Fog of War Sentiment: What MTG Forums Say About the Card

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Fog of War card art from The Brothers' War set

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Fog of War sentiment: what MTG forums say about the card

In the sprawling forums and chat threads that fans turn to after a long draft night or a heated ranked session, Fog of War often earns a mixed chorus. Green instant speed, with a cost of 2G and a modest three-mana frame, doesn’t scream “universal winner.” But when you read the card text—“You gain 1 life for each creature on the battlefield. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures with power 3 or less.”—you can almost hear the debates ignite: is this a tempo play, a stall tactic, or a subtle life-total accelerator wrapped in a foggy shield? 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

The common thread in forum discussions is that Fog of War shines brightest in creature-dense boards and token-heavy strategies. The life gain scales with creatures on the battlefield, so a swarm deck or a token-centric build can see a surprising swing in life totals, often buying key turns to stabilize. Yet the other half of the equation—that combat damage from small creatures is suppressed for a turn—pulls the card into the “interesting but situational” camp. It’s not a universal yes in every green shell, but in a board where you’re staring down a horde, Fog of War feels like a polite shield with a calculating edge. 🎲⚔️

What players love and what they question

  • Love: The life swing can be game-changing in thick-on-board scenarios, making it a natural fit for green midrange and stompy builds that lean on survivability as a lever for victory.
  • Question: In metas with big bosses and bosses’ big tokens, the “small-creature damage guardian” clause can feel like a narrow moat rather than a fortress.
  • Love: The instant-speed interaction makes it a surprising blowout when tapped at the right moment—especially after a sweep or when a single decisive threat is looming.
  • Question: Its value relative to other defensive options—creature removal, board wipes, or alternate life-gain engines—sparks healthy discussion about deck slots and mana curve.

Fans of lore and art often connect Fog of War to the flavor of Argoth—the very fog that once blurred the lines between brother and brother. The flavor text—“So thick was the fog on Argoth's shores that the brothers' forces passed within shouting distance of each other without realizing it”—pairs with Josu Hernaiz’s moody illustration to reinforce a sense that battle lines are not always obvious until you see the smoke clear. The card’s green color identity and mechanical silhouette—life gain paired with a soft lockdown on small creatures—echo the idea that nature’s fog can both shield you and mislead your foe. 🎨🧙‍♂️

Deckbuilding and meta-tips

  • Pair Fog of War with token generators or creatures that create a swarm early, so your life gain scales sooner rather than later. The more bodies on the battlefield, the more you cushion from incoming pressure.
  • Consider it as a tempo-late game hinge in control-leaning green decks. It buys you a critical turn to stabilize and push a late-game plan forward.
  • In Commander formats, Fog of War can shine as a surprise defensive trick during large multiplayer swings. It’s not flashy, but in the right moment it can swing life totals and swing the outcome of a stalled board.
  • Be mindful of its cost and timing. If you’re behind on lands or facing a wipe, the life gain may be less impactful than you expect, but the damage prevention can still save you from a quick finish.

Beyond mechanics, the card invites a thoughtful conversation about the balance of life gain versus stalling power in green—an evergreen theme in MTG design. The Brothers’ War era emphasized resilience and frontline resilience, and Fog of War channels that spirit with a practical, on-table effect. It’s not a slam-dunk in every green list, but its niche is real and its potential to surprise opponents is part of the joy of playing green in modern formats. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Art, rarity, and access

As a common foil in The Brothers’ War, Fog of War sits in a sweet spot for players who want a reliable, accessible option that still looks handsome in a collection. The art by Josu Hernaiz captures the atmospheric tension of fog rolling across Argoth; the piece feels like a quiet storm waiting to break. The card’s rarity and print status mean it’s widely available, which matters for players who love building budget-friendly stacks without sacrificing flavor or function. 💎⚔️

Value and collector perspective

In market terms, Fog of War trades around a few cents for non-foil and a bit more for foil versions. That accessibility makes it a frequent pick for new players and budget builds, while still offering a viable, tidy option for experienced green advocates looking to squeeze a little extra from a stable hook in postboard scenarios. For collectors, the common slot isn’t flashy, but the set it’s part of—the Brothers’ War—remains a beloved era for reprints, lore connections, and a design space that respects nostalgia while embracing modern gameplay. 📈🎲

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Fog of War

Fog of War

{2}{G}
Instant

You gain 1 life for each creature on the battlefield. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures with power 3 or less.

So thick was the fog on Argoth's shores that the brothers' forces passed within shouting distance of each other without realizing it.

ID: 37096c19-32c9-448a-94e9-f5fe2d74e3a3

Oracle ID: 103ca069-0bfe-4976-bee1-75406273875d

Multiverse IDs: 583764

TCGPlayer ID: 452205

Cardmarket ID: 682614

Colors: G

Color Identity: G

Keywords:

Rarity: Common

Released: 2022-11-18

Artist: Josu Hernaiz

Frame: 2015

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 12985

Set: The Brothers' War (bro)

Collector #: 180

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — legal
  • Timeless — legal
  • Gladiator — legal
  • Pioneer — legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_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: 0.06
  • USD_FOIL: 0.13
  • EUR: 0.10
  • EUR_FOIL: 0.04
  • TIX: 0.03
Last updated: 2025-11-15