Aven Fogbringer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Bird Wizard
Abilities	Flying
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	34
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Edward P. Beard, Jr.

Key Takeaways

Manipulate the battlefield by bouncing lands, disrupting the opponent’s strategy and gaining tempo.
Uses in control decks for versatility and meta-relevant play through strategic land denial.
Incorporate removal strategies and pace control to effectively counteract Aven Fogbringer’s influence.

Text of card

Flying When Aven Fogbringer comes into play, return target land to its owner's hand.

"I cover the land with blankets and it sleeps."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Aven Fogbringer provides a tactful method of disrupting opponents’ board states by returning target land to its owner’s hand, which can potentially set them back and offer you an edge in maintaining card superiority.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, the tempo gain achieved by bouncing a land can effectively slow down your adversary, buying you precious time to ramp up your resources and solidify your presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Aven Fogbringer itself doesn’t have instant speed, its land bouncing ability plays seamlessly into strategies that capitalize on opponents’ end turns, paving the way for instant speed spells to be played without interference, thereby keeping momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Aven Fogbringer doesn’t demand a card discard directly, its jump-start ability certainly does, forcing you to toss another valuable card just to use it again. This can put strain on your hand, especially in crucial moments when resources are scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Aven Fogbringer requires both blue and white mana to cast, demanding a tight color commitment that could restrict its inclusion to decks that fully support this color pairing. If your deck runs more than two colors or has a complex mana base, slotting this bird into your lineup might be more trouble than it’s worth.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging four mana might seem fair for a creature with the ability to bounce lands back to an opponent’s hand, but within the scope of modern MTG, there are numerous options that can provide land disruption at a lower cost. This leaves Aven Fogbringer trailing when it comes to economy and efficiency in tempo plays.

Reasons to Include Aven Fogbringer in Your Collection

Versatility: Aven Fogbringer’s ability to bounce lands to an opponent’s hand allows it to slot into various control and tempo decks where disrupting the opponent’s mana base can be crucial for gaining an advantage.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that punish players for playing or drawing extra lands, Aven Fogbringer can be part of a strategy that locks opponents out of the game, making it a quirky addition to crafty land-denial themes.

Meta-Relevance: With the right meta, where players rely on specific nonbasic lands for their strategy, this avian spellshaper can serve as a specific counter, disrupting their setup and timing while you advance your game plan.

How to Beat Aven Fogbringer

Aven Fogbringer might not be the most notorious creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, but it can undoubtedly influence the battle on the right deck. This flyer not only offers a decent body in the air but also has the potential to disrupt your opponent’s mana base by returning a land to their hand. Handling it requires a bit of strategy and foresight.

One effective countermove is to prevent it from landing on the battlefield in the first place. Utilize counterspells to nip the problem in the bud, or employ removal spells to ensure it doesn’t have a chance to activate its land-bouncing ability. If Aven Fogbringer does make it onto the board, focus on removing it swiftly. Since it has a modest toughness, it’s usually amenable to most removal spells.

Lastly, always keep the game’s pace in mind. Aven Fogbringer can slow down your land development, so plan your land drops carefully. Be ready with extra lands in hand or abilities that allow you to play extra lands during your turn to mitigate the setback. With the right strategy, this mystic bird’s fog can be lifted, and its influence, a minor distraction.

Cards like Aven Fogbringer

Aven Fogbringer brings a unique tactical edge to blue decks in MTG. This card shares the flying ability with many other bird wizards, but its special power lies in its potential to disrupt opponents by returning target land to its owner’s hand when it enters the battlefield. A similar card is Man-o’-War, which offers a parallel disruptive effect, however, it targets creatures rather than lands. This creature type has a slightly different capacity for setting back an opponent’s board presence, making it an important consideration for deck building strategies.

Another card warranting comparison is the spell Boomerang, which, while not a creature, essentially carries out the same land-bouncing effect with the versatility of being an instant. The immediacy of Boomerang can impact the game significantly, offering tactical advantages by responding promptly to opponents’ plays. Yet, it lacks the creature presence that Aven Fogbringer offers.

Assessing similar cards in MTG reveals that Aven Fogbringer is a fair blend of disruption and presence on the board. It’s a compelling choice for players looking to merge the benefits of both creature play and strategic bounce effects within their blue deck assortments.

Cards similar to Aven Fogbringer by color, type and mana cost

Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions

Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions

Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions

Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions

Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions

Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aven Fogbringer MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Aven Fogbringer and other MTG cards: