Choking Fumes MTG Card


Choking Fumes - Mirrodin Besieged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin Besieged
Set codeMBS
Number4
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byScott Chou

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by potentially targeting multiple threats simultaneously without discarding.
  2. Instant speed play allows for strategic combat disruption and maintains element of surprise.
  3. Versatile in deck-building, especially for controlling White-focused decks in MTG.

Text of card

Put a -1/-1 counter on each attacking creature.

"Fall to your knees and welcome our embrace." —Qal-Sha, Priest of Norn


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Choking Fumes can target multiple creatures if proliferated, effectively allowing you to deal with numerous threats at once and potentially turning the card into a one-sided board wipe.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Choking Fumes can disrupt your opponent’s resource acceleration by negating the efforts of their creature-based mana dorks or utility creatures, slowing down their gameplay and giving you a tempo advantage.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Choking Fumes at instant speed gives you flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s combat math, remove key creatures after buffs are declared, or simply act at the end step of your opponent’s turn to maintain surprise and control over the game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Choking Fumes asks for no card discard upon casting, this lack of additional cost doesn’t necessarily work in your favor when considering graveyard synergy or madness mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Choking Fumes requires a specific mana combination to cast, making it less versatile and potentially difficult to fit into multicolored decks that do not prioritize white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, the impact Choking Fumes has on the board may not be as potent as other available options, possibly making it a less efficient choice in fast-paced games or in environments where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Choking Fumes offers flexibility in deck building, easily slotting into White decks that focus on controlling the board. Its ability to give -1/-1 to opponent creatures can shift the tide in games where board presence is key.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that emphasize -1/-1 counter interactions or with cards that benefit from opponents’ creatures being weakened or destroyed.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive creature-based strategies dominate, Choking Fumes serves as a defensive measure to curb swarm tactics, potentially clearing multiple threats with a single cast.


How to beat

Choking Fumes is a unique white instant in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, playing a pivotal role in controlling the battlefield against a swarm of enemy creatures. It’s particularly effective in weakening the offensive capabilities of token-based strategies or decks that rely on fielding numerous small creatures. The card has the power to alter the status quo of the game by giving all opposing creatures a -1/-1 debuff until the end of the turn.

When facing Choking Fumes, the best strategy is to diversify the toughness of your creatures, ensuring they are not all susceptible to a single sweep of this weakening spell. Utilizing cards with indestructible or hexproof abilities can greatly mitigate the impact of Choking Fumes. Furthermore, having creatures with abilities like persist or undying can help your board presence bounce back quickly after taking a hit from such targeted removal.

Ultimately, while Choking Fumes can be a temporary setback, a well-prepared deck with a variety of defensive mechanisms and resilient creatures can make it through the mist. Crafting your play and deck composition thoughtfully will ensure that the fumes disperse harmlessly, leaving your strategy intact and poised for victory.


Cards like Choking Fumes

Choking Fumes is a card that commands attention among those looking to bolster their defensive strategies within MTG. This card shares strategic space with its counterpart Flashfreeze when it comes to disrupting plays. While Choking Fumes – with its ability to give all attacking creatures -1/-1 until end of turn – specifically targets swarms of smaller creatures, Flashfreeze counters a spell if it’s red or green, directly foiling an opponent’s plans regardless of the creature’s size.

Another peer in this realm is Electrickery, which deals 1 damage to each creature your opponents control for the same mana cost. Though Electrickery has the potential to outright eliminate low-toughness minions, it lacks the subtler nuance of Choking Fumes that affects creatures’ power as well. Then, there’s Zealous Persecution, offering a similar immediate board impact but with a double-edged sword: it simultaneously buffs your creatures while weakening the opponent’s, albeit at a higher mana cost and a stricter color requirement.

Ultimately, each of these cards has its own merits, but Choking Fumes claims its niche within MTG as a cunning tactical spell that can drastically shift the momentum of battle, particularly against aggressive decks overflowing with creatures eager to besiege your life total.

Flashfreeze - MTG Card versions
Electrickery - MTG Card versions
Zealous Persecution - MTG Card versions
Flashfreeze - Coldsnap (CSP)
Electrickery - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Zealous Persecution - Alara Reborn (ARB)

Cards similar to Choking Fumes by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Armed Response - MTG Card versions
Renewed Faith - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Army of Allah - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Holy Light - Masters Edition (ME1)
Blood of the Martyr - Chronicles (CHR)
Piety - Renaissance (REN)
Martyrdom - Alliances (ALL)
Harsh Justice - Portal (POR)
Kor Chant - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Just Fate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Waylay - Urza's Saga (USG)
Warrior's Honor - Anthologies (ATH)
Radiant's Judgment - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Restrain - Invasion (INV)
Prismatic Strands - Commander 2019 (C19)
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Teferi's Protection - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Oblation - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Wing Shards - Commander 2017 (C17)
Armed Response - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Renewed Faith - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Choking Fumes MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Choking Fumes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Choking Fumes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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