Fetid Imp MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Imp
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Fetid Imp’s instant-speed deathtouch provides formidable defensive and offensive flexibility during combat.
  2. Efficient mana cost ensures it fits smoothly into your game plan, enhancing early-game board presence.
  3. Despite fetid imp’s key advantages, it’s not without its drawbacks, such as specific mana requirements.

Text of card

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.): Fetid Imp gains deathtouch until end of turn. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fetid Imp may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but its presence on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking, effectively saving your resources and maintaining hand stability.

Resource Acceleration: While Fetid Imp doesn’t help in accelerating resources in a traditional sense, its low casting cost means it fits well into a curve, allowing you to efficiently manage your mana and play threats or set defenses early in the game.

Instant Speed: The deathtouch ability can be activated at instant speed, granting great flexibility during combat. This lets you decide the best moment to turn Fetid Imp into a deadly blocker or attacker, often forcing the opponent to play around it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fetid Imp forces players to sacrifice a key resource in their hand, potentially leaving them at a disadvantage if they’re already behind on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: With its exact black mana requirement, Fetid Imp might not easily fit into multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering other creatures available at or below Fetid Imp’s mana cost, the card could be seen as an investment with an insufficient return, especially in fast-paced games.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fetid Imp is a flexible card that can defend against larger creatures thanks to its Deathtouch ability, making it a valuable addition to any deck that emphasizes defense or requires a reliable blocker.

Combo Potential: With the ability to gain Deathtouch at will, this little flyer works well in concert with cards that encourage combat or benefit from the destruction of enemy creatures, offering strategic eliminations during the game.

Meta-Relevance: In games dominated by creature-centric strategies, Fetid Imp’s presence can deter opponents from attacking or force unfavorable trades, showing its strategic significance in particular matches.


How to beat

Fetid Imp is a versatile little creature with potentially game-stalling abilities. Due to its flying ability, it can be a persistent nuisance, dodging many common ground-based defenses. Additionally, the option to give it deathtouch makes it a formidable blocker that can deter attackers. However, besting this imp isn’t insurmountable. Aim to deploy removal spells that don’t rely on combat damage, such as “Murder” or “Doom Blade,” which can dispatch it irrespective of its deathtouch activation. Enchantment-based removals like “Pacifism” or “Claustrophobia” can also neutralize it without needing to destroy it outright.

Combat tricks can also catch an opponent off-guard, forcing them to lose their imp before it can apply deathtouch. Spells that grant hexproof temporarily to your creatures or that counter activations, like “Blossoming Defense” or “Disallow,” offer ways to circumvent Fetid Imp’s defensive strategy. Moreover, since the deathtouch ability requires mana to be activated, pressuring your opponent’s mana can inadvertently weaken their defenses, making the imp less of an obstacle.

Thus, despite its pesky deathtouch and evasion tactics, Fetid Imp can be conquered by strategic spell usage and resource management. A focused approach will ensure that this creature won’t impede your path to victory.


Cards like Fetid Imp

Fetid Imp joins the ranks of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering, with a notable comparison to the Typhoid Rats. While both creatures share the deathtouch ability, enabling them to destroy any creature they deal damage to, Fetid Imp requires one colorless and one black mana and gives players the flexibility to activate deathtouch on demand with an additional black mana. In contrast, Typhoid Rats comes with inherent deathtouch without the activation cost but lacks the flying trait.

Moving along, Vampire Nighthawk is another creature that shares similarities with Fetid Imp. The Nighthawk costs more and is valued for its combination of flying, deathtouch, and lifelink, offering both offense and defense capabilities. While the Nighthawk stands as a powerhouse, the Fetid Imp serves as a more cost-efficient—albeit weaker—early game option for battlefield control.

In essence, while each card has its unique blend of abilities and mana requirements, Fetid Imp emerges as a versatile component in many MTG decks that capitalize on flexible mana curves and strategic creature removal.

Typhoid Rats - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Typhoid Rats - Innistrad (ISD)
Vampire Nighthawk - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)

Cards similar to Fetid Imp by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fetid Imp MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Fetid Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fetid Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 972015normalblackNils Hamm
22016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 482015normalblackNils Hamm
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6602015normalblackNils Hamm
42020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 982015normalblackNils Hamm
52020-09-26The ListPLST ORI-972015normalblackNils Hamm
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4152015normalblackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fetid Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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