Arclight Phoenix MTG Card
2018-10-05 - Number 91p
2018-10-05 - Number 91
2022-11-02 - Number 2018
2024-01-12 - Number 331
2024-01-12 - Number 331z
2024-01-12 - Number 100
2024-01-12 - Number 427
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Phoenix |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying, haste At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you've cast three or more instant and sorcery spells this turn, return Arclight Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Some storms never blow over.
Cards like Arclight Phoenix
Arclight Phoenix has carved a unique niche amongst the fabled creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It stands out with its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield, a feature shared with creatures like Flamewake Phoenix. Nevertheless, Arclight Phoenix bypasses the typical attack power conditions with its distinct casting requirement, reanimating after casting three spells in a turn. On the other hand, Flamewake Phoenix needs a power four or greater creature to return to the fray.
Another parallel can be drawn with Rekindling Phoenix, which also promises a cyclical resurgence, but does so through the creation of an elemental token that brings it back to life. Arclight Phoenix skips this step, directly flying back into action without the need for intermediary tokens. Chandra’s Phoenix offers a similar revival, yet its rebirth is tied to red spells hitting opponents rather than the number of spells cast like with Arclight Phoenix.
When evaluating these creatures side by side, Arclight Phoenix shines due to its synergy with spell-heavy decks, offering persistent and potentially game-turning field presence, an aspect that is highly valued among players looking for resilience in their MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Arclight Phoenix by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Arclight Phoenix. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-21 |
| Grixis Phoenix | Pioneer | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer League 2024-04-22 |
| URG | Modern | Modern League 2024-04-22 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arclight Phoenix provides a significant edge in terms of card advantage. Once in the graveyard, it has the potential to return to the battlefield every turn, effectively providing an additional card that your opponent must deal with repeatedly.
Resource Acceleration: The recurring nature of Arclight Phoenix can lead to resource acceleration in a roundabout way. By not needing to invest mana to summon a creature each turn—since the Phoenix can potentially return from the graveyard—you’re free to allocate those resources elsewhere, accelerating your game plan.
Instant Speed: While Arclight Phoenix itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its return from the graveyard is triggered by casting instant (or sorcery) spells. This interaction encourages a dynamic gameplay, allowing you to strategize your spells at instant speed before reaping the reward by getting the Phoenix back into play during the combat phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the main challenges in harnessing the power of Arclight Phoenix is its reliance on discarding cards to trigger its revival ability. This can be problematic when your hand is depleted, limiting your ability to execute a successful strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Arclight Phoenix comes with a specific mana cost requirement, including not one, but three individual red mana symbols. This can be restrictive and difficult to meet in a multicolored deck, often confining the card’s use to primarily red-based strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including three red mana, Arclight Phoenix’s initial casting cost is quite steep. When considering other creatures or spells in the same mana range, players must weigh whether the Phoenix’s potential for recurrent damage outweighs other options that could have an immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Arclight Phoenix in Your Collection
Versatility: Arclight Phoenix brings flexibility to any red-based deck. It can be a persistent threat that’s hard to permanently remove, and because it can fly straight out of the graveyard onto the battlefield, it fits well in aggressive, spellslinger, and even midrange strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines in strategies built around instants and sorceries. Its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield by casting three spells in a turn provides endless combo possibilities with cards that untap lands, copy spells, or draw cards to maintain the onslaught.
Meta-Relevance: Arclight Phoenix has proven its worth in various metagames over time. It’s a particularly strong card in eternal formats like Modern where the meta can shift to favor decks that benefit from its recurring power and where spells that synergize with it are plentiful.
How to beat
Arclight Phoenix, a resilient creature from MTG, redefines the lines of play with its unique ability to rise from the graveyard. Its innate capacity to return to the battlefield poses a strategic challenge, requiring a specific focus for effective countering. The key lies in preemptive disruption or control tactics aimed at hampering the Phoenix’s revival.
Graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can hinder Arclight Phoenix from ever taking flight once it’s been discarded or destroyed. Moreover, timing is critical; instant-speed removal when the Phoenix tries to re-enter the battlefield during the combat phase can nullify its effect. Spells like Surgical Extraction can specifically target Arclight Phoenix in the graveyard, ensuring it doesn’t return to trouble you again.
Ultimately, dealing with Arclight Phoenix necessitates a blend of foresight, quick action, and a well-constructed sideboard. By employing these strategic elements, you can keep the Phoenix at bay and maintain dominance over the skies of the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arclight Phoenix MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica Promos and Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Arclight Phoenix and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Arclight Phoenix Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica Promos | PGRN | 91p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 2 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 91 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 3 | 2022-11-02 | Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit | SLC | 2018 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Dani Pendergast | |
| 4 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 331 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 5 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 331z | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 6 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 100 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 7 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 427 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Kemonomichi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arclight Phoenix has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arclight Phoenix card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-10-05 | Because the beginning of combat step is before attackers are declared, you can attack with Arclight Phoenix during the same combat it returns to the battlefield. |