Fleet-Footed Monk MTG Card


Fleet-Footed Monk - Portal
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Monk
Released1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set namePortal
Set codePOR
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number15
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byD. Alexander Gregory

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage and instant speed actions can subtly tip the scales in your favor with Fleet-Footed Monk.
  2. The discard requirement and specific mana cost make the Monk a more selective fit for MTG decks.
  3. Despite a higher mana cost, the Monk’s unblockability grants significant tactical versatility in gameplay.

Text of card

Fleet-Footed Monk can't be intercepted by any creature with offense 2 or greater.

"Hesitation is for the faithless. My belief lends me speed."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fleet-Footed Monk can give you a subtle edge by offering card advantage in certain deck builds. Thanks to its ability to potentially unblock another creature, you could trigger effects that allow you to draw or look at additional cards, slowly outpacing your opponent’s hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Fleet-Footed Monk doesn’t directly generate resources, it can be a key piece in enabling combos or synergies that do. Its low cost and utility may speed up your deck’s overall pace and efficiency, allowing you to deploy your strategy faster.

Instant Speed: The Fleet-Footed Monk’s ability works at instant speed, providing flexibility during play. This can be used strategically to disrupt your opponent’s assumptions about the state of combat, potentially saving a crucial creature or creating a surprise block.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Fleet-Footed Monk is its discard condition. This requirement can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when your hand is already thinning and every card counts towards your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Fleet-Footed Monk’s mana cost is quite particular, demanding a precise combination to play it. This can restrict deck-building options and make it a less flexible choice in color-diverse decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When analyzing the mana investment against similar cards, Fleet-Footed Monk comes in on the higher end. This might deter players who are looking for more cost-effective creatures that offer similar agility and impact on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Fleet-Footed Monk in Your Collection

Versatility: Fleet-Footed Monk offers flexibility as a key component in decks that can utilize its evasion ability. Its ability to become unblockable for a turn provides tactical advantage in various gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: This agile creature may be leveraged in combination with cards that capitalize on whether a creature can deal combat damage to a player, thus enabling draw mechanics or other on-hit effects to come into play.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting competitive scene, Fleet-Footed Monk holds its ground by fitting into strategies that throw opponents off balance. Whether it’s disrupting a stalemate or finishing a game, this card’s unique skill set keeps it pertinent.


How to beat

Fleet-Footed Monk is a unique card that introduces a tactical dimension to creature-based strategies in Magic the Gathering. It stands out with its ability to untap another target creature, offering a blend of offensive and defensive play. This flexibility can be quite challenging to face, especially when it continuously reactivates key creatures in your opponent’s lineup.

To outmaneuver a Fleet-Footed Monk, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its agility. Instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Shock allows you to effectively eliminate the Monk before your opponent can make use of its untap ability during their turn. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the playing field, nullifying the Monk’s strategic advantage altogether.

Relying on counter spells is another strategy to ensure the Monk never hits the battlefield. By keeping mana open for spells like Mana Leak or Counterspell, you can directly target the threat during your opponent’s casting phase, cutting the issue at the root. Overcoming Fleet-Footed Monk requires a blend of timing, removal, and control tools—a challenge that can be turned into a tactical strength in your matches.


Cards like Fleet-Footed Monk

Fleet-Footed Monk finds its place among the echelons of creatures that offer utility beyond mere combat in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some common ground with cards like Gustcloak Savior that allow creatures to dodge unfavorable confrontations. Yet, Fleet-Footed Monk is unique with its ability to make another creature unblockable for a turn, rendering it a key player in strategic plays to deliver direct damage.

When compared to Shadow Alley Denizen, which also grants unblockable status but only to creatures of a specific color, Fleet-Footed Monk shows it can be more versatile across various deck themes without color restriction. Siren Stormtamer, another creature that similarly affects the game’s tactical landscape, offers protection by countering spells or abilities that target you or a creature you control. Nonetheless, Fleet-Footed Monk stands out by proactively enabling attacks rather than reacting defensively.

Conclusively, though there are a myriad of creatures in MTG that maneuver around blockers or protect themselves from spells, Fleet-Footed Monk carves out its own niche. With its focused ability to grant unblockability, it potentially turns any creature into an undeniable threat for a critical turn.

Gustcloak Savior - MTG Card versions
Shadow Alley Denizen - MTG Card versions
Siren Stormtamer - MTG Card versions
Gustcloak Savior - Onslaught (ONS)
Shadow Alley Denizen - Gatecrash (GTC)
Siren Stormtamer - Ixalan (XLN)

Cards similar to Fleet-Footed Monk by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Urza's Saga (USG)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fleet-Footed Monk MTG card by a specific set like Portal, 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 Fleet-Footed Monk and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fleet-Footed Monk has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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