Foreboding Fruit: Rarity and Print Distribution Analysis

In TCG ·

Foreboding Fruit card art from Throne of Eldraine

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Rarity and Print Distribution: Foreboding Fruit in Throne of Eldraine

In the constellation of Magic: The Gathering, common cards often operate behind the scenes, quietly fueling archetypes, budget builds, and draft formats. Foreboding Fruit, a black sorcery from Throne of Eldraine, is a prime example of how rarity and print distribution shape both gameplay and collectability. With a modest mana cost of {2}{B} and a straightforward effect—Target player draws two cards and loses 2 life—it looks simple on the surface. Yet the card’s design, print history, and the world-building of Eldraine reveal a lot about how commons can punch above their weight in a crowded format. 🔥🧙‍♂️

First, the card’s place in the Eldraine ecosystem matters. Throne of Eldraine, printed in 2019, toys with fairy-tale vibes and a strong culinary motif—hence the explicit Food token line that appears in several cards, including the Adamant trigger on Foreboding Fruit. The ability to spend at least three black mana to activate the Adamant clause is where the design nuance shines: if you manage the mana correctly, you create a Food token, a small artifact with lasting life-gain utility. This introduces a subtle but meaningful synergy with other Food-themed pieces in the set, nudging players toward a broader, midrange-black strategy that thrives on incremental value rather than a single flashy play. 🍽️

Rarity-wise, Foreboding Fruit is a common, available in both foil and nonfoil finishes. This dual-availability is significant for collectors and players who value accessibility without sacrificing aesthetics. The card’s print footprint is substantial—booster-friendly and not a reprint, with a faithful original release. As a common in a popular—but not top-tier—set, it often finds itself in fresh preconstructed decks and the bulk pool of players building budgetier black decks. The price cues tell a story too: in today’s market, Foreboding Fruit hovers around a few dimes in nonfoil form (about USD 0.10) and a bit higher for foil versions (around USD 0.31). While that foil bump isn’t huge, it reflects the broader dynamic that foils command premium even for commons due to supply and demand, sweetened by collector culture and EDH enthusiasm. 💎

From a gameplay perspective, the inclusion of Adamant elevates Foreboding Fruit beyond a simple draw-and-poke spell. In a multiplayer game, you can leverage the card to subtly tilt the table toward a draw-and-life-gain loop—especially if you’ve lined up a Food token line with other cards that care about life totals or artifact interactions. This is a quintessential Eldraine flavor: a card that’s modest on the surface, but richly playable when you weave it into the set’s food mechanic and the broader black-color strategy. ⚔️

Print distribution also reflects how Wizards of the Coast balanced demand across formats. Foreboding Fruit is legal in Historic and Modern, and it appears in many Commander builds that lean on value upkeep and resource denial. Its EDHREC rank sits well into the thousands, signaling that while it isn’t a marquee staple, it has a dedicated home among budget-conscious and flavor-focused players who appreciate a clever kicker built into a commons slot. The card’s availability, paired with its Food-token payoff, makes it a natural pick for players who want a flavorful, economical black option that still offers meaningful late-game upside. 🧙‍♂️

From an art and flavor perspective, the Throne of Eldraine era embraces whimsy and bite—a tone Foreboding Fruit embodies with its punny name and the paradox of blessing and malice wrapped into a single spell. The illustration by Drew Baker brings the fairy-tale orchard to life, a reminder that even a common spell can carry memorable storytelling when paired with a strong set theme. The art, while not the loudest in a marketplace saturated with rare beauty, still resonates with players who love flavor-first design and the thrill of cracking a foil version. 🎨

For players and collectors curious about the broader market, Foreboding Fruit demonstrates how rarity and distribution intersect with deck-building choices. It’s a card that invites thoughtful mana bases, the possibility of a Food token payoff, and a dash of risk-laden decision-making—perfect for a black mana curve infused with political skirmishes in multiplayer games. And while you’re strategizing, you might also enjoy a little real-world gear—since exploration and hobby go hand in hand, consider protecting your gear with a sleek companion: a Slim Glossy Phone Case for iPhone 16 Lexan PC. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

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Foreboding Fruit

Foreboding Fruit

{2}{B}
Sorcery

Target player draws two cards and loses 2 life.

Adamant — If at least three black mana was spent to cast this spell, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")

ID: c5f79ec4-3722-4fda-824b-e80dc7608d01

Oracle ID: 33a162f3-e781-494f-ab8f-12a84801a694

Multiverse IDs: 473050

TCGPlayer ID: 199411

Cardmarket ID: 401814

Colors: B

Color Identity: B

Keywords: Adamant, Food

Rarity: Common

Released: 2019-10-04

Artist: Drew Baker

Frame: 2015

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 9289

Penny Rank: 3555

Set: Throne of Eldraine (eld)

Collector #: 88

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — legal
  • Timeless — legal
  • Gladiator — legal
  • Pioneer — legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — not_legal

Prices

  • USD: 0.10
  • USD_FOIL: 0.31
  • EUR: 0.16
  • EUR_FOIL: 0.27
  • TIX: 0.03
Last updated: 2025-12-11