Figure of Destiny MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kithkin
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms at instant speed, offering flexibility and reactive play to maintain board advantage.
  2. Resource-efficient for its initial cost, allowing mana for other plays while evolving on the field.
  3. Requires specific mana combinations, adding strategic depth and deck-building considerations for optimized use.

Text of card

{GU}: Figure of Destiny becomes a 2/2 Kithkin Spirit. {GU}{GU}{GU}: If Figure of Destiny is a Spirit, it becomes a 4/4 Kithkin Spirit Warrior. {GU}{GU}{GU}{GU}{GU}{GU}: If Figure of Destiny is a Warrior, it becomes an 8/8 Kithkin Spirit Warrior Avatar with flying and first strike.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Figure of Destiny provides multiple stages of growth, offering the potential to essentially become three creatures in one card. This flexibility means that the player can upgrade the card as the game progresses, maintaining card advantage without the need to draw additional creatures.

Resource Acceleration: Although Figure of Destiny itself does not directly produce mana or accelerate resources, its low initial casting cost allows players to spend their mana on other spells and abilities sooner, effectively smoothing out the mana curve and accelerating the player’s board presence.

Instant Speed: The ability to upgrade Figure of Destiny can be activated at instant speed, allowing players to adapt to the flow of the game. This feature gives the player the freedom to react to opponents’ actions and maximize their mana efficiency during any turn, keeping opponents guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Figure of Destiny offers versatility and can evolve on the battlefield, it demands a sizeable discard investment to reap its full potential. This requirement might deplete your hand, leaving fewer options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s initial casting cost is low, but its level-up abilities are locked behind very specific mana requirements. Heavy reliance on both red and white mana can restrict its inclusion to only certain types of decks, potentially limiting your strategic options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To transform Figure of Destiny into its final and most potent form, you need to sink a total of six mana into it. This significant investment may not always align with your game plan, especially when other cards could provide more immediate board presence or impact for the same cost.


Reasons to Include Figure of Destiny in Your Collection

Versatility: Figure of Destiny offers a unique ability to adapt to the changing needs of the game, starting as a humble 1/1 that can evolve into a powerful entity. This flexibility allows it to slot into various deck types, from aggressive strategies that capitalize on early-game pressure to more midrange builds that benefit from adaptable threats.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that can manipulate +1/+1 counters or benefit from creature type changes. With its ability to become a Kithkin, Spirit, Warrior, and Avatar, it can tap into tribal synergies and enhance strategies focused on these creature types.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games can stretch into longer battles, Figure of Destiny shines by offering an evolving threat that can keep pace with the board. Its capacity to become a substantial creature without additional card investment makes it potent against control decks and a solid choice when creature-based strategies dominate.


How to beat

Figure of Destiny is a unique and versatile creature card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its capacity to transform and scale with your game as you invest mana. To overcome this dynamic threat, players need to consider disruption and timing. The key lies in managing resources and striking at the opportune moments. Removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently deal with Figure of Destiny before its power and toughness escalate. Controlling the board early on prevents the Figure from reaching its full potential, which makes low-cost removal or counter spells especially valuable.

Another effective tactic is to limit the opposing player’s ability to invest mana into Figure of Destiny by applying pressure or creating advantageous board states. Strategies that force the opponent to react or divert mana elsewhere can inhibit the transformation of Figure of Destiny, keeping it in a more manageable state. Additionally, cards that strip resources directly from the opponent’s hand, like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can preemptively remove Figure of Destiny before it even sees play. Considering these approaches, players are well-equipped to keep the formidable Figure of Destiny in check.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves a nuanced understanding of card benefits and limitations. Figure of Destiny embodies a strategic complexity that, when leveraged mightily, can evolve games. As it transitions from a simple 1/1 to an awe-inspiring 8/8 entity, it demands attention to mana management and timing. Your collection deserves such a dynamic card not only for its upgrade potential but also for its synergy within certain decks. Ready to manipulate those +1/+1 counters or exploit tribal associations? Dive deeper into this Kithkin’s journey from humble beginnings to battlefield dominance. Venture further with us into MTG’s strategic depths.


Cards like Figure of Destiny

The multifaceted Figure of Destiny card introduces a unique dynamic to player decks within Magic: The Gathering. This card is akin to other level up creatures like Enclave Cryptologist, offering players the opportunity to invest further in a single creature as the game progresses. However, Figure of Destiny is distinctive in its Kithkin and Spirit synergy and its capability to become a powerhouse quickly with its potential to evolve from a 1/1 creature to an 8/8 flying and first strike entity with just a few mana investments.

Compared to Figure of Destiny, Student of Warfare is another level up creature that starts off less powerful but can become a very efficient combat creature with First Strike and eventually, Double Strike. Yet, Figure of Destiny stands out with its instant speed transformation allowing flexibility in response to the game state. Another relative is Kargan Dragonlord, which also escalates its power but relies on a Red mana pool for leveling up and eventually turns into a flying and trampling dragon, offering a different type of threat.

To sum up, while there are several creatures with the level up feature in Magic: The Gathering, Figure of Destiny remains a prominent choice for its quick adaptability, and the potential to significantly impact the battlefield within just a few turns.

Enclave Cryptologist - MTG Card versions
Student of Warfare - MTG Card versions
Kargan Dragonlord - MTG Card versions
Enclave Cryptologist - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Student of Warfare - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Kargan Dragonlord - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Figure of Destiny by color, type and mana cost

Boros Recruit - MTG Card versions
Duergar Assailant - MTG Card versions
Priest of Iroas - MTG Card versions
Firehoof Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble - MTG Card versions
Boros Recruit - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Duergar Assailant - Eventide (EVE)
Priest of Iroas - Theros (THS)
Firehoof Cavalry - The List (PLST)
Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Figure of Destiny MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Eventide, 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 Figure of Destiny and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Figure of Destiny Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325452003normalblackScott M. Fischer
22008-07-25EventideEVE 1392003normalblackScott M. Fischer
32008-07-25Eventide PromosPEVE 139★2003normalblackScott M. Fischer
42013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1892003normalblackScott M. Fischer
52013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 32003normalblackScott M. Fischer
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4962015normalblackScott M. Fischer
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2132015normalblackScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Figure of Destiny has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-08-01 Figure of Destiny’s abilities overwrite its power, toughness, and creature types. Typically, those abilities are activated in the order they appear on the card. However, if Figure of Destiny is an 8/8 Kithkin Spirit Warrior Avatar with flying and first strike, and you activate its first ability, it will become a 2/2 Kithkin Spirit that still has flying and first strike.
2008-08-01 Figure of Destiny’s second ability checks whether it’s a Spirit, and its third ability checks whether it’s a Warrior. It doesn’t matter how it became the appropriate creature type.
2008-08-01 None of these abilities has a duration. If one of them resolves, it will remain in effect until the game ends, Figure of Destiny leaves the battlefield, or some subsequent effect changes its characteristics, whichever comes first.
2008-08-01 You can activate Figure of Destiny’s second and third abilities regardless of what creature types it is. Each of those abilities checks Figure of Destiny’s creature types when that ability resolves. If Figure of Destiny isn’t the appropriate creature type at that time, the ability does nothing.
2009-10-01 The effect from the ability overwrites other effects that set power and/or toughness if and only if those effects existed before the ability resolved. It will not overwrite effects that modify power or toughness (whether from a static ability, counters, or a resolved spell or ability), nor will it overwrite effects that set power and toughness which come into existence after the ability resolves. Effects that switch the creature’s power and toughness are always applied after any other power or toughness changing effects, including this one, regardless of the order in which they are created.

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