Fog of Gnats MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Insect
Abilities	Flying
Released	1999-02-15
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Legacy
Set code	ULG
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	53
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

Fog of Gnats deters attacks, aiding in resource preservation and board control strategies.
With low-cost deployment, it conserves mana for later game needs and maintains board presence.
Its instant-speed regeneration disrupts opponents, enhancing control over the game flow.

Text of card

Flying oo B Regenerate Fog of Gnats.

You can swat a thousand gnats, but a thousand more will assail you.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Having Fog of Gnats on the battlefield can serve as a deterrent, potentially causing opponents to withhold attacks or use removal spells on it, indirectly preserving your other valuable creatures or card resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to mana acceleration, the low casting cost of Fog of Gnats allows for earlier deployment, which can save mana in the later game for more demanding spells and actions.

Instant Speed: Even though the card itself is not an instant, the ability of Fog of Gnats to regenerate provides a defense mechanism that can be used at instant speed. This can disrupt an opponent’s strategy by maintaining a blocker at a critical moment, and effectively giving you more control over the flow of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While not applicable to Fog of Gnats, discard mechanics in MTG require players to let go of precious cards, often putting them at a strategic disadvantage when resources in hand are pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: Fog of Gnats requires both black mana and generic mana, which can restrict deck-building options for those not running a black-based strategy or mana-flexible decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a one-power flyer, an expenditure of three mana might be steep, particularly when there are other creatures and spells in the one to two mana range that can present more immediate board impact or value.

Reasons to Include Fog of Gnats in Your Collection

Versatility: Fog of Gnats brings a level of adaptability to any deck, fitting seamlessly into strategies focused on stalling the board. Its ability to block and regenerate makes it a persistent nuisance for opponents, often providing the defense needed to turn a game around.

Combo Potential: This insect-based card not only defends but also synergizes well with life-gain or sacrifice mechanics. Its regeneration ability allows it to be used multiple times in various combo setups, making it a valuable component in intricate plays.

Meta-Relevance: In game formats where small creatures with evasive and defensive capabilities are key, Fog of Gnats proves its worth. Its relatively low mana cost and resilience to removal can give players an edge in metas dominated by aggressive decks.

How to beat

The Fog of Gnats card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its pesky resilience. This creature card holds the fort with its flying ability and frustrates opponents due to its “can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying” feature. On top of that, the Fog of Gnats has the defensive edge provided by its regenerate ability, which can make it a stubborn blocker that’s hard to remove permanently from the fray.

Dealing with Fog of Gnats effectively involves a bit of strategic planning. Since direct damage spells can be negated by its regenerate ability, you’d be better off neutralizing it with spells or abilities that say “destroy” or affect it in ways that don’t deal damage, like exile effects or -1/-1 counters. Cards that can prevent Fog of Gnats from regenerating or that can remove it from the game entirely are particularly effective. Alternatively, bypassing it with spells and abilities that target your opponent directly can render the gnat’s nuisance null and allow you to focus your attacks where they’ll have the most impact.

In summary, while Fog of Gnats may seem insubstantial, it requires a sound tactic to overcome effectively. So keep your cool, and employ your game’s assets cleverly to swat away this airborne annoyance.

Cards like Fog of Gnats

Fog of Gnats is a unique creature card within the Magic: The Gathering universe due to its deathtouch ability, which spells doom for any creatures it blocks or becomes blocked by – regardless of their power and toughness. It falls into a niche collection of small creatures with high impact, sharing space with cards like Typhoid Rats and Pharika’s Chosen. While Typhoid Rats is a similar one-drop creature with deathtouch, Fog of Gnats offers the added benefit of being able to evade ties in combat thanks to its flying attribute.

Pharika’s Chosen stands as another comparable creature, engaging the battlefield with deathtouch in hand. However, it lacks flying, giving Fog of Gnats an aerial advantage and better defensive capabilities. Beyond deathtouch, we look at Thieving Magpie as a relative. Though it carries a higher casting cost, Thieving Magpie offers the advantage of card draw on dealing combat damage to a player, but it doesn’t pose the immediate board threat that Fog of Gnats does with its deathtouch ability.

Altogether, Fog of Gnats carves a niche role in player decks that is hard to replicate. Its intrinsic value lies within its unique combination of evasion and lethal touch, making it a card worth considering for any MTG player looking to enhance their defensive strategies.

Cards similar to Fog of Gnats by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fog of Gnats MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Fog of Gnats and other MTG cards: