Phantasmal Forces MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 67
1993-10-04 - Number 68
1993-12-01 - Number 68
1993-12-10 - Number 68
1993-12-10 - Number 68
1994-04-01 - Number 69
1994-04-01 - Number 69
1994-06-21 - Number 69
1995-04-01 - Number 88
1995-04-01 - Number 88
1997-03-24 - Number 106
2011-01-10 - Number 55
2022-11-28 - Number 364
2022-11-28 - Number 67
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Illusion |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying Controller must spend U during upkeep to maintain or Phantasmal Forces are destroyed.
These beings embody the essence of true heroes long dead. Summoned from the dreamrealms, they rise to meet their enemies.
Cards like Phantasmal Forces
Phantasmal Forces stands out in the realm of flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Its likeness can be drawn to other four-mana blue flyers like Air Elemental. Although both share the same mana cost and flying ability, Air Elemental brings a sturdier presence with a 4/4 body, lacking Phantasmal Forces’ required upkeep cost of one blue mana.
Another card to consider in comparison is Phantom Monster. Similarly, it is a blue creature with flying, but it offers straightforward gameplay without the upkeep cost attached to Phantasmal Forces and has a slightly less potent 3/3 stat line. Moving to the newer spectrum of cards, Mist Raven also shares some similarities, carrying the same mana cost but merging flying with the added utility of bouncing an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield.
In evaluating these cards, Phantasmal Forces may be attractive to players seeking a traditional blue flying threat. With the upkeep cost accounting for controlling a 4/1 flier, this card asks for continuous resource investment, which can be viewed as a strategic maneuver for deck builders focusing on early to mid-game tempo.
Cards similar to Phantasmal Forces by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Phantasmal Forces provides a powerful presence on the board, often requiring multiple cards from the opponent to handle it. This can indirectly lead to gaining card advantage as the opponent depletes resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its reasonable casting cost for a flying creature helps maintain your momentum in the early to mid-game without hindering your mana development.
Instant Speed: While not an instant, the upkeep cost of Phantasmal Forces allows for strategic planning around your mana each turn, giving you the flexibility to decide what actions to prioritize at instant speed with your remaining resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Phantasmal Forces presents its controller with a continuous demand; upkeep necessitates the sacrifice of another card in hand. This ongoing cost can swiftly deplete a player’s hand, leading to a situation where maintaining the creature’s presence on the battlefield becomes unsustainable.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Phantasmal Forces requires a commitment to blue mana, two of which must be blue. This specificity can be restrictive, as it compels deck builders to focus on blue resources potentially at the expense of a more diversified mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including two blue, for a creature with the inherent necessity to discard each turn, Phantasmal Forces may not align with the curve of more efficiently costed creatures available in the game. The card’s ongoing cost in relation to its power and toughness pairing may lead some to seek alternative creatures that provide more value or less of a maintenance burden.
Reasons to Include Phantasmal Forces in Your Collection
Versatility: Phantasmal Forces is a card that can seamlessly integrate into decks that seek to utilize evasion tactics. Thanks to its flying ability, it frequently bypasses grounded defenders, making it a persistent threat in the air.
Combo Potential: This card’s upkeep cost can be turned from a downside into an advantage in decks designed around sacrifice effects or in combination with cards that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggressive air attacks, Phantasmal Forces stands out as a viable contender. Its early game pressure can shape the pace of the match, compelling the opponent to address its presence swiftly.
How to beat
Phantasmal Forces presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. This blue creature card requires a unique maintenance cost, where the player must sacrifice it unless they discard a card each turn. It’s a substantial flying body, making it an asset for controlling the skies, yet this upkeep cost can be a considerable drawback for the controller, especially if their hand is running low on cards.
Dealing with Phantasmal Forces effectively involves putting pressure on your opponent’s card resources. Engage in strategies that limit their card draw or force additional discards, thus exacerbating the cost of keeping Phantasmal Forces in play. Utilizing removal spells that don’t target, like board wipes or global damage spells, can also bypass its illusionary nature. It’s also vulnerable to being targeted by any spell or ability—construct your plays to force your opponent into unfavorable trades or to exploit its inherent weakness to targeting.
Crafting a strategy that either depletes your opponent’s hand or utilizes non-targeting removal will ensure that Phantasmal Forces becomes more of a liability than an asset to your adversary. This careful articulation of tactics will help secure your dominance over this spectral entity.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Phantasmal Forces MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Phantasmal Forces and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Phantasmal Forces Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Mark Poole.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 67 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 68 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 68 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 68 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 68 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 69 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 69 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 69 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 88 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 88 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 106 | 1997 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 12 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 55 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 364 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 14 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Phantasmal Forces has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |