Fleshmad Steed MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Horse
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	88
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Robbie Trevino

Key Takeaways

Efficiently recurs from graveyard, subtly offering card advantage in specific deck builds.
Moderately synergizes with decks focusing on creature sacrifice, without providing ramp.
Instant-speed sacrificial plays can exploit its death-triggered tapping strategically.

Text of card

Whenever another creature dies, tap Fleshmad Steed.

More disturbing than the unknown is a distortion of the familiar.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Fleshmad Steed doesn’t boast direct card draw abilities, it represents an efficient way to maintain board presence. Its value comes from being a low-cost creature that can be easily recurred from the graveyard in certain deck archetypes, effectively generating card advantage through repetitive play.

Resource Acceleration: Fleshmad Steed itself doesn’t offer traditional forms of resource acceleration like ramp or additional mana. However, as a cheap creature, it readily contributes to strategies that revolve around sacrificing creatures for benefit, thereby accelerating your access to other resources or synergistic effects within your deck.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Fleshmad Steed operates at sorcery speed, yet its synergy with instant-speed interactions should not be underestimated. Its death-triggered ability to tap another creature can be tactically exploited at instant speed with sacrifice effects or in response to an opponent’s actions, allowing for unexpected defensive maneuvers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Fleshmad Steed’s abilities may seem intriguing, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Players may find themselves forced to strategically discard other valuable cards from their hand to satisfy certain mechanics on the battlefield, which can hinder the deck’s overall performance. Keeping a full hand can be crucial to maintaining momentum, and having to discard can disrupt your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The Fleshmad Steed requires a specific mana alignment to cast, which in this case includes black mana. This requirement can limit the card’s integration to mainly black or multicolor decks that support black mana. Decks not running black mana, or not having enough sources of it, may face consistency issues, reducing the card’s versatility in play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost for the Fleshmad Steed may be perceived as steep considering the creature’s statistical offerings. In the realm of creature cards, mana economy is key, and players often prefer creatures with higher impact or beneficial effects for a similar mana investment. As efficiency drives the deck-building process, the Steed may not stack up to other alternatives available within the same mana range.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fleshmad Steed can easily slot into various deck builds, especially those that require creatures to maximize synergy or feed sacrificial mechanics. Its low casting cost means it can be played early, making it adaptable to multiple play styles and formats.

Combo Potential: With Fleshmad Steed, there’s room for creative combinations, particularly in decks that utilize the graveyard. It pairs well with cards that benefit from creatures dying or being tapped, serving as both a trigger and fodder for larger strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive and creature-centric decks are present, Fleshmad Steed can serve as an early-game asset. Its constant readiness to engage in combat or to be sacrificed can disrupt your opponent’s pace and enhance your board presence.

How to beat

Fleshmad Steed, while not a top-tier threat in Magic: The Gathering, presents a unique challenge with its ability that forces it to tap whenever another creature dies. To navigate around this quirk, efficient creature control is key. Employing removal spells that can take out multiple creatures at once, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, will help manage the battlefield without triggering the Steed’s ability unnecessarily.

Moreover, incorporating creatures that can block and survive an attack from Fleshmad Steed, giving you the upper hand in combat scenarios, can prove advantageous. Using powerful defensive creatures with high toughness or with abilities like deathtouch ensures that your defenses remain intact while dealing with the Steed. Consider also enchantments that neutralize the creature without destroying it, like Pacifism, which can effectively remove the Steed from the equation without it ever needing to tap.

Understanding the nuances of how Fleshmad Steed interacts with the battlefield dynamics is crucial. By minimizing opportunities for your opponent to exploit its auto-tap ability through strategic removal and robust defenses, you can diminish the impact Fleshmad Steed has on the game and maintain control over the board.

Cards like Fleshmad Steed

Fleshmad Steed, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, finds itself among a distinct group of low-cost creatures. Its key feature is the forced tap whenever another creature dies, which can be a double-edged sword. Looking at similar two-mana cost creatures, Bloodthirsty Aerialist offers a different approach. This vampire rogue gains a +1/+1 counter when you gain life, thus having the potential for greater scalability and impact without Fleshmad Steed’s drawback.

Another card worth comparing is Walking Corpse. It provides a straightforward proposition – a simple 2/2 zombie creature without additional abilities. This contrasts with Fleshmad Steed, which may require more strategy to avoid its auto-tap downside. On the other hand, Falkenrath Reaver presents players with a no-frills creature that doesn’t have the detriments of Fleshmad Steed’s ability, offering a vanilla creature experience for the board.

Evaluating these cards demonstrates Fleshmad Steed’s unique stance within the roster of two-mana creatures, attracting players who may capitalize on its potential interactions in specific deck builds, despite its tap mechanic which can be disadvantageous in other scenarios.

Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fleshmad Steed MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Fleshmad Steed and other MTG cards: