantage. Removal spells are the most straightforward method—a well-placed Path to Exile or Doom Blade can easily take it off the board. Alternatively, enchantments or abilities that grant your creatures defender temporarily could turn the tides. Also, cards that change creature types can be employed to create unexpected blockers for the Fogbeast.

Overall, knowing the appropriate counters and having a diverse range of responses in your deck will diminish the impact of Leery Fogbeast on the game. Understanding your deck’s weaknesses and having a plan to address specific threats like the Fogbeast are key to maintaining control of the battlefield.

Cards like Leery Fogbeast

Leery Fogbeast introduces a unique dynamic to creature cards in MTG. It shares a kinship with cards like Primal Huntbeast by featuring the hexproof ability, ensuring it can evade targeted spells and abilities from opponents. However, Leery Fogbeast’s distinction lies in its forceful combat mechanics, pushing players to adapt their strategy when this creature is on the battlefield.

Another similar card is Thrun, the Last Troll, which not only has hexproof but is also regenerative. This gives Thrun an edge in durability, though it comes with a higher mana cost. In contrast, Silhana Ledgewalker provides hexproof too and is cheaper to play but lacks the sheer size and board influence that comes with Leery Fogbeast.

When evaluating Leery Fogbeast against its counterparts, the card finds its niche. It’s not only about avoiding targeted removal with hexproof but also about shaping the flow of combat. This tactical advantage allows Leery Fogbeast to maintain a significant presence on the field, aligning well with strategies that aim to dictate engagements and outmaneuver the opponent.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leery Fogbeast MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Leery Fogbeast and other MTG cards: