Heartfire Immolator MTG Card


Heartfire Immolator is a dynamic card, combining creature utility and removal in one package. Instant-speed sacrifice of the Immolator offers players crucial in-game tactical advantages. Players should consider the trade-off between immediate impact and potential board presence.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Prowess
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) , Sacrifice Heartfire Immolator: It deals damage equal to its power to target creature or planeswalker.

"I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory than fade away and be forgotten."


Cards like Heartfire Immolator

When analyzing the capabilities of Heartfire Immolator in MTG, we can consider it in relation to other creatures with self-sacrifice for a powerful effect. Like Heartfire Immolator, Goblin Arsonist is another creature with the potential to deal damage upon exiting the battlefield. However, Goblin Arsonist doesn’t offer the same level of control since its damage output is fixed to a single point, unlike Heartfire Immolator, which scales with its power.

Looking at Viashino Pyromancer, we find another red creature familiar within aggressive decks. While Viashino Pyromancer also deals direct damage when it enters the battlefield, it doesn’t share the flexibility of Heartfire Immolator, which can split its impact between direct damage and enhancing spell power. Moreover, the sacrifice effect of Heartfire Immolator offers a tactical advantage that can be exploited at instant speed, contrasting with Viashino Pyromancer’s one-time direct damage.

Therefore, players seeking a versatile damage dealer may find Heartfire Immolator’s combination of prowess and controlled direct damage to be exceptionally effective in fast-paced, aggressive strategies, marking its distinct standing amongst other damage-centric creatures in MTG.

Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Viashino Pyromancer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Viashino Pyromancer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Heartfire Immolator by color, type and mana cost

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Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heartfire Immolator offers a strategic leverage point when it comes to card utility. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, the ability to sacrifice it for damage keeps your hand efficient, ensuring each card plays a pivotal role on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana, this card efficiently accelerates your resource management by doubling as both a creature and a removal spell. This optimizes your deck’s performance, enabling faster and more aggressive plays.

Instant Speed: The prowess of Heartfire Immolator is magnified by its ability to be sacrificed at instant speed. This provides a significant tactical advantage, allowing you to respond immediately to threats or to unexpectedly swing the balance during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Heartfire Immolator calls for you to sacrifice the creature itself as part of its ability, which means you lose both the creature and the potential damage it could deal if left on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires both red and generic mana, making the card less flexible and possibly a poor fit in decks that aren’t heavily red.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its abilities and the sacrifice required to activate them, some players find the mana cost a bit too steep. There are more cost-effective options that could replace it in a tightly-optimized deck.


Reasons to Include Heartfire Immolator in Your Collection

Versatility: Heartfire Immolator offers a unique blend of offensive capability and utility. It functions as an aggressive creature in early game and can switch roles to remove opposing threats, making it a solid choice for a variety of red-based decks.

Combo Potential: With its sacrifice ability, Heartfire Immolator can be an integral part of intricate combos. It can blaze through the opponent’s defenses or work in synchrony with cards that benefit from self-sacrificing strategies or spell casting triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with creatures, Heartfire Immolator’s prowess and ability to deal damage proportional to its power make it a relevant sideboard contender or even a main deck option, depending on the developing meta-game trends.


How to beat

Heartfire Immolator is a versatile piece within red deck strategies in Magic: The Gathering. With its prowess ability, it grows stronger with each noncreature spell cast, presenting a growing threat to opponents. However, as sturdy as it might appear, there are reliable tactics to counter this creature card effectively.

To neutralize its threat, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can be cast in response to the casting of a noncreature spell, thus eliminating the Immolator before it gets the prowess boost. Cheap and efficient spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are excellent choices to dispatch it swiftly.

Additonally, employing counterspells such as Dovin’s Veto or Mana Leak can prevent it from seeing play altogether. For those dealing with an already established Immolator, board wipes like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can clear the board regardless of how large it has grown.

Ultimately, keeping removal spells ready or strategically timing board wipes can effectively suppress Heartfire Immolator’s impact in your matches, ensuring your opponent doesn’t leverage its full potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heartfire Immolator MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Core Set 2021, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Heartfire Immolator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Heartfire Immolator Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1502015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 3962015NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heartfire Immolator has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Heartfire Immolator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-06-23 Players can't take any actions between the time you begin to activate Heartfire Immolator's last ability and the time it's sacrificed. Notably, opponents can't try to lower its power.
2020-06-23 Use Heartfire Immolator's power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much damage its last ability deals.