Fatespinner MTG Card


Fatespinner manipulates game turns, forcing opponents to forfeit crucial phases and gain strategic edge. The card challenges deck building, best fitting in blue mana-using decks with its specific mana requirement. In-game versatility makes Fatespinner a meta-relevant choice, disrupting opponents’ established play patterns.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player chooses draw step, main phase, or combat phase. The player skips each instance of the chosen step or phase this turn.

No one knows what she is watching, but she never takes her eyes off it.


Cards like Fatespinner

Fatespinner is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to influence opponents’ turn structures by compelling them to choose between skipping their draw step, main phase, or combat phase. In terms of game-altering mechanics, we can look to cards like Mesmeric Orb, which has a different approach but still significantly impacts how players interact with their decks. While the Orb forces players to mill whenever they untap a permanent, Fatespinner targets phases of the turn.

Another card worth comparing is Ethersworn Canonist, which, like Fatespinner, restricts options – not by removing phases but by limiting the number of nonartifact spells. Yet another is Orim’s Chant, which can outright skip a player’s combat phase or counter a spell unless they pay more, imposing strategic limitations akin to Fatespinner’s phase choice.

Each of these cards offers control over the game’s flow, but Fatespinner stands out with its psychological gameplay aspect. Having opponents consciously choose what part of their turn to sacrifice adds a layer of strategy that both the Fatespinner player and their opponents must navigate each turn. Within the realm of control elements in Magic: The Gathering, Fatespinner offers a distinct and cerebral experience.

Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions
Ethersworn Canonist - MTG Card versions
Orim's Chant - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions
Ethersworn Canonist - MTG Card versions
Orim's Chant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fatespinner by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fatespinner offers a unique form of disrupting your opponent’s planning by forcing them to choose between skipping their draw step, main phase, or combat phase. Over time, this repeated dilemma can translate into a strategic card advantage as it effectively reduces the options or resources available to them each turn.

Resource Acceleration: While Fatespinner itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its ability to limit opponent’s phases can indirectly lead to a form of resource acceleration for you. By dictating the pace of the game and potentially causing your opponent to waste mana or skip important steps, you accelerate your own game plan with less interference.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Fatespinner doesn’t have instant speed, but its static ability works at all times, offering a constant pressure that functions similarly to having an ever-present threat at instant speed. Your opponents must always consider the Fatespinner’s effect when planning their turns, which can lead to suboptimal plays made in haste or under the pressure of decision-making each upkeep.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Fatespinner is that at the beginning of your upkeep, you must choose a card type and skip its corresponding phase (draw, main, or combat), essentially discarding a phase of your turn. This mandatory choice can often put you at a disadvantage, particularly when you’re strategizing to maximize each turn’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Fatespinner comes with a specific mana cost that requires both blue mana and generic mana to cast. This mana demand means it is primarily relegated to decks that can comfortably produce blue mana, potentially limiting its inclusion in multi-color decks that can’t reliably meet this strict requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Fatespinner is three mana, one of which is colored. While this is not exorbitantly high, it is significant enough to compete with other impactful three-mana spells or creatures within the same mana range. Players might find other cards at this cost point that provide more immediate board presence or card advantage without the ongoing decisional burden that Fatespinner introduces.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fatespinner offers a unique choice mechanic that allows you to shape your opponent’s next turn, making it a flexible addition to control decks that aim to disrupt typical play patterns.

Combo Potential: This card can be an integral part of lock strategies, as it synergizes with cards that restrict your opponents’ options even further, potentially hindering their ability to execute their plans efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players tend to stick to a rigid turn structure, Fatespinner can significantly alter the tempo to your advantage, disrupting well-established strategies across various formats.


How to beat

Fatespinner presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This card nudges opponents into a tight spot by forcing them to choose a phase to skip each turn. Knowledgeable players bypass Fatespinner’s tricky ability by selecting phases that affect them the least at any given time. Focus on consistent board development and maintain versatility in your plays. By having a variety of casting costs and instant-speed spells at your disposal, you can minimize the impact of missing out on a particular phase. Don’t tunnel vision on conventional combat strategies – sometimes advancing your board state or bolstering your hand are equally, if not more, valid approaches.

Another effective strategy is employing removal spells or abilities that neutralize Fatespinner without triggering its effect. Cards that can unconditionally exile or destroy without needing to enter the combat phase ensure that Fatespinner’s influence is curtailed swiftly. Mitigate its ability through smart play choices and timely removal, and the presence of Fatespinner on the opposing side will no longer dictate the pace of your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding Fatespinner takes MTG gameplay to a strategic height. It’s not only a card to add to your collection but a challenge to master the art of decision-making. Delve deeper into the intricate mechanics of MTG where every card and every phase counts. Embrace the cerebral aspect of the game and let Fatespinner guide you to a deeper understanding of your opponents’ tactics. Whether adapting your strategy to counter its effects or integrating it into your deck, there’s much to learn and leverage. We encourage you to explore further with us and witness how Fatespinner can spin the fate of your next match in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fatespinner MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils, 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 Fatespinner and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Fatespinner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by rk post.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 362003NormalBlackrk post
22020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 222003NormalBlackrk post
32020-09-26The ListPLST MRD-362003NormalBlackrk post

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fatespinner has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-12-01 If more than one Fatespinner affects you at the start of your upkeep, you can choose the same step or phase for each one.
2004-12-01 If there are multiple phases with the same name in the turn, your opponent skips them all. This is true even if a new step or phase is added to the turn after the ability resolves.
2004-12-01 That opponent skips only the phases or steps that are chosen.