Fleet Swallower MTG Card


Mill half an opponent’s deck on attack, gaining a strategic card advantage and disrupting their play. High mana cost and specific color requirements may limit its integration in versatile mana base decks. Combos well with graveyard strategies, amplifying win conditions and maintaining meta relevance.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Fish
Abilities Mill
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Whenever Fleet Swallower attacks, target player mills half their library, rounded up.

"Captain, I think that island is following us."


Cards like Fleet Swallower

Fleet Swallower is a unique creature card that brings an intriguing dynamic to Magic: The Gathering decks. It shares similarities with cards such as Traumatize, which is known for cutting a player’s library in half. While Traumatize is a potent spell capable of depleting an opponent’s resources quickly, Fleet Swallower offers a repeated effect that triggers with each attack, potentially milling significant portions of the library over multiple turns.

Comparably, we can look at Jace’s Archivist. This card also deals with the theme of milling, allowing players to cycle through their deck for better options while disrupting the opponent’s hand. Though the Archivist doesn’t mill as heavily in one action, it does provide ongoing control and can be activated multiple times.

Finally, there’s the behemoth Gyruda, Doom of Depths, which upon entering the battlefield or being used as a companion mills both players for four cards, then allows the player to cast a creature from among the milled cards. This effect is more immediate than Fleet Swallower’s and comes with the added bonus of possibly putting a powerful creature into play directly.

While assessing the impact and utility of these cards, it’s evident that Fleet Swallower offers a unique position for players aiming to utilize a mill strategy in their MTG gameplay, making it a formidable adversary turn after turn.

Traumatize - MTG Card versions
Jace's Archivist - MTG Card versions
Gyruda, Doom of Depths - MTG Card versions
Traumatize - MTG Card versions
Jace's Archivist - MTG Card versions
Gyruda, Doom of Depths - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fleet Swallower by color, type and mana cost

Island Fish Jasconius - MTG Card versions
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Island Fish Jasconius - MTG Card versions
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Amugaba - MTG Card versions
Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Tromokratis - MTG Card versions
Hullbreaker Horror - MTG Card versions
Mistform Skyreaver - MTG Card versions
Slipstream Eel - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Lies - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Vizzerdrix - MTG Card versions
Rimefeather Owl - MTG Card versions
Cyclone Summoner - MTG Card versions
Isleback Spawn - MTG Card versions
Marjhan - MTG Card versions
Goliath Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Scrapdiver Serpent - MTG Card versions
Chancellor of the Spires - MTG Card versions
Kraken of the Straits - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Ingester - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fleet Swallower can dramatically shift the tide in a game by forcing your opponent to mill half their deck when it attacks. This sets you up for a card advantage, as your opponent could lose access to crucial resources.

Resource Acceleration: Working with synergistic effects, Fleet Swallower enhances strategies that revolve around graveyard play and resource acceleration. It can enable powerful plays by stocking your own graveyard with various archetypes like reanimator or delve.

Instant Speed: Although Fleet Swallower itself does not operate at instant speed, its consequential milling can instantly empower cards in your hand that feed off graveyard strategies. This synergy can unexpectedly alter the course of the game, offering you advantages akin to the effects of instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fleet Swallower requires significant setup before it can become truly threatening. Without ways to increase its damage or use its ability to mill effectively, you may find it occupying a hand slot without contributing immediately to the game’s progression.

Specific Mana Cost: With a specific mana requirement of seven, including two blue, Fleet Swallower demands a significant investment in both resources and deck construction. This can hinder its inclusion in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that costs seven mana, its immediate impact on the board is less than other creatures in the same cost range. This often means that by the time you are able to cast Fleet Swallower, your opponents may have developed a formidable board presence or have counters ready to deal with it.


Reasons to Include Fleet Swallower in Your Collection

Versatility: Fleet Swallower serves as a formidable finisher in decks looking to mill opponents. Its ability can be a game-changer not just in mill decks but also as a defensive threat in blue-based control decks.

Combo Potential: This sea monster pairs exceptionally well with cards that trigger upon putting cards into the graveyard, creating opportunities for devastating combos with cards like Fraying Sanity for a potential one-turn mill finish.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard strategies are prevalent, having a card like Fleet Swallower that aggressively fills the graveyard can disrupt your opponent’s plans while advancing your win condition.


How to beat

Fleet Swallower is a formidable creature card in MTG, capable of devouring a significant portion of an opponent’s library with its attack trigger. Dealing with this behemoth requires strategic countering methods. Players can turn to removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to dismiss it before the attack trigger occurs. Cards that offer instant-speed interaction can be particularly effective.

Countering Fleet Swallower can also be achieved by manipulating the battlefield, employing creatures with the reach or “flash” ability to block unexpectedly, or using enchantments like Pacifism to neutralize it without destroying it. Including spells that shuffle the graveyard back into the library is a savvy move, as it mitigates the loss of cards caused by Fleet Swallower’s effect.

Lastly, sideboarding cards specifically tailored to counter this threat, such as Grafdigger’s Cage or Tormod’s Crypt, can prevent or minimize the impact of graveyard-related strategies. Assessing your deck’s vulnerabilities to such high-impact creatures and preparing appropriate counters measures is key in maintaining the upper hand against Fleet Swallower.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the depths of MTG strategy with Fleet Swallower, a majestic sea creature poised to turn the tides of your matches. Understanding the pros and cons of this card is just the beginning. With the right synergies and battlefield awareness, Fleet Swallower can become your deck’s aquatic ace. Are you looking to enhance your graveyard play or find that perfect combo to outmaneuver your opponents? We at BurnMana are committed to providing insightful analysis, richer strategies, and a community to discuss the evolving MTG metagame. Join us to unlock the full potential of your MTG collection and dominate your next duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fleet Swallower MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan Promos and Ixalan, 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 Fleet Swallower and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fleet Swallower Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 57s2015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22017-09-29IxalanXLN 572015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3162015NormalBorderlessTimba Smits

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fleet Swallower has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-09-29 Fleet Swallower’s triggered ability can target any player, not just the player it’s attacking.
2017-09-29 If two Fleet Swallowers attack, each trigger determines the top half of that player’s library separately. For example, if the target player has fifteen cards in their library, that player puts the top eight cards into the graveyard, then puts the top four cards into the graveyard.