How Faller's Faithful Rarity Reflects Its Mana Cost

In TCG ·

Faller's Faithful artwork from Edge of Eternities

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

How rarity correlates with mana cost: a closer look at Faller's Faithful

In Magic: The Gathering, rarity is more than just a collectible label—it's a design lens that informs how a card lands in a game, how often you’ll see it in a draft, and how confidently you can rely on its impact to swing the board. Faller's Faithful, an uncommon from Edge of Eternities, steps into the limelight with a mana cost of {2}{B} for a 3/1 creature. That combination places it squarely in the sweet spot where tempo, removal, and card-advantage potential can coexist without tipping into overpowered territory. It’s a thoughtful example of how rarity and mana cost collaborate to create memorable gameplay moments and, yes, the occasional mind-bending interaction. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Rarity as a design signal

Uncommons are the battleground where designers push for value that’s just a notch above the average, without turning a card into a format-warping staple. Faller's Faithful embodies this balance: a solid body at 3 mana paired with an on-entry destruction ability gives you immediate board impact. The clause that follows—“If that creature wasn't dealt damage this turn, its controller draws two cards”—adds a delicate, almost mischief-like layer. It nudges players to think about sequencing and damage timing, not just “kill and move on.” This is the kind of design that makes black feel cunning and a little dangerous, a vibe that fits the Edge of Eternities era where themes lean toward mortality, immortality, and the tricks of fate. ⚔️💎

Mechanics in context: the ETB synergy

Let’s break down the exact line: “When this creature enters, destroy up to one other target creature. If that creature wasn't dealt damage this turn, its controller draws two cards.” Underneath the surface, you’ve got a removal tool that detonates as soon as Faller's Faithful hits the battlefield. The twist is the built-in incentive for your opponent to draw two cards if that destroyed creature hasn’t been damaged yet this turn. This creates a tactile tension: you get to hamper the opponent’s plan while potentially gifting them resources, unless you time it precisely. It’s a design that rewards careful sequencing—pre-damage from other sources, then a well-timed ETB play to maximize disruption while controlling the subsequent card flow. It’s black’s flavor in motion: control, risk, and a dash of dark humor. 🧙‍♂️🎲

Flavor, art, and collectibility

“Death is a trick of the light. Snuff it out and discover immortality.”

That flavor text captures the card’s paradoxical vibe: a creature that promises to erase threat while tempting fate with a draw twist. Lie Setiawan’s illustration grounds the concept in a stark, moody moment that feels timeless within Edge of Eternities. As an uncommon, Faller's Faithful sits in an interesting collectible niche: accessible enough to see play in the right decks, but with enough design nuance to stand out on a table full of rares. The card exists in both foil and non-foil finishes, offering a spark for collectors who chase that rare-uncommon glow. Its current market presence—MODest USD price around 0.06 and a foil price near 0.17—reflects its status as a solid value pick for players who appreciate a clever design without overpaying for it. 💎

Practical tips: drafting and deckbuilding with rarity in mind

  • In limited formats, Faller's Faithful is a tempo play with built-in removal. It lets you pressure an opposing board while you set up your late-game plan, making it a compelling pick around the third round of a draft—when you’re balancing board presence with card economy. 🧙‍♂️
  • In constructed environments, think about black tempo or midrange shells that can leverage the ETB effect. The ability to destroy a creature on entry is a potent tempo swing, especially when you can arrange damage beforehand to influence whether your opponent draws two cards. ⚔️
  • Careful sequencing matters: damaging the targeted creature earlier in the turn can neutralize the opponent’s card draw incentive. This subtlety is the kind of nuanced interaction that rewards planned play over sheer raw power. 🔥
  • Budget-minded players will appreciate the rarity pairing with a low market price. It’s a great slot for testing black tempo ideas without stretching your wallet, while still offering a unique narrative hook for a deck’s theme. 🎨

Rarity and mana cost aren’t random pairings; they’re deliberate design decisions that shape how someone experiences a card in formats ranging from draft to Commander. Faller's Faithful demonstrates that relationship with a little noir charm: it’s impactful, it asks you to think, and it doesn’t pretend to be a surefire bomb. The card’s flavor, mechanics, and cost all align to deliver a memorable, replayable moment on the battlefield. And in the grand tapestry of MTG’s multiverse, that’s exactly the kind of thread players love to chase. 🧙‍♂️🎲

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