Frightcrawler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Horror
Abilities	Fear,Threshold
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	138
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage by challenging opponents with unblockable assaults, subtly shaping the battlefield.
Facilitates faster plays with its low casting cost, optimizing mana use for other strategic moves.
Has instant-speed impact, influencing opponent decisions and maintaining a psychological edge in combat.

Text of card

Frightcrawler can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures. Threshold Frightcrawler gets +2/+2 and can't block. (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frightcrawler’s fear ability can often ensure it connects with the opponent, subtly granting card advantage by consistently chipping away at their life total without being blocked.

Resource Acceleration: While Frightcrawler doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost facilitates faster deployment of other threats in your hand, effectively streamlining your game plan by keeping mana open for further development.

Instant Speed: Though Frightcrawler itself isn’t an instant, its mere presence can affect opponent strategies at instant speed, forcing them to hold back creatures out of fear of an unblockable attacker or potential buffs you could cast during combat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Frightcrawler’s effectiveness hinges on its madness mechanic, meaning you’ll need a means to discard it for a reduced cost. Without discard enablers, you might find yourself at a disadvantage, having to cast it for its full cost without leveraging its potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Frightcrawler requires black mana to cast. This specific mana requirement can restrict deck building, as it fits primarily into black or black-inclusive decks, limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Frightcrawler does offer a beneficial effect when discarded and cast for its madness cost, its full mana cost might be considered steep for its power level. In today’s fast-paced gameplay, you may find more efficient creatures to play at lower mana investments.

Reasons to Include Frightcrawler in Your Collection

Versatility: Frightcrawler is a flexible card that can be used in decks focusing on creature swarming strategies. Its low mana cost allows for early plays or to hold mana open for other spells.

Combo Potential: With its fear ability, Frightcrawler perfectly complements decks that capitalize on evasive creatures. Its synergy with other horror-themed cards can create unexpected and powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Its fear ability makes it a useful tool against decks that lack black or artifact creatures, ensuring it’s continuously relevant in various metas, especially those where unblockable creatures can turn the tide of gameplay.

How to Beat

Frightcrawler is a creature card with fear, a mechanic that allows it to be blocked only by artifact creatures and/or black creatures. This gives Frightcrawler an edge in slipping past enemy defenses to deliver consistent damage. However, like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities that tactful players can exploit.

The key to beating Frightcrawler lies in neutralizing its fear advantage. Employing black or artifact creatures in your defense can effectively block its attacks. Removal spells that don’t rely on blocking, such as “Path to Exile” or “Doom Blade”, can also dispatch Frightcrawler without having to engage it in combat. Additionally, board wipes clear Frightcrawler along with other threats, resetting the battlefield to your advantage.

Effectively, while Frightcrawler can be a thorny card to contend with due to its evasion abilities, a prepared deck with the right countermeasures can mitigate its impact and maintain control of the game state. Strategic planning and anticipation of such stealth-oriented creatures will go a long way in ensuring your victory on the battlefield.

Cards like Frightcrawler

Frightcrawler is a unique creature in the realm of MTG, fitting well into the horror theme of Magic: The Gathering’s vast library. It stands out with the fear ability, allowing it to be blocked only by artifact creatures and/or black creatures. This characteristic mirrors that of cards like Phantom Warrior, which is unblockable, giving it a similar advantage in evading defenders. Frightcrawler, however, has the added benefit of morbid — it gets stronger if a creature died this turn, boosting its attack power.

Morbid Skulker is another card that gains from creature deaths on the battlefield. Though it doesn’t share Frightcrawler’s evasion trait, it exemplifies the synergy between morbid mechanics and gameplay strategy. Skulker becomes unblockable if a creature died, whereas Frightcrawler becomes more formidable in attack. This versatility can make Frightcrawler a dynamic play in decks emphasizing the psychological pressure of inevitable damage.

Comparing Frightcrawler to its peers reveals its strategic strengths — evasion from blocks and empowerment through death-based mechanics. It carves its niche among creatures that thrive on the darker synergies in MTG, offering both a psychological edge and a focus on opportune moments to escalate a player’s threat level on the board.

Cards similar to Frightcrawler by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frightcrawler MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Frightcrawler and other MTG cards: