Feral Deceiver MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spirit
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	208
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Glen Angus

Key Takeaways

Feral Deceiver enhances the top-library synergy, vital for strategic play and informed decision-making.
It serves as a mana sink, boosting power in late-game situations to potentially turn the tide.
Its instant-speed ability offers tactical advantage and element of surprise in MTG matches.

Text of card

: Look at the top card of your library. : Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land, Feral Deceiver gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Feral Deceiver provides a unique advantage for players looking to manipulate the top card of their library. In a deck focused on the top-library dynamic, such as with the card “Lantern of Insight,” Feral Deceiver becomes a valuable asset. Its ability to look at the top card of your library at any time can inform your choices and promote a more strategic play style.

Resource Acceleration: This creature’s power can be increased temporarily by spending mana, making it a flexible combatant on the battlefield. While Feral Deceiver itself does not provide direct mana acceleration, it allows for a mana sink that can be crucial in utilizing all available resources during late-game scenarios, potentially swinging the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The ability to check the top card of your deck at instant speed is a subtle yet significant advantage. This allows you to do so during the upkeep or at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping your play options open and your strategy hidden. It ensures you can react more efficiently to the changing tide of the match, maintaining the element of surprise against your opponents.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Feral Deceiver often comes with a trade-off that may force players to discard potentially valuable cards from their hand. This requirement can be especially troublesome during the late game when every card count contributes to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Feral Deceiver’s casting cost demands both green mana and generic mana, which may not always align smoothly with a player’s mana base. This restriction can hinder the card’s versatility, particularly in multicolored decks that need a more diverse mana distribution.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may be considered above curve for the stats and abilities it provides, Feral Deceiver competes with other creatures and spells in your deck that could offer more immediate impact or value for the same, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Feral Deceiver in Your Collection

Versatility: Feral Deceiver brings a level of adaptability to any deck it joins. Its unique attribute of adjusting its power based on the top card of your library creates opportunities for unpredictable and potentially game-changing combat scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with deck manipulation tools. Aligning your top deck to guarantee a boost in power can seamlessly integrate with strategies that rely on the element of surprise or setting up for a big play.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame evolves, Feral Deceiver can find a home in a variety of deck types. Given its ability to interact with the top of the deck, it can be especially useful in decks that leverage library and creature synergies, staying relevant across multiple formats.

How to beat

Feral Deceiver, as a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, has a unique knack for manipulating the top card of your library. This can be a tricky mechanic to tackle but like most cards, it comes with its own set of vulnerabilities. Firstly, it’s crucial to interrupt the information the player gets from scrying. This can be done with instant-speed removal spells that can be cast in response to the scry ability, thus nullifying the effect. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with the creature before the ability resolves.

Secondly, board control is key. Establishing a strong line of defense with creatures that have higher toughness or with enchantments that prevent damage can help withstand the possible pumped power of Feral Deceiver. Lastly, consider cards that manipulate library orders such as mill or shuffle effects to disrupt the opponent’s top-deck strategy. Whether through direct removal, stalling strategies or messing with the deck’s order, overcoming Feral Deceiver involves staying one step ahead and strategically managing your resources.

Victory against Feral Deceiver lies in preemptive actions and maintaining dominance over the board state, leading to a successful outplay of this creature’s top-decking tactics.

Cards like Feral Deceiver

Feral Deceiver, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering, shares several characteristics with other creatures that skillfully manipulate the top card of a player’s library. It bears a likeness to the infamous Lantern Bearers for its ability to peek into the future turns. Where Feral Deceiver requires mana to activate its ability, Lantern Bearers provides a constant albeit less controllable version of this foresight without extra cost.

Another card worth mentioning is Leaf Dancer. While it lacks the library manipulation ability, it brings a comparable presence in green-focused decks. Both demand a tactical understanding of deck composition to be utilized effectively. Feral Deceiver, intended for decks that can manipulate or benefit from knowing the top card of the library, can create significant advantages over time. A third comparison is to the Harbinger creatures that also interact with the top card of the deck, albeit through a slightly different method – placing creatures from the library directly into your hand.

Ultimately, Feral Deceiver stands out for its unique library peeking skill set that, when leveraged with the right strategy and accompanying cards in MTG, can be a decidedly formidable play for those looking to harness the art of deck manipulation.

Cards similar to Feral Deceiver by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Feral Deceiver MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Feral Deceiver and other MTG cards: