Fleshbag Marauder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Fleshbag Marauder offers card advantage by removing multiple threats with one card, but strategy is key.
  2. It fits various deck archetypes and remains meta-relevant by bypassing certain defensive abilities.
  3. Effective tactics against this card include expendable creatures and instant-speed removal spells.

Text of card

When Fleshbag Marauder comes into play, each player sacrifices a creature.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fleshbag Marauder can force each player to sacrifice a creature, which can potentially clear multiple threats on the board with just one card. This creates a form of card advantage by dealing with multiple opponent cards while only using one of your own.

Resource Acceleration: By using Fleshbag Marauder, you effectively remove a blocker or a potential threat, potentially enabling you to accelerate your attack strategy. This puts the opponent on the back foot, having to recover resources while you continue developing your board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Fleshbag Marauder is a creature and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its enter-the-battlefield effect can be utilized during your main phases, allowing for strategic timing. The sacrifice effect can serve as a form of disruption right before the critical moments of your opponent’s strategy, similar to an instant’s impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Part of Fleshbag Marauder’s impact comes from its edict effect, which mandates each player to sacrifice a creature. This can backfire if you’re leading with a creature count and forced to sacrifice a valuable piece on your board.

Specific Mana Cost: Fleshbag Marauder’s casting cost demands one black mana, which makes it a necessity to have that color available. Players running multicolored decks that aren’t centered around black might find it challenging to incorporate this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, this creature’s ability may seem cost-effective, but it can feel pretty steep in decks that aim to maximize efficiency. In faster paced games or in decks that operate on tight mana curves, deploying a three mana creature with no immediate board presence can be a setback.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fleshbag Marauder offers a flexible solution for creature removal, not being tied to a single creature type or size. This card easily slips into multiple deck archetypes, from sacrifice-focused strategies to general black control builds. Its ability to affect all players equally makes it a dynamic tool at any game stage.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with strategies that capitalize on creature deaths. It synergizes immensely well with effects that trigger on creatures dying or when creatures enter the graveyard, making it not only a threat removal option but also a enabler for grave-based combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that is constantly evolving, having a way to deal with a battlefield packed with powerful creatures is vital. Fleshbag Marauder remains relevant as it bypasses indestructible and hexproof defenses, ensuring it has a place in your arsenal against diverse and ever-changing competitive environments. Its functionality in both single-player and multiplayer formats further cements its meta utility.


How to beat

Fleshbag Marauder presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature forces each player to sacrifice a creature upon entering the battlefield, which can be quite disruptive, especially for decks that rely heavily on their creatures’ synergy. To effectively counter this card, one strategy is to maintain a board with expendable creatures, such as tokens, which can be sacrificed without significant loss. Alternatively, having an indestructible creature or one with a beneficial leave-the-battlefield effect can mitigate the impact of Fleshbag Marauder’s ability.

Another effective tactic is to use instant-speed removal spells that can target and eliminate Fleshbag Marauder before its ability resolves, thereby saving your more valuable creatures from being sacrificed. Additionally, playing with cards that grant you hexproof can also be a smart way to protect your creatures since Fleshbag Marauder’s ability requires the player to target themselves—a tactic that is rendered null if you cannot be targeted. Lastly, leveraging graveyard recursion can let you reuse your own sacrificial creatures, turning the tables on the Marauder’s disruptive entrance.

In essence, by incorporating these strategies, players can maintain control of the board and diminish the negative impact Fleshbag Marauder might have on their game plan, ensuring a higher chance of victory against opponents that deploy this menacing creature.


BurnMana Recommendations

With every card like Fleshbag Marauder, there’s a perfect moment to turn the tides of MTG gameplay. By understanding its nuanced abilities and the strategic value it can bring, you can elevate your deck’s performance and sway matches in your favor. Whether you’re honing your deck’s removal tactics or looking to maximize your graveyard interactions, this creature has potential to be a standout addition. We encourage you to sharpen your strategy and explore the combo possibilities that Fleshbag Marauder presents. Dive deeper into its synergistic play and meta-relevance to ensure your deck is not just competitive, but a consistent contender. Continue your MTG journey with us and discover how to optimize your collection and gameplay.


Cards like Fleshbag Marauder

Fleshbag Marauder consistently presents itself as a formidable option for players looking to establish board control in MTG. Its ability closely mirrors that of Merciless Executioner, which also demands each player to sacrifice a creature upon entering the battlefield. Nonetheless, Fleshbag Marauder edges ahead as it can be utilized in multicolor decks given its single black mana in its casting cost, enhancing its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively, Slum Reaper serves a similar purpose, enforcing creature sacrifice, yet it comes with a slightly higher mana cost. However, Plaguecrafter takes this concept further by offering an expanded choice, compelling not only creature sacrifices but also discarding a card, becoming particularly effective against opponents with an empty board. Moreover, it has the potential to leave a body on the field if nothing else is on the board to sacrifice, adding yet another layer of utility.

Analyzing these dynamics, Fleshbag Marauder secures a strong position among its counterparts, achieving a balance of cost-effectiveness and strategic depth that can subtly shift the tide in games where creature control is the key to victory.

Merciless Executioner - MTG Card versions
Slum Reaper - MTG Card versions
Plaguecrafter - MTG Card versions
Merciless Executioner - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Slum Reaper - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Plaguecrafter - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Fleshbag Marauder by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fleshbag Marauder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Shards of Alara, 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 Fleshbag Marauder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fleshbag Marauder Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 861082015normalblackMark Zug
22008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 762003normalblackPete Venters
32011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 832003normalblackPete Venters
42014-09-05Duel Decks: Speed vs. CunningDDN 82015normalblackMark Zug
52014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 382015normalblackPete Venters
62015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 982015normalblackMark Zug
72016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1362015normalblackMark Zug
82018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 642015normalblackPete Venters
92018-11-16Game NightGNT 292015normalblackMark Zug
102019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 7252015normalblackKev Walker
112019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11752015normalblackKev Walker
122020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1282015normalblackMark Zug
132020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6482015normalblackMark Zug
142021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3312015normalblackMark Zug
152021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1182015normalblackMark Zug
162022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 502015normalblackMark Zug
172024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1112015normalblackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fleshbag Marauder has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 As Fleshbag Marauder's ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses a creature to sacrifice, then each other player in turn order does the same knowing the choices made before them. Then all those creatures are sacrificed simultaneously.
2020-11-10 When its ability resolves, you may sacrifice Fleshbag Marauder itself. If you control no other creatures, you'll have to sacrifice Fleshbag Marauder.

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