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“Impact” meme: meaning, origin and epic card

Impact is a bold, condensed sans-serif typeface designed in 1965.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 7 min read
Impact meme
The “Impact” meme, 1965

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Impact” is an epic card of the Memes World series 75, number 22419 of the collection, and the 6th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Impact” meme mean?

This typography signifies the classic era of meme culture, often used for direct, punchy captions. It conveys a sense of internet nostalgia and simplicity. Users associate it with straightforward humor where the text overlay is as important as the image itself.

Where does the “Impact” meme come from?

Designed by Geoffrey Lee and published by Stephenson Blake in 1965, Impact was originally intended for print advertising and headlines. Microsoft included it in its 'Web Fundamental Fonts' set in 1996 and bundled it with Windows 98. This massive distribution made it universally available on PCs, leading to its rapid adoption on early meme generators and forums like Something Awful and Cheezburger in the early 2000s.

  1. 1965Geoffrey Lee designs the typeface for the British foundry Stephenson Blake.
  2. 1996Microsoft includes Impact in its Web Fundamental Fonts package.
  3. 2003First known usage on Something Awful featuring the 'I Can Has Cheezburger' cat image.

How to use the “Impact” meme

  • Apply white text with black outlines to an image to create a recognizable meme format.
  • Use this specific font style when referencing classic internet humor or old-school memes.
  • Identify vintage online jokes instantly due to the distinctive bold appearance of the letters.

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The “Impact” card in MyMemeCards

Impact card
NumberNo. 22419
RarityEpic
CollectionMemes World series 75
Fame80/100 · #6 of 300
Recycle value20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 75: 300 cards
  • Common21371%
  • Rare5418%
  • Epic3110%
  • Legendary20.7%

How to get the “Impact” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Impact comes out of the Memes World series 75 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

Memes like “Impact”

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Frequently asked questions

What does impact meme mean?

It refers to the standard font used in image macros, representing classic internet humor aesthetics.

Impact meme origin?

The font was created in 1965 for print and gained fame after being pre-installed in Windows 98.

Who invented impact font?

Designer Geoffrey Lee created this sans-serif typeface for the Stephenson Blake foundry.

How do I get the Impact meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Impact” is an epic card of the Memes World series 75. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Impact card?

It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Impact · Impact (typeface) - Wikipedia · The reason every meme uses that one font | Vox · checked on October 18, 2026.

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