Fatal Frenzy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set name	Planar Chaos
Set code	PLC
Number	98
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steve Ellis

Key Takeaways

Provides temporary, massive power increase, enabling decisive combat victories and board control.
Plays at instant speed for surprise attacks or combat phase tricks enhancing its strategic use.
Can be hindered by its card discard requirement, specific mana cost, and its total mana cost.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature you control gains trample and gets +X/+0, where X is its power. Sacrifice it at end of turn.

"I hope to have such a death—lying in triumph upon the broken bodies of those who slew me." —Radha, Keldon warlord

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fatal Frenzy bolsters your battlefield presence by temporarily boosting a creature’s power. This surge can help you eliminate key opponents’ threats, potentially clearing the way for future advantageous plays and preserving your resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly adding resources, Fatal Frenzy can significantly reduce the time it takes to defeat an opponent by allowing for unexpectedly high amounts of combat damage, effectively accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Fatal Frenzy at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to combat developments or take advantage of an unblocked attacker in a surprise move that can shift the tide of a game instantly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fatal Frenzy requires you to discard a card upon use, presenting a potential setback if your hand is already scarce in options or if you’re strategically holding crucial cards for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Restricted to red mana, this card obligates you to have an ample source of red within your land pool, possibly limiting its integration in multicolored or color-scarce decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a three mana cost where two must be red, the card’s effect may not present the same efficiency as other boost or combat trick options available within the Magic universe that could be more cost-effective for aggressive strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fatal Frenzy is a dynamic card offering red deck players the ability to magnify one creature’s power massively for a turn. This not only makes it useful in direct combat scenarios but also in situations where you want to surprise your opponent and close games quickly.

Combo Potential: The potential to launch a devastating one-turn kill (OTK) with this spell is notable. When combined with creatures that have trample or other damage amplification effects, Fatal Frenzy turns a formidable creature into an unstoppable force, showcasing its extensive combo potential.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on creature-based strategies, Fatal Frenzy can be a game-changer. It thrives in metas where the surprise factor and burst damage can disrupt opponent’s plans, making it a card worth considering for competitive play.

How to beat

Fatal Frenzy serves as a potent force multiplier in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in aggressive red decks that focus on quickly decimating an opponent’s life total. This card grants a massive power boost at the cost of the creature’s life at the end of the turn. To circumvent the devastating impact of Fatal Frenzy, efficient removal spells are your best ally. Ready your instant-speed removals to dispatch the buffed creature before it can unleash its amplified assault. It’s pivotal to keep mana available, especially during the combat phase when Fatal Frenzy is most likely to be cast.

Counterspells are equally viable; keeping one at hand when your opponent accumulates three mana could neuter their attempt to play Fatal Frenzy altogether. Another strategy involves baiting out the Fatal Frenzy when you have the means to block and kill the creature, ensuring the trade favors you both in terms of card and board advantage. Lastly, death-touch creatures or ones with effects that destroy attacking creatures can act as a formidable deterrent against the pumped-up threat posed by Fatal Frenzy.

In conclusion, with strategic play and proper timing of removal or counter spells, you can overcome the explosive power of Fatal Frenzy and turn an opponent’s aggressive gambit into an opportunity for advantage in your MTG matches.

Cards like Fatal Frenzy

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Fatal Frenzy stands out as a significant force multiplier for that decisive turn. In a similar category, we have cards like Berserk, which also offers a striking power boost to creatures, doubling their attack strength. However, Fatal Frenzy takes it up a notch by tripling a creature’s power instead. Unlike Berserk, Fatal Frenzy doesn’t restrict its bonus to creatures with power 4 or less, providing greater flexibility in its application.

Another card worthy of comparison is Rush of Blood. It provides a similar surprise element, increasing a creature’s power equal to its base power. While it doesn’t triple the stat as Fatal Frenzy does, its scalability with creatures of higher base power can be immensely beneficial. Then there’s Overblaze, subtly distinct in its effect, doubling the damage a creature or land deals for the turn, rather than increasing power or toughness.

Overall, comparing Fatal Frenzy in Magic: The Gathering with analogous cards reveals its unique capacity to unleash a creature’s potential in combat. Although each card has its situational advantages, the absolute power surge that Fatal Frenzy offers can turn the tide of battle in a player’s favor with one swift, lethal swing.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fatal Frenzy MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Fatal Frenzy and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fatal Frenzy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fatal Frenzy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.