Fettergeist is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flying At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice this creature unless you payfor each other creature you control.
Complete guide
Fettergeist is a powerful blue flyer that offers a significant body for a low mana cost, but it comes with a taxing maintenance requirement. To keep this Spirit on the battlefield, you must be prepared to pay for your growing army during every upkeep. Understanding how to manage your board state is key to ensuring this creature doesn't vanish prematurely.
What it Does
Fettergeist is a 3/4 creature with Flying for only three mana. However, it features a mandatory upkeep trigger that forces a choice: pay a specific amount of mana or sacrifice Fettergeist. The cost is exactly {1} for every other creature you control besides Fettergeist itself.
Resolving the Upkeep Trigger
At the start of your upkeep, the ability goes on the stack. You do not calculate the cost until the moment the ability actually resolves. If creatures enter or leave the battlefield in response to the trigger, the final cost will change accordingly. Once the ability resolves, you must either pay the total mana calculated or sacrifice Fettergeist; you cannot pay a partial amount to keep it if you have multiple other creatures.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is forgetting that Fettergeist only counts other creatures. If it is your only creature, the cost is {0}, meaning you effectively pay nothing to keep it. Additionally, remember that tokens are creatures too; a swarm of small tokens will drastically increase the tax required to keep your Fettergeist on the board.
When to Play It
Fettergeist shines in 'Voltron' or 'Control' decks where you maintain a very small number of high-impact creatures. It is less effective in 'White Weenie' or 'Token' strategies where the cumulative cost of {1} per creature will quickly outpace your available mana, forcing you to lose your flyer.
Interaction examples
If Fettergeist is the only creature you control during your upkeep, the trigger checks for 'other' creatures. Since there are zero, the cost is {0}. You 'pay' the zero mana and Fettergeist remains on the battlefield.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control Fettergeist and Solemn Simulacrum, the upkeep trigger will check for other creatures. If you sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to another effect while Fettergeist's trigger is still on the stack, the trigger will see zero other creatures when it resolves, and you will owe {0} mana.
Roaming ThroneIf Roaming Throne enters and you choose 'Spirit', Fettergeist's upkeep ability will trigger twice. When the first trigger resolves, you must pay {1} (for the Roaming Throne) or sacrifice Fettergeist. If it survives, the second trigger then resolves, requiring you to pay another {1} or sacrifice it.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Fettergeist
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The amount of mana you need to pay is determined when the triggered ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Fettergeist
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.