Flunk MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Number	71
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Randy Vargas

Key Takeaways

Flunk is mana-efficient and flexible, targeting major threats and bolstering strategic depth.
Usage in black or multicolor decks is required due to specific mana cost constraints.
Its conditions and cost provide both advantages and disadvantages, shaping deck utility.

Text of card

Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is 7 minus the number of cards in that creature's controller's hand.

"I assure you, no one fails my course more than once." —Embrose, Silverquill dean

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flunk offers not just a removal option but can potentially deal with multiple threats if an opponent’s hand is full. This flexibility ensures that you’re getting essential value by dealing with significant threats your opponent controls.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly accelerating resources, Flunk’s low mana cost aids in efficient mana usage. This economy enables players to optimize their plays, potentially casting more spells or holding resources for crucial turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Flunk at instant speed provides strategic depth, allowing you to respond to opponents’ actions or end-of-turn dynamics, preserving the element of surprise and timing your interaction to disrupt your opponent’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Flunk card necessitates the discard of another card when attempting to play it without fulfilling its alternate condition. This requirement can put players at a disadvantage, as it forces them to deplete their hand, potentially losing vital cards needed for future turns or strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Flunk demands a precise mana cost that includes black mana. This requisite narrows its playability primarily to black decks or multicolor decks that can accommodate black mana, which might not always be feasible depending on a player’s mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: It costs three mana, including two black mana, which is considered significant for its effect. Other removal options within the same mana range might offer more flexibility or additional benefits, making Flunk a less attractive choice for players seeking efficient removal resources.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flunk offers flexibility in your removal suite, capable of dealing with almost any creature your opponent controls. It performs well in a deck with discard strategies, reducing the opponent’s hand size to make the removal condition easier to meet.

Combo Potential: In a deck designed around hand disruption, Flunk serves as a powerful and efficient tool. When combined with cards that force your opponent to discard, Flunk can often take down even the largest threats for minimal mana investment.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of creature-based strategies in many formats, having access to cost-effective removal spells like Flunk is crucial. It’s particularly good in a meta filled with midrange creatures, allowing you to maintain board control without falling behind on resources.

How to beat

Flunk is known as a potent removal spell in the format of Magic: The Gathering. This particular card excels in disrupting the rhythm of your opponent by eliminating their key creatures. When facing Flunk, it’s crucial to anticipate and mitigate its impact. Understanding your opponent’s mana and the size of their hand is strategic, as Flunk’s efficiency directly correlates with the number of cards your opponent holds.

One approach to outmaneuver Flunk is by diversifying your threats. Deploy a range of creatures with varying power levels to avoid giving your opponent a single, high-impact target. Additionally, applying pressure to force your opponent to use their hand resources for other purposes can reduce the effectiveness of Flunk, making it less of a threat to your most valuable creatures.

Furthermore, countering with instant-speed spells that increase the power of your creatures or using spells that grant indestructible until end of turn can turn the tables on an opponent relying on Flunk. Adapting to the situation by maintaining a strategic hand size and managing your threats carefully can ensure your key creatures survive and keep you in control of the game.

Cards like Flunk

Flunk, an intriguing removal card in Magic: The Gathering, draws parallels with other removal spells but stands out based on its variable cost efficiency. Murder, a classic example, allows a player to destroy any creature at the cost of three mana. Flunk, on the other hand, can be far more mana-efficient under the right conditions, although it does require the opponent to have fewer cards in hand for maximum impact.

Next to consider is Go for the Throat, an efficient two-mana removal spell with the downside of being unable to target artifact creatures. Flunk doesn’t have this restriction, potentially offering more flexibility across different matchups. Moreover, it’s comparable to Dismember, which offers lower initial mana costs but comes with a life payment. Flunk circumvents any life loss, which can be substantial in closer games.

Ultimately, within the scope of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, Flunk presents a unique proposition. Its effectiveness scales with game progress, offering strategic depth as players weigh their options based on the current state of their opponents’ hands. This gives Flunk a niche appeal, particularly in formats where hand size can be manipulated.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flunk MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Flunk and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flunk has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2021-04-16	If the target creature’s controller has seven or more cards in hand when Flunk resolves, the creature gets -0/-0. This effect will never increase the creature’s power and toughness.
2021-04-16	The value of X is determined as Flunk resolves.